Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after liposuction - can this be repaired with a endoscopic tummy tuck? (photos)

This requires a formal evaluation to understand what can be done. You may be a candidate for a revision. Consult a body sculpting expert. -Dr. Emer

Dear Luminous393610,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Based on your photos, it looks like a tummy tuck wouldn't remove all scars. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Those are NOT PIH. There are lipo burns! that healed with hyperpigmentation of scars. Not much can be offered to correct the color. Eno or smal incision TT with umbilicial incision to obtain diastasis repair can be done but is a very difficult surgery. No I would not revision spread TT scar. Fee to plicate recti $10,000.

Your situation is complicated.

I have a feeling your liposuction procedure was not straightforward or normal. I believe the provider was inexperienced, lacked talented or possibly was using an energy device like VASER?

If you haven’t done so already you should have a consultation with a dermatologist. Sometimes the skin biopsy is warranted to get the most accurate diagnosis of the discoloration in regards to seeing what this may respond to.

Did you get pregnant after having a full tummy tuck? you should not have diastasis if you’ve had a full tummy tuck?

General surgeons doing laparoscopic diastasis repair tend to be unsuccessful from what I’ve seen.
The results tend to be underwhelming but it is not a procedure I perform.

In regards to Scarvisions the first question a plastic surgeon should ask themselves when contemplating doing a scar revision is wire with a new scars heal better than the old scar.

Unless there’s something different about how the new scar is created then the patient will eventually end up with the same or potentially worse keloid scar.

Hypertrophic scars sometimes respond well to silicone sheeting sometimes called silicone tape.

The product needs to be used for many months to have an impact but I’ve seen impressive results after 2 to 3 months of use.

You may want to try that if you haven’t already. Take pictures and reevaluate every 30 days.

The second option is dilute anti-inflammatory steroids. This can flatten the scar but will occasionally especially if too much steroid is used widen The scar as it begins to thin out.

Lastly hypertrophic scars can have inflammation and create an itchy sensation.

It is absolutely imperative that patients never never scratch scars.

Likewise avoid clothing that might rub against the scar.

Small amounts of irritation can increase inflammation and that’s what’s causing the excess scar formation.

You present a very unfortunate and difficult situation to improve upon.

I wish I could offer some brilliant insight or recommend some procedure that would have a drastic improvement but in your case there may not be any.

I’m sorry this happened to you.

Leslie I want to make sure that he did follow up with the surgeon who did your liposuction so that that provider is aware of what happened to you.

I’d hate to think that person thought everything was OK and will continue to do the same thing. clearly that provider needs to change what they’re doing.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD