6 moths post op - Are there procedure options that can help improve contour irregularities? (photo)

Question

lipo to full abdomen 6 months ago. I am 55 years old. Can this be improved?

Semih Yildiz, MD, FEPOBRAS · Answer

In the photo, there appears to be abdominal contour irregularity with some skin laxity and surface waviness. At 6 months after liposuction, swelling and scar tissue can still be changing, but it is also a reasonable time to be examined by your surgeon to see what is still healing versus what may need correction.

The best option depends on the cause. If there is residual fat, careful touch-up liposuction may help. If there are depressed areas or tethering, fat grafting or scar-release techniques may be considered. If the main issue is loose or crepey skin, especially at age 55 when elasticity may be reduced, skin tightening procedures may give only modest improvement and a tummy tuck may be the more powerful option in selected patients.

I would start with an in-person exam by your original surgeon or another board-certified plastic surgeon experienced with revision body contouring. It is often best to wait closer to 9-12 months before major revision surgery unless the problem is clearly stable and your surgeon feels earlier treatment is appropriate.

Stephen T. Greenberg, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Some irregularities can be improved and some may not.  Often I would recommend a patient who comes to me with this is to allow me to go back in and try to break down some the scar tissue build up.  I would also recommend using a laser component to help with skin tightening.  I would suggest speaking with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who has experience with these type of issues.  Best of luck to you.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear dreambigorwhybother
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

Your condition is going to improve in the coming months. It takes good 12 months for liposuction result to mature. Massage of any kind will help. Only when result is mature you should consider some ather options like revision liposuction or TT, if needed. Good luck.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Contour irregularities after abdominal liposuction are often addressed with a tummy tuck.  During this procedure excess skin is removed and the contour is improved.  The next step is to visit with a board certified plastic surgeon to learn more.

Douglas Taranow, DO, FACOS · Answer

Unfortunately, I have not found a 'cure' for the skin irregularities and cellulite/wrinkling post liposuction in "older" patients (sorry, but I'm even older than you).  Massages do help and even Morpheus 8 (radiofrequency combined with microneedling -topical anesthesia only) and in more severe cases or with excess skin, a mini-abdominoplasty all help.
Beware of false claims of skin smoothing or further surgery to fix the issues.
Best wishes.
Dr. Taranow

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

The 1 posted "close up or short focal length" photo not helpful, alone. Might consider mini TT with S.A.F.E. lipo for fibrosis release. Fee $6,000+. Best to virtual consult with...

Mark Eberbach, MD · Answer

It seems you had isolated liposuction of your tummy.

What you needed was an abdominoplasty.

It is shameful if your surgeon didn't recommend it in the first place.

Now that is your best option.

Good luck.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

First and foremost in order to make an assessment on the outcome of an operation we always need to see proper before and after pictures.
If you don’t have before and after pictures then ask your surgeon to forward the ones they took.
Before pictures are important because they tell us your candidacy for the procedure.
Based on the limited information you’ve shown I would say you were probably not a great candidate for liposuction and the procedure was not done particularly well.
Liposuction can be done without creating contour irregularities if the surgeon has sufficient skills and experience.
Delivering consistent quality liposuction results is more difficult than most people believe.
Being a board-certified plastic surgeon with overall good reputation and years of experience is not sufficient to confirm that somebody has mastered this procedure.
Liposuction results are permanent and irreversible.
For this reason patients should be very selective when choosing providers for Liposuction.
Ideally patients should interview multiple plastic surgeons and vet providers by insisting on reviewing their entire collection of before and after pictures or at least as many pictures as they are willing to show you.
For reference an experienced plastic surgeon should have no difficulty showing you at least 50 set of before and after pictures of commonly performed procedures like abdominal liposuction.
During consultations ask providers to show you only pictures of previous patients who had similar body characteristics to your own. This means the same age bracket, same amount of skin laxity, pregnancy history etc. etc.
Providers may be apprehensive to show you all of their before and after pictures and will most likely simply show you a handful of preselected images which represent the best results of their career. this is however insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results look like or what results will look like for someone with your candidacy.
Revision procedures are far more difficult than primary liposuction.
Once an uneven fat distribution has been created by poorly done Liposuction it is almost impossible to reverse the outcome.
Treatment options available include revision liposuction, fat transfer or converting the procedure to a skin tightening operation like a full tummy tuck. further liposuction is unlikely to improve your outcome and fat transfer is not going to be a good option either.
In your case the only realistic option to give you a significant improvement is to convert your operation to a full tummy tuck and basically illuminate the skin of your lower abdomen. Since most of the deformity is in your lower abdomen a full tummy tuck is actually a realistic and probably the only realistic option to improve your outcome.
There are no non-surgical treatments that can improve your outcome.
Be very apprehensive of anybody who thinks this can easily be improved with further liposuction or using energy devices such as bodytite , J plasma, Renuvion or laser treatments. These treatments are more likely to make things worse and simply add insult to injury.
The same vigilance patients need for finding providers for primary procedure is true and even more so for revision work.
Schedule multiple in person consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons in your community. Whatever procedure they recommend insist on seeing enough before and after pictures to get a very clear idea of what average results for that procedure look like in the hands of each provider.
If you opt for having a full tummy tuck and learn how to Judge Tammy check results accurately. Tell me a tech results should be judged based on who gets the most natural looking belly buttons with a very low said scarf that follows anatomic contours naturally and evenly on both sides leaving the torso looking attractive balanced inappropriate from all angles including from behind.
If you opt for having a full tummy tuck and learn how to Judge Tammy check results accurately. Tell me a tech results should be judged based on who gets the most natural looking belly buttons with a very low said scarf that follows anatomic contours naturally and evenly on both sides leaving the torso looking attractive balanced inappropriate from all angles including from behind.
Your situation is complex and giving you an appropriate assessment and recommendation is really far beyond what can be done by posting on this website.
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of properly vetting plastic surgeons and finding the best provider.
This generally requires having multiple in person consultations.
For most patients are usually recommend having a minimum of five in person consultations and if you have any doubts regarding skill or experience then simply schedule more consultations.
Liposuction results vary more based on who does the procedure than any other plastic surgery operation.
There are plenty of well intended board-certified plastic surgeons with years of experience who are unable to deliver quality Liposuction results.
The number of plastic surgeons who can do this procedure well on a consistent basis including the ability to make an accurate assessment and show predictable before and after pictures that are true to what you should expect in regards to outcome is relatively rare.
For all of these reasons patients need to be extremely careful and much more selective than you think you need to be.
Find the right plastic surgeon and everything falls into place.
Good luck,
Mats Hagstrom MD

6 moths post op - Are there procedure options that can help improve contour irregularities? (photo)

Answers (9)

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