Are minor touch up lipo procedure minor?

Question

I had lipo on my belly late July and while my upper abdomen healed great, it appears the doctor missed right under my belly button, which seemed evident after surgery as it was puckered when I was swollen, but now that I am 3 months out, it’s obviously residual fat. He said he could do a minor touch up, which is unfortunate since I am happy to be finally healed and out of that garment full time. Are minor touch ups minor? Also how long should I wait before doing this?

David Hansen, MD · Answer

If you need a little touchup post liposuction, it is usually very minor and easy and done 4-6 months post op.

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello,Only an in person evaluation can determine the nature of the defect and what would be best to improve it. In general, I think that under-appreciating the nature of the problem and the remedy to fix it is rampant among practitioners, especially if the problem is a result of their surgery. If residual fat is truly the issue, and it is relatively small, a small surgery is possible, but scar tissue needs to be appreciated, making the area that needs to be treated larger than just the 'lump'. If your surgeon isn't an ABPS certified/ASAPS member surgeon who specializes in body contouring, then get a second opinion from a few who are. Best of luck!

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

i suggest you see a body contouring specialist who does a significant amount of revision procedures to determine what is best.  You likely need revision liposuction, fat grafting and internal heating. If there is fibrosis or scarring possibly skin removal.  You can have touch ups 2-3 months after the origional procedure.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear LC817,it is hard to tell for sure without an examination but if it is a small area, then it can be done under local anesthesia. If you are considering a revision surgery, I would suggest you to consult your plastic surgeon and discuss your concerns with him. Daniel Barrett, MD

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Johnson C. Lee, MD · Answer

Liposuction can be performed in small areas for "touch up." Bellybutton areas often require touch-ups because the fat is harder to remove in that area so an experienced surgeon would spend more time and care in addressing that area to avoid a touch up later. For very small areas such as the belly button, you can usually avoid general anesthesia all together and still be comfortable with local numbing. I recommend patients waiting at least 6 months after surgery to allow the rest of the area to heal to see exactly what areas need to be touched up if any. Smaller areas usually means a smaller garment or binder and less downtime with less discomfort. Hope this helps!Johnson C. Lee, MD
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
IG: @drjohnsonlee

Are minor touch up lipo procedure minor?

Answers (5)