Can You Get Rid of Liposuction Scars?
Despite being one of the best procedures for getting rid of excess fat, liposuction still comes with one drawback: liposuction scars. Fortunately, the good news is that liposuction scars are typically small and heal well. This means they soften and fade nearly to obscurity over time, blending with the skin around them.
We want you to have confidence as you head into your liposuction procedure. If liposuction scars are something you’re concerned about, read ahead to learn more about what they look like, where they’re typically located, and how you can treat them.
Does Liposuction Leave Scars?
Yes. One of the least-loved liposuction side effects is scarring. But as stated above, these scars are typically small and well-concealed.
The truth is, no matter what type of invasive surgery you have, if incisions are part of it, scars are inevitable. Liposuction necessitates incisions because your surgeon must have a place to insert their cannulas (a thin tube, which suctions out the fat cells).
What Do Liposuction Scars Look Like?
Liposuction scars come from incisions. They are usually less than a centimeter long. Again, each single incision (which later creates the scar) must be large enough to fit a cannula through. Cannulas are thin tube instruments used by plastic surgeons to agitate and suction out or drain the body of localized fat, so the thinner the cannula, the smaller the incision needs to be.
In addition to being small to begin with, lipo scars are always put where they are least likely to be seen. So, liposuction on the arms, for example, can be performed by making discreet liposuction incisions in the folds of the armpit.
When it comes to liposuction scars stomach scars tend to be some of the most noticeable. This is because we simply don’t have a lot of natural places to hide incisions on the stomach. Surgeons will, however, use the breast creases, belly button, and groin area to locate some stomach liposuction scars, using their long cannulas to reach the central abdominal area.
Furthermore, even when stomach incisions must be placed in more obvious areas, their size and prominence is nowhere near as noticeable as with tummy tuck surgery incisions, for instance.
If you want to see examples of these tiny scars on the stomach area, look up liposuction before and after photos (in particular, liposuction scars before and after photos).
Do Scars From Lipo Go Away?
No scars ever actually “disappear” because the scar tissue that replaced your old normal tissue will always be there.
But can visible scars fade significantly? Absolutely.
In this way, visible scarring can be quite minimal after the healing process for many liposuction procedures. Some patients even say they can’t find their scars anymore.
FAQ: Liposuction Recovery and Scars
What if I develop keloid scars after my liposuction procedure?
Most patients’ chances of developing keloid scars is minimal. However, it does occur, and it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible if you notice keloid scars.
Often, patients who have developed a keloid scar over an incision site after a past surgery (or after a past injury) are more likely to develop keloid scars again. So, if you have ever had one of these thick, raised scars, tell your surgeon about it prior to your fat removal procedure.
Do male liposuction scars look different than female liposuction scars?
No, there’s really no difference in scar visibility for men vs women. In other words, incisions from cosmetic surgery have the same effect on both men and women.
Scar visibility depends more on your skin type and skin quality. Some people simply tend to scar more noticeably than others.
What is the best scar cream for liposuction?
During liposuction recovery, most plastic surgeons will recommend silicone gel sheets or other silicone-based products as the best way to reduce noticeable scar tissue. Silicone gel sheets and similar products must be used consistently for them to be effective.
Do keep in mind that the purchase of these products will be the patient’s responsibility. So, naturally, this should be factored into your overall liposuction cost as you start budgeting for surgery.
Does liposuction leave saggy skin?
If you have a lot of skin laxity (loose skin) to begin with, this may result in saggy liposuction scarring and saggy skin in general after surgery. However, if you have a good plastic surgeon, they will see this potential outcome before your plastic surgery and will probably recommend a different course of action instead of liposuction alone.
If you have loose skin as well as excess fat on your stomach, for example, liposuction may be used alongside a tummy tuck. The tummy tuck can take care of the loose skin, and tumescent liposuction can remove excess fat.
Does BBL surgery leave scars?
Yes. This is because Brazilian butt lift surgery is a surgical procedure that involves liposuction, and scars result from liposuction.
As with any type of lipo, however, the tiny incisions from BBL lipo only need to be large enough to accommodate a thin cannula. Therefore, these incisions usually heal quickly and then flatten out and fade within a few months to a year. In subsequent years, they will fade even more.
Request a Consultation With Dr. David Sieber
To learn more about liposuction scars, liposuction recovery, and the liposuction procedure in general, please contact our office today.
Double board certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Sieber performs liposuction surgery at his San Francisco Bay Area practice and would be happy to meet with you to discuss your options. We look forward to hearing from you!
References
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-your-liposuction-recovery
