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Liposuction ...to Stitch or Not to Stitch?

Hi , I am considering liposuction , to lower abdomen , inner/outer thighs and knees . The PS here says he stitches incisions . I have read leaving them open helps minimize swelling . Is stitching the incisions ok and is it reasonable to ask for them to be left open ? He has ASPS ISAPS ASAPS so seems to know what he is doing .

Doctor Answers 5

June 30th, 2013

If your doc stitches the lipo holes closed then you had better think twice.

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Tumescent liposuction under local anesthesia with the micro canulas is the gold standard for the very best results. Holes are tiny and need to allow drainage. They are never stitched anymore so if your doc does that then he/she is probably using larger more brutal canulas which have a lot of problems associated with them and also probably putting you under general anesthesia which again is a red flag.  We all did it that way 28 yrs ago but those of us you keep up on the advances in lipo have moved on. Sincerely,

David Hansen,MD

Learn more: http://www.TheBestLipoDoc.com/lipo.asp

David Hansen, MD


Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
4.7 out of 5 stars 46 reviews

June 27th, 2013

Liposuction .... to stitch or not stitch?

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There is no relation to swelling either way. Stitching is a decision made by your surgeon for this procedure.

Robert E. Zaworski, MD

Robert E. Zaworski, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 61 reviews

June 26th, 2013

Most liposuction puncture wounds are small enough that a stitch is not necessary.

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There is no advantage to swelling by leaving an incision in sutured. However, the small poke holes are so small there is no aesthetic advantage in closing the wound.

Learn more: http://www.zubowicz.com/subpag.php?ID=20

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

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June 25th, 2013

Liposuction ...to Stitch or Not to Stitch?

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       There are benefits to either method, and I would recommend that you decide the surgeon based upon experience and results.  Find a plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of liposuction procedures each year.  Then look at the plastic surgeon's website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the results.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Learn more: http://www.hughesplasticsurgery.com/Liposuction.php

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June 25th, 2013

To sew or not sew up liposuction access sites

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As you can get some unsightly scarring from leaving these open in my experience, I've gone to where I usually close them in any potentially visible area. Some of the smaller port site (2-3 mm) are less problematic in this regard.

Robert Oliver Jr., MD

Robert Oliver Jr., MD
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 4 reviews

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.