Can scar tissue from prior liposuction procedures be removed somehow via a tummy tuck? (Photo)

Question

I had a botched lipo procedure 10 yrs ago which has left me with severe irregularites. I had 2 subsequent revision lipo procedures to try to get improvement. I'm now 2 mos. post op from last procedure which has left me with worse results because of scar tissue. Feels so tight and hurts terribly when I stretch. I would like to know if I can get the scar tissue removed somehow via a tummy tuck by lifting the skin away from all of the adhesions and lay it back down so that it appears more smooth.

Jonathan Saunders, MD · Answer

tough situation.  you MUST wait at least 6 months to do anything. liposuction is a wonderful tool, but as with most things it should be done in moderation.  your level of satisfaction will depend on how much lax skin you have as well as how much irregularity,  good luck

Deborah Pan, MD · Answer

With any revision procedure, you should wait at least 6, and even ideally closer to 9-12 months for all scar tissue to soften and resolve before doing more surgery. Abdominoplasty can help but if the subcutaneous fat layer is severely uneven from liposuction, some of it may remain even after tummy tuck surgery. It should improve, but the extent of improvement may vary depending on how severe the scarring and unevenness of the tissues are. Hopefully your skin still has some looseness to make surgery easier. Best to have a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon with extensive abdominoplasty experience.

Erik Miles, MD, FACS · Answer

Let's first start out by saying that the treatment for over-resection of fat is not to remove more fat with additional liposuction.  To have it done a third time compounds the problem is even more.  Fat is one of the ways of the body stores energ, and normal, healthy individuals have fat that is stored in the abdominal area.  So the goal of liposuction is not to remove all of the abdominal fat. A tummy tuck will help to stretch out the skin and may improve your appearance.  However, with all of the liposuction you have had, the skin might not stretch down as easily.  You might also be at an increased risk of wound healing complications if the blood vessels below the skin have been traumatized with the three liposuction procedures.  You have been suctioned in the space right below the skin where most of these vessels are.  You will probably always have some contour irregularities.  Sometimes fat grafting can improve this but you need to have some fat to harvest for this procedure.  I recommend a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options.  Best wishes!

Richard Zienowicz, MD · Answer

It will be considerably more difficult for your surgeon but the undermining of the abdominal skin and stretching it out by pulling down toward the pubic area will alleviate most of the dents and contour defects that were caused by loose skin and liposuction. Don't expect perfection but rather a nice improvement overall.

Harry T. Haramis, MD, FACS · Answer

Repeated liposuction can increase scar tissue, lumps, healing time, etc. Several months should allow for some softening before reevaluating for possible tummy tuck.An exam and consultation with a plastic surgeon is recommended to discuss your options and expectations.

William Andrade, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  You would require proper assessment and investigations to try to determine the cause of your pain, before any definite recommendations could be made about the benefit of further surgery.   Generally a tummy tuck after liposuction can help to tighten the skin and possibly decrease the appearance of contour abnormalities, but it is unclear if it would improve your symptoms.

Michael D. Cohen, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question as it is an important one. Having recently treated a patient with the same situation I couldn't agree more with what Dr. Miles said. It is extremely dangerous to consider doing any elevation of skin as one would do in an abdominoplasty this soon. One should wait many months  until the tissues are soft and pliable. This may never be the case. It should only be considered if done without tension on the skin and good viable, unscarred tissue to recruit.  Good luck and  please preceed with caution.

Raymond Jean, MD · Answer

A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty may help but i would recommend waiting at least six months after your most recent surgery for you to heal.  This will allow you to completely heal and see what the final results are.  At that point you should see a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss options for tummy tuck.  Best of luck.

Christopher Saunders, MD · Answer

Yes, this can often really help. However, you need at least six months from your last procedure to let everything heal and soften.I have had significant success with this, but it depends on the examination and your specific anatomy.Please see a board certified plastic surgeon for an in depth consultation of your case.Best WishesDr Chris Saunded

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

I'm sorry to hear/see the complications you have experienced.  Your case demonstrates an important lesson to patients considering liposuction surgery;  doing the procedure when it is not indicated, can lead to significant and severe irregularities of the abdominal wall that may not be "fixable". At this point, given that you are two months out of your last procedure, there is not much to do but allow for ongoing time to heal. At some point, tummy tuck surgery will be the only potentially helpful option.  Even this operation we will remove only the skin below the umbilicus. Again, I would suggest more time and patience. Then, see consultation with board-certified plastic surgeons to discuss options. Best wishes.

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