Horrible disfigurement botched chin lipo. What options are there now? (Photo)

Question

I need advice on how to proceed. I was gaslit by the plastic surgeon who did my Chin Lipo. He had done a very uneven and bad job and now three months later I have the worst disfigurement of any botched Chin job I’ve seen online. I walked in asking for some of the fat under my chin to get removed and instead not only did he give me cobra neck but deep grooves all along the side of my neck. I had a lovely neck before and only minor fat under chin. What options are there now?

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

For unique cases where a variety of modalities could be used to treat the condition, I would suggest an in-person or virtual consultation to develop a custom and effective treatment plan.  It is difficult to precisely define the best option without collecting the same information. I suggest reaching out to an expert for a consultation with surgical and non-surgical methods to get a comprehensive option. Best, Dr. Emer.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

An examination is needed to be certain as to what would be best. However, you might do well with minimally invasive radiofrequency skin tightening or even micro-needling with radiofrequency.  If needed, a facelift might be a good option.  Very thin areas could be treated with Sculptra. If you use Sculptra, be sure to go to someone who has does a lot of Sculptra, especially on the neck.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

To make a quality assessment regarding the outcome of a plastic surgery procedure we need to see proper before and after pictures. If you don’t have your before and after pictures and ask your surgeon to forward the pictures they took. You should also get a copy of your operative report. Before and after pictures and operative report a part of your medical records and you can get copies upon request. 
Delivering consistent quality, liposuction, results is more difficult than most people realize. The number of plastic surgeons who truly mastered Liposuction are in a small minority. Most plastic surgeons think they’re better at Liposuction that they actually are.
This procedure has more variation and outcome than any other plastic surgery procedure I’ve ever seen.
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of provider selection when it comes to having permanent irreversible contouring procedures. Attempting to improve poorly done Liposuction is typically done with either revision Liposuction, fat transfer or occasionally with converting the procedure into a skin tightening operation like a tummy tuck for the abdomen or a neck lift for the neck.
Vision work is many times more difficult and complex than primary Liposuction. Patient should expect subtle improvement based on your candidacy for revision surgery. To assess your candidacy of what can be done to improve your outcome requires an examination and careful consideration of multiple variables. It is not as simple Answer that can be conveyed via an Internet post.
To find the right provider, I suggest patients have multiple in person consultations before scheduling surgical procedures. During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before, and after pictures of people who had similar facial characteristics to your own. an experienced provider should have no difficulty showing you the before and after pictures of at least 50 previous patients. The more consultations someone has the more likely they are to find the best provider. There’s no correct number of consultations to schedule. A lot has to do with luck and some has to do with how individuals screen for choosing providers in the first place. Considering how much variation there is a Liposuction skill I suggest patients consider having five consultations before choosing a provider. finding the right provider to do revision work is more or less the same process as finding a provider for a primary procedure. The best surgeons for Revision work are more or less going to be the same providers that do the best primary procedures. The only exception to this is when fat transfer is required, in which case you need to vet providers for both Liposuction and fat transfer skills. 
Sometimes getting a significant improvement may require multiple procedures. This is often the case if fat transfer is considered as a student of solution. Restoring your neck to preprocedure may not be possible but some improvements should be possible. That said, attempt and revision in the hands of the wrong provider can easily make things worse. I would be apprehensive of anyone who thinks this is easy or anyone who claims some special device or technology can fix your problem. The situation is complex and difficult to correct.
Ultimately, your surgeon is responsible for the outcome and you are responsible for choosing that provider. Considering the outcome of your current provider is not the person to do revision work for you. It is unfortunate, but they are not engaging in proper communication. 
Regardless, you probably don’t want your current provider to help you further.
I suggest scheduling numerous in person, consultations and taking your time. Rushing into secondary surgery is not always the best course of action. The most important variable is going to be to find the right provider and having a clear understanding of what revision surgery can, or cannot accomplish. Just want to be a significant amount of uncertainty, and you should not expect providers to have nearly as many before, and after pictures of revision work. Revision work is not nearly as common as primary procedures and revision work is unpredictable, because each case is unique and different. The candidacy for creating improvements after poorly done liposuction varies greatly from patient to patient. A lot has to do with understanding your candidacy for the procedure in the first place, as well as how the first procedure was performed. The most difficult cases to correct are cases in which the patient was not a great candidate for Liposuction in the first place combined with aggressive fat remover during the primary procedure.
Your situation is unfortunate. I encourage all patients to be more selective then they think necessary when it comes to choosing a providers relying on multiple in person, consultations and vetting providers thoroughly before committing to having surgery.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

Horrible disfigurement botched chin lipo. What options are there now? (Photo)

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Horrible disfigurement botched chin lipo. What options are there now? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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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.