Are there any risks to having Smart Lipo twice?

Question

I had smartLipo done on my upper and lower stomach. Inner and outer thighs, knees and flanks when I was 65. It took two years for the sensitivity in my stomach to feel better or back to normal. I would like to do Smart Lipo again. Would you advise against at it or should it be okay? I’ do not have any bumps or lumps Would there be any draw backs to doing it again I. Same areas?

Marco A. Pelosi III, MD, FACOG, FACS · Answer

What you are ultimately looking for is a good result rather than a specific procedure that might not be the best option for your situation. Laser-assisted liposuction creates significant internal fibrosis and scar tissue that can greatly complicate secondary revisions. 
Ultimately, the current condition of your areas of concern will dictate what can be done and what level of improvement can realistically be expected. An in-person consultation and physical evaluation are essential to assess your tissue quality and determine the safest, most effective path forward.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Having SmartLipo (laser-assisted liposuction) a second time is not automatically contraindicated, but repeat liposuction in the same areas requires more careful planning, particularly when the first procedure involved multiple areas and you experienced prolonged sensitivity.

The fact that you don't have lumps, bumps, or obvious contour irregularities is reassuring. However, the two years of altered sensitivity you experienced suggests that the nerves and tissues in those areas took a long time to recover. Liposuction—whether traditional or laser-assisted—can temporarily or, less commonly, permanently affect sensation.

Potential drawbacks of treating the same areas again include:

Increased scar tissue/fibrosis, which can make the second procedure technically more difficult.
Changes in skin sensation, including numbness, tingling, hypersensitivity, or burning.
Contour irregularities or asymmetry, particularly when there is already some underlying scar tissue.
Skin laxity, since removing additional fat does not necessarily improve loose skin.
Longer or more unpredictable recovery compared with the first procedure.
General liposuction risks such as bleeding, infection, fluid collections, blood clots, and anesthesia-related complications.

The important question is not simply whether you've had SmartLipo before, but how much residual fat is actually present, the quality and elasticity of your skin, and how much scar tissue remains from the previous procedure. A surgeon would also want to determine whether the desired improvement could be achieved safely without removing too much fat from an already-treated area.

At your age, the overall assessment of your health, medications, skin quality, and ability to heal becomes particularly important when considering elective surgery. If your tissues have healed well and you are otherwise an appropriate surgical candidate, a second procedure can sometimes be performed safely, but I would approach it conservatively rather than assuming that the same areas can simply be treated again in the same way.

In short: having SmartLipo twice isn't necessarily a problem, but repeat treatment of the same areas carries additional technical and tissue-related considerations. Your previous prolonged sensitivity would be something I would take seriously when weighing the potential benefits against the risks.

Are there any risks to having Smart Lipo twice?

Answers (2)

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