Does Liposuction for abdomen (for fat grafting surgery) always leave a scar or does it depend on method?

Thank you for your question. Typically harvesting fat from the abdomen or elsewhere for fat grafting is done through a needle sized opening. In my experience this does not leave any scar consequence. it does depend on the amount of fat necessary for grafting. Please see a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your concerns. But I would not be overly concerned about a scar at the donor site. Good luck to you!

Plastic surgery scars require attention after surgery so that they remain cosmetically-appealing and barely noticeable. In our office, we use a protocol for scars that minimizes their activity in the 6-8 weeks after surgery. If you have late plastic surgery scars, you may also require laser and RF therapy to help reduce the longterm effects of the scarring. Keloids, hypertrophic scars, widened scars, red scars, and hyperpigmented scars all require scar modulation with topical creams followed by lasers and RF therapy. Topical skincare should be directed to a specific need, whether for pigmentation or hypertrophy and our office can guide you through the process to obtain the correct Plato’s Scar cream or Melarase cream for hypertrophy and discoloration. In terms of lasers, we would employ the vbeam laser for redness, Venus Viva RF, PRP microneedling, chemical peels, and Morpheus 8, fractional erbium, or fractional co2. All of these have their individual benefits. Most of all, we recommend you visit a solid plastic surgeon who understands surgical scar revision, laser therapy, and RF therapy for scars.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Hi and thanks for your question! Scars are definitely a huge concern for most of our patients. You need to understand that there will always be a trade off - scars for results.
For liposuction, various small incisions are made along the front and back of your trunk. These are not large in size and tend to not be noticeable.

The scar for harvesting fat is usually small about 4 mm but there will an incision depending on where the fat is harvested from. The abdomen is not always the donor site.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Hello, when using the abdomen as a 'harvest site' for fat grafting it is typical to have 1 or 2 very small (about 1 cm) long port sites from the liposuction cannula. These will heal very well and inconspicuous with time but yes, a small scar will be left from the liposuction cannula. These sites can usually be hidden in the umbilicus or covered with clothing.

Dear Fer4040,
every surgery will leave a scar but with good surgical technique the scar will be minimal. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hello, Any cut through the skin that goes through the dermis will leave a scar. For liposuction a small incision must be made to pass the liposuction cannula through to harvest the fat. Another small incision will need to be made in the area where the fat will be placed. Generally these scars are small and the surgeon try to hide them in creases or areas that are normally covered to make them less visible (such as in the belly button if you are getting abdominal liposuction). When you go in for your consultation a board certified/eligible plastic surgery can evaluate you and discuss possible scar placement and insight into how the scar may heal. While a scar is healing there are interventions that can be done to improve the appearance of the scar and reduce the risk of the scar healing poorly.

If you are a candidate for abdominal etching then the only scars will be from the portholes for the liposuction cannulas, which are very small. The Gold Standard for superior liposuction results requires use of the advanced technology of ultrasound assisted VASER liposuction. As an official trainer of VASER liposuction, I perform full body liposuction cases every week. VASER liposuction has been the only modality that has consistently resulted in outstanding liposuction outcomes. VASER liposuction ensures a smooth contour regardless of degree of excess fat by virtue of being able to remove any and all remaining fat comprehensively and uniformly. If skin redundancy is observed, Renuvion technology can be simultaneously applied to tighten your skin to optimize your overall contour outcome. A Skype or FaceTime consultation with a VASER specialist will help you get an accurate recommendation and pricing.

Respectfully,
Arian Mowlavi MD, FACS
Realself 100 Hall of Fame Inductee

Doing Liposuction always requires making an opening. This will then intern form a scar.

There’s no way someone can harvest fat without going through the skin and cutting the skin will leave a scar.

If you’ve chosen a provider and that should’ve been discussed during the consultation.

If you have not then I suggest having a few consultations to get an accurate assessment and better understanding of the procedure.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD