What risks do I face for touch up liposuction of abdomen under local anesthesia following extended tummy tuck? Is it worth it?

Question

I have a pooch and fat above my incision, my surgeon said he would do lipo on my belly under local. What risks do i take and is the risk worth it? I feel like i am putting my life on risk by gettinf abdominal liposuction

Erik Miles, MD, FACS · Answer

Liposuction is very safe to do under both general anesthesia and local anesthesia, provided that the surgeon is competent and trained to do the procedure.  Most of the time surgeons will wait at least six months before doing this however.  I have performed liposuction of the central abdomen under local anesthesia many times after a tummy tuck procedure.  The bloodflow to heal your lower incision after a tummy tuck procedure flows through the central abdomen. It is much safer to stage any aggressive liposuction in this area from a wound healing standpoint. It sounds like your surgeon is quite reasonable with his or her plan.  Liposuction of an isolated area under local anesthesia is much less invasive than the tummy tuck procedure that you have already been through.

Richard Zienowicz, MD · Answer

Very common to have liposuction performed during a plastic surgery procedure. I often recommend this to my patients. Best of luck.

Alex Campbell, MD · Answer

Liposuction is a very powerful technique in the right hands, and can have dramatic results in a variety of areas and a in a variety of patients.  That said, the ideal liposuction candidate has localized fat deposits and quality overlying skin without significant excess skin or skin damage.  Fat can then be removed to a]strategically sculpt the body and accentuate feminine curves.  The skin then retracts over the new shape to give the final result.
That said, you definitely have to choose your surgeon correctly and make sure that he/she has the training and experience to meet your goals with absolute safety.  
A key quality indicator is Board Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  Don’t settle for less than a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with specialized expertise in this procedure.

Gary Lawton, MD, FACS · Answer

The risk of liposuction is low.  I would do it under general anesthesia because better outcomes can be achieved and its more comfortable.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Liposuction under local is often possible to revise small area or even do larger ares in the right patient. Best of luck.

What risks do I face for touch up liposuction of abdomen under local anesthesia following extended tummy tuck? Is it worth it?

Answers (10)

Answer: Liposuction is safe

Answer: Liposuction is safe

Answer: Liposuction under local

Answer: Liposuction under local

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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

What risks do I face for touch up liposuction of abdomen under local anesthesia following extended tummy tuck? Is it worth it?

Answers (10)

Answer: Liposuction is safe

Answer: Liposuction is safe

Answer: Liposuction under local

Answer: Liposuction under local

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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