Will Stitching Incision Site After Tumescent Lipo Hinder Drainage and Prolong Swelling?

Open Incisions vs Closed for Liposuction is highly variable based on surgeon's preference and either way way in good hands you get a satisfactory result. I differ however in some of the recommendations below. Most Board Certified Plastic Surgeons close liposuction incisions regardless of the type of liposuction used (Smart Lipo, Ultrasonic liposuction, conventional or PAL - power assisted liposuction. In my more than 2 decades of practice and trying each of these devices, I have not found any prolonged recovery by closing incisions. On the contrary I feel that I have prevented the mess and hassle to the patient. The ultimate scar has a better chance of being smaller if sutured based on my more than a quarter of century of performing liposuction and having used both techniques.

                  In
the vast majority of patients we suture the liposuction entry sites.  This doesn’t appear to impact swelling
or seroma formation in the post-operative period.  In theory, closing these wounds should minimize scarring,
but scarring doesn’t seem to be an issue when wounds are left open.

                  The
major advantage of this approach is decreased drainage from the wound.  When wounds are left open, constant
drainage occurs with bloody fluid which constantly stains the patient’s
compression garments.  When wounds
are sutured this fluid is resorbed by the body.  In our experience, we’ve not seen problems when wounds are
closed following tumescent liposuction and it appears to simplify after care.

Slightly loose stitching of the access incisions is really the preferred way to go.  This technique provides the advantages of both worlds - drainage can still proceed but the wounds heal more reliably and more invisibly.