Can my stomach be fixed after this mid def Vaser?

Hello Meemee93,

Thank you for your question regarding the issues you're facing after undergoing a mid-def VASER procedure. After carefully reviewing your photos, it's clear that you're experiencing some degree of loose abdominal skin, which is not uncommon following significant fat removal.

To effectively address this, a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) might indeed be necessary. This procedure would remove the excess skin, tightening the remaining skin, and possibly correcting some of the irregularities you're observing. However, it's important to consider that a tummy tuck will result in a permanent scar along your lower abdomen. The decision to proceed should balance your aesthetic goals with the reality of this surgical outcome.

Alternatively, non-surgical approaches such as Renuvion or J-plasma, which utilize radiofrequency energy to tighten skin, might offer some improvement. While these treatments won't achieve results as dramatic as a tummy tuck, they could potentially tighten your skin to a degree that improves your current condition without the need for a more invasive surgery.

Given your situation, it’s crucial to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has extensive experience with both VASER liposuction and its revisions. They can provide a detailed assessment and recommend the best course of action based on the specific characteristics of your skin and the outcomes you’re aiming to achieve.

I hope this provides clarity on your options for addressing the concerns with your abdomen post-VASER liposuction. Wishing you the best as you consider the next steps in your journey to feeling confident in your appearance.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS
Plastic Surgeon

Hello; In hi definition implementations, which are applied for loosing and thin upper abdominal skin; under the corset, the skin can fold very easily. Therefore, in order to avoid folding; until the skin is made for the ground again; a hard pad, that will not allow folding; that is used under the corset about 10 days. In these type of folds, at the upper abdomen, starting for a massage; early gives good and positive results. Nevertheless, if there is still fibrosis and folding at 6 months; vaser application may be useful.

I'm truly sorry to hear about your dissatisfaction with the results of your mid-definition Vaser procedure. It's understandably disheartening when things don't turn out as expected, especially when you've followed all the necessary steps.

It's essential to address your concerns and explore potential solutions to improve your situation. While it may feel overwhelming right now, please know that there are options available to help address the issues you're experiencing.

Firstly, I encourage you to schedule a follow-up appointment with your surgeon to discuss your dissatisfaction and the specific concerns you've outlined. Request a thorough evaluation of your post-operative results and express your concerns openly. Your surgeon should provide you with transparent information about the potential causes of the problems you're facing and offer realistic solutions.

If you continue to feel unsatisfied with your surgeon's responses or if you believe that your concerns are not being adequately addressed, seeking a second opinion from another reputable surgeon may be beneficial. They can offer fresh insights and recommend appropriate corrective measures tailored to your specific needs.

In the meantime, prioritize self-care and emotional support. Surround yourself with understanding friends and family members who can offer encouragement and empathy during this challenging time. Remember that you're not alone, and there are professionals available to help you navigate this situation and find a resolution.

I don’t know what mid def means? Is it like a softer version of high definition?
To make an accurate assessment regarding the outcome of any plastic surgery procedure we need to see a complete set of proper before and after pictures.
If you don’t have before and after pictures, then ask your surgeon to forward the pictures they took.
Your surgeon is also the correct person to follow up with regarding your outcome.
Liposuction outcomes are based on your own candidacy for the procedure in the first place, and how well the procedure was performed.
Without understanding your own candidacy for the procedure or seeing your before pictures it’s difficult to assess the quality of the outcome.
It looks like your procedure was done in a fairly aggressive manner, so there’s not a whole lot of fat left to work with.
You also did not describe what you don’t like about the outcome.
Correcting poorly done, Liposuction is very difficult.
Simply the ability to perform quality primary Liposuction results is harder than most people realize.
The number of plastic surgeons who truly mastered Liposuction is very small.
Most plastic surgeons think they’re better at Liposuction than they actually are.
There are a lot of variables to take the consideration.
Attempts at revision are usually done either with further liposuction, grafting, fat, a.k.a. fat transfer, a combination of both, or sometimes converting the procedure to a skin tightening operation.
Recognize that any attempt at revising the outcome can easily make things worse unless you’re working with someone who is exceptionally talented.
Revision work is much more complex and many times more difficult than primary Liposuction.
The need for finding the right provider cannot be overstated.
Find the right provider I suggest patient start the process by making a list of local providers who seem to have extensive experience with Liposuction. In this case, you may want to also consider providers who have experience with fat transfer.
Next schedule multiple in person consultations.
There is no correct number of consultations needed to find the right provider.
The more consultations you scheduled the more likely are to find the best provider for your needs.
During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before, and after pictures of previous patients, who have similar body characteristics to your own
in other words, they have the same candidacy as you do.
For primary Liposuction, and experienced provider should have no difficulty showing you the before and after pictures of at least 50 previous patients.
For revision work, most providers will not have as many cases.
Being shown a handful of preselected images, representing only the best results of a provider career may be insufficient to a clear understanding of what average results look like in the hands of provider.
My best recommendation is to start the process by first getting a complete set of proper before and after pictures.
Anyone doing a revision is going to want to see that.
You may also want to get a copy of the operative report.
Both before and after pictures and operative report are part of your medical record which you can request copies of it by asking your current provider.
Bring both upper to report and complete set up before and after pictures whenever getting a consultation for a second opinion, or for revision work.
In the end, it may be difficult to improve on the outcome.
The reason I say this is that it appears you have very little fat left to work with.
There may be some potential improvements.
To get a good assessment of what can or cannot be accomplished, and to get a good understanding of what you’re hoping to achieve, I suggest you lying on in person consultations.
I generally never recommend patients schedule virtual consultations if possible
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD