How soon after a full course of Accutane can I get Liposuction on my thighs and legs?

Dear caryevans,
every plastic surgeon has his own preoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Since Accutane affects the oil glands in your skin and liposuction is done in the fat below the skin, Theoretically, you could be treated within one month. However, it is wise to wait 3-6 months to let your skin settle down since it will be stretched with tumescent fluid.

The gold standard is 6 months post cessation if Accutane before having any procedure. I tell my patients to monitor their bodies. When the feel the skin and mucosal membranes going back to normal, then it’s safe.

Taking Accutane is associated with problematic scar formation.

Our standard has been six months but the type of surgery, anatomic location and patient’s background predisposition for difficult healing can also be taken into consideration.

On a patient with known hypertrophic scarf formation waiting a year is probably not a bad idea.

Likewise if doing a procedure that as long highly visible scars then being on the conservative side also makes sense.
The other side of the spectrum would be chin and neck Liposuction which typically heals with almost invisible scars on almost everyone.


Different doctors have different opinions based on a multitude of variables.


Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

Hi and welcome to our forum!As accutane significantly increases the risk of adverse scarring, especially with procedures of the skin, such as dermabrasion or skin laser therapy, most surgeons will delay elective surgery for a period of 6 months following your last dose. While the skin incisions with liposuction are quite small, thick scarring is undesirable.Best wishes...