Age 52, what can I do about purple marks after 360 liposuction? (Photo)

Question

I’m 52 years old and I had 360 liposuction . After my procedure I have noticed purple marks on my abdomen and back area. They are not stretch marks as I never had them before my procedure.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Lorie5942,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Kenneth R. Francis, MD, FACS · Answer

Dear Lorie,
Erythema ab lipoaspiration is a reticulated pigmentation condition that can occur after liposuction.  It occurs more commonly with heat generating forms of liposuction, such as ultrasound or laser, and/or liposuction that is very superficial.  You should return to your surgeon for some guidance on its treatment, or referral to a dermatologist.  Good luck!

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

In order to make some type of assessment we need to know the timeframe since your procedure.
Skin injuries can take a long time to mature before healing is complete. This process can continue for 12 to 18 months. there are different ideologies that can cause discoloration. Dermal injury can cause hyper pigmentation. excessive bleeding during surgery can lead to iron deposits in tissues called hemosiderin deposits or hemosiderin staining. 
Before considering treatment it’s important to understand with the ideology of the discoloration is and this is not always easy or straightforward. most issues like these tend to improve given enough time. I generally encourage people to not jump at attempts of treating discoloration until you’ve given the body sufficient time to heal on its own which can be as long as a year and a half. At 18 months it’s unlikely that waiting further is going to make any difference and at that point you may or may not need or want to consider treatment for the discoloration.
Identifying what the discoloration represents is important because it will determine what treatments may work and what treatments may not work. I suggest giving this 18 months and if it’s still an issue consider consulting with a dermatologist to get an accurate assessment of the ideology of your discoloration.
Sometimes the skin biopsy can be useful in confirming the exact ideology and fine-tuning treatment accordingly.
Most likely this should improve with time.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Age 52, what can I do about purple marks after 360 liposuction? (Photo)

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Age 52, what can I do about purple marks after 360 liposuction? (Photo)

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Everything you need to know about Liposuction Revision

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.