Lumpiness after ab etching and Vaser liposuction. How can this be resolved? (Photo)

Question

I underwent a BBL with vaser lipo on my abs and flanks, followed by ab etching in Jun 2019. I have unevenness and lumpiness due to the ab etching. I had several rounds of cortisone injections to try to reduce the prominence of the abs and to smooth it out as well as aggressive massage. But there is still a significant amount of unevenness and irregularities, and scar tissue, especially under overhead lighting. How can this be resolved? I'm embarrassed to show my stomach. Thank you for your time.

Misbah Khan MD, FAAD, FACMS · Answer

I just posted a pic of a very similar looking abdominal defect story on my profile on RealSelf. feel free to browse thru that. or you can look at my IG profile (@drmisbahkhan6) for more pics of Revision surgeries. I specialize in fixing defects and revising unfavorable outcomes after surgeries. my experience is that defects like yours, do not respond to cortisone shots. or any other form of non-invasive technologies. its meticulous and hard work to fix defects. Im sorry this happened. you can reach out via email if you wish to proceed with me.

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

Although I agree that rapid and widespread sales of Vaser liposuction machines have led to a rash of poor outcomes, I don’t believe two wrongs makes a right, and would not sell you on unproven technology that, although won’t harm you further, will do little to correct the problem: scar tissue. I know this seems unimaginable, But you’ll need a full abdominoplasty. Just because you don’t have much skin redundancy, don’t buy into the concept that your scar will be too high, or worse, that you’re simply not a candidate.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

this likely is going to need trsculpt FLEX to relax this with RF treatments like venus legacy or froma/contoura.  surgically a tummy tuck would be needed to fix this properly with fat grafting.  SEe an expert as I do now 60%+ revisions since the number of VASER HD lipo doctors are increasing with minimal experience. 
If you are unhappy with your results please speak to your physician and ensure he was a full body VASER HD liposuction physciain wtih expensive experience in body shaping and not just traditional fat reduction.  At this point you should be using compression, RF treatments like venus legacy / exilis ultra / inmode forma or contoura and lymphatic massage to get you through healing.   We always add shock wave therapy such as cellutone, z wave, and eclipse evive to help prvent scar tissue formation and ensure an even and smooth result. It will take 6-12 months to see the final outcome.   If you are unhappy you can get a revision procedure by an expert in VASER HD lipo.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Lauraxy,
I would have to examine you but it appears that this is a contour irregularity after liposuction.  This happens often when areas the undergo liposuction are not feathered appropriately.
The good news is that it can be fixed and I have done so with good results before. While there is always a chance for contour irregularities with liposuction, someone who takes their time and uses the appropriate sized cannulas should give you a superb result.I have all my patients wear compression garments and I use multiple sized cannulas to feather out the result.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

This may be corrected using high defintion VASER liposuction revision. The definitive correction for liposuction deformities requires the advanced technology of ultrasound assisted VASER liposuction. As an official trainer of VASER liposuction, I encounter suboptimal liposuction outcome referrals weekly. VASER liposuction has been the only modality that has consistently corrected liposuction caused deformities. VASER liposuction ensures a smooth contour regardless of severity of contour irregularities by virtue of being able to remove any and all remaining fat comprehensively and uniformly. Finally, when skin redundancy irregularities are observed, Renuvion technology can be simultaneously applied to tighten your skin to optimize your overall contour outcome. A Skype or FaceTime consultation with a VASER specialist will help you get an accurate recommendation and pricing. 
Respectfully, 
Arian Mowlavi MD, FACS
Realself 100 Hall of Fame Inductee

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Personally I’m not a fan of the concept of high definition liposuction or etching.To me most results look more like yours and rarely do they look natural.This concept has been highly promoted by a South American plastic surgeon who is the king of self-promotion and gives training courses.Leaving fat behind to look like muscle usually doesn’t.  it tends to look like an absurd unnatural fat distribution or botched Liposuction.In reality there are also very few people who are good candidates for etching.Typically young men with very little body fat and very tight skin.People with excess subcutaneous fat or any skin laxity ends up looking good wrong with this technique.Unfortunately excessive amounts of fat was removed on purpose and there is no way to restore the fat or to correct your contour disfigurement.The problem is not inflammation and steroids are not the solution.The problem was that excessive amounts of fat  were purposely removed along an atomic lines to try to make your fat look like muscle.I’m sorry to be bleak and not have words of optimism but your situation is virtually impossible to correct. some minor improvements are the best possible and you should not expect more.You should first and foremost follow up with your provider so that he or she knows what the results look like. Perhaps that provider can either stop doing this technique or at minimum or alter or modify what they’re doing.I also suggest writing some reviews so other patients can know what your experience was.  i’m sure you would’ve appreciated knowing if others had had similar experiences before signing up for surgery.For bad Liposuction outcomes corrective  treatments usually come down to revision Liposuction, fat transfer or converting the procedure to a skin removal operation like a full tummy tuck.None of these are great options for you.In some ways revision Liposuction is adding insult to injury. The goal would be to Liposuction the purposely created “ Fat muscle pockets“ To create a more even contour. because the skin etched lines brought you to more or less skin on muscle it would remove virtually all of your fat which doesn’t look good.Fat transfer typically does not work because the areas were you need fed replaced currently has no host  tissue to support the graft.Converting this to a full tummy tuck might give improvements but it would simply stretch out your man-made six pack over your full abdomen. It’s a lot of surgery to go through as an attempt to correct previous Liposuction.I genuinely wish I had more enthusiasm and positive options for you.I’ve been a board-certified plastic surgeon for 20 years in the last 10 years were devoted exclusively to liposuction and fat transfer procedures.I am not sold on the use of the a VASER, high definition of work or the concept of etching. I see postings daily on real self of people like you coming from providers all trying this modality.VASER it’s not a bad device but in the wrong hands it leads to worse disfigurement than any other form of liposuction.For all to many people high definition Liposuction is a fallacy and perhaps some days others will take my view as well.In rare cases the technique can deliver outstanding results but I question what these people will look like when they’re 55 years old.Be careful of anyone who claims to be able to easily fix your situation.Be extremely leery of anyone claiming they can use VASER to “break up the scar tissue“.God bless, Mats Hagstrom, MD

Lumpiness after ab etching and Vaser liposuction. How can this be resolved? (Photo)

Answers (6)

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