How soon should you see signs of skin tightening after Smartlipo procedure?

Question

I got smartlipo done on my upper arms on November 19th. I am 3 weeks post op and my skin is hanging. I don't see any signs of them tightening. They look slightly smaller; however, they hang almost exactly as they did pre-op. I feel like something wasn't done correctly. My girlfriend had gotten the procedure done on her abdomen and flanks, and I was able to see patches of skin tightening 2 weeks post op.

Marco A. Pelosi III, MD, FACOG, FACS · Answer

Different areas and different people heal differently. This skin of the arms is usually thinner and looser that the skin of the torso. If the arm was large, there is probably a larger excess of skin and it might not reduce to complete tightness especially if you have stretch marks or are a heavy smoker. Nonetheless, your final results will take months to develop. You should wear your compression garments properly and go for frequent professional massages to prevent fluid buildup and minimize wrinkling.

Bruce E. Katz, MD · Answer

Great question! It does take a full 6 months to
see your Smartlipo results. As you go through the healing process you will
notice a contour in your body and the skin appearing tighter. Consult with your
surgeon to make sure you are a good candidate for Smartlipo.

Erika Sato, MD, FACS · Answer

I can give you some generalized information about SmartLipo. This may not be specific to you since I did not see you pre-op or post-op and you didn't post any photos. Skin tightening with SmartLipo is usually appreciated around 3-4 months after the procedure. It tightens the skin ~50% so not 100%. With liposuction in general there is swelling post-op and 3 weeks is still very early in the healing process. Try to be patient as you will likely see some changes in the next 2-3 weeks as the swelling goes down.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

It's really early. Final results take time, though in my experience, skin tightening is not a significant part of any type of liposuction.  Smart lipo is a great procedure. I've done over 1,000 procedures using this equipment. It's up to each individual physician to first assess if you are a good candidate, to honestly explain what can be delivered and, thirdly, do a good job during the procedure and explain the healing process during the postoperative time.  While the laser part of Smart lipo is better than no laser, it is still a 90% + fat reducing procedure. It is not a skin tightening procedure. If your diagnosis is loose skin, then I'm afraid the only real treatment is skin surgery.Laser liposuction is my number one procedure. What makes it a success is patient selection and education.  I hope your results continue to improve. Ask your treating physician as well.Hope that helps. Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.

How soon should you see signs of skin tightening after Smartlipo procedure?

Answers (4)

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