Tips for Minimizing Vaser Lipo Scars | Sieber Plastic Surgery

Vaser liposuction surgery is an excellent treatment for removing excess fat from body parts such as the abdomen and thighs. If you’ve ever dreamt of having a body free from stubborn excess fat, Vaser is the ideal procedure. Other methods, such as traditional liposuction, generally pale in comparison with what Vaser can do to get rid of unwanted fats.

Unfortunately, some patients are concerned about scars. They worry that, despite Vaser lipo being an easy outpatient procedure with a high success rate, Vaser may leave bad visible scarring.

Is the prospect of Vaser lipo scars holding you back from getting the body you’ve always dreamed of having?

Don’t let it! Although some patients will rarely develop hypertrophic or keloid scars on their body, this is extremely rare and will vary depending on your skin type. Despite Vaser liposuction technically being an invasive surgery (because it requires incisions), it should be emphasized that it is a minimally invasive procedure, and scars are hardly visible.

The majority of patients only require minuscule incisions for fat cells to be removed during Vaser lipo, which means … minuscule scars once you’re healed. Still, we want those scars to heal as well as possible — flat, faded, and blended in with the rest of your skin.

And for this to happen, patients must do their part to properly care for their incision sites and manage their scars in the months and years to come. Here are some tips, but first: What are scars?

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Why Do Scars Happen in the First Place?

Perhaps one of the only drawbacks to Vaser liposuction is minimal scarring. Really, though, scarring happens whenever your skin is cut, punctured, or incised.

Scars are, of course, the result of wounds. Any surgery that involves incisions is going to mean scarring.

What is actually happening when your skin scars is that your body is recognizing that you have a wound, and it’s trying to repair it as quickly and effectively as possible. Therefore, your body rushes collagen to the incision site to repair the cells there. Collagen is an essential protein that makes up much of your body’s connective tissue.

Over time, collagen is able to repair the incision or cut. The downside is that the new skin and tissue your body creates is different from the surrounding tissue.

That’s why you can tell where you have a scar. Often, scar tissue is raised and a different color. It’s also usually more taught and less flexible. This makes it less durable.

Does Vaser Lipo Leave Scars That Are Noticeable?

No, Vaser liposuction scars are not very noticeable. This is because the initial incisions that are made prior to fat removal are really tiny.

Most Vaser liposuction procedures require small incisions that are just big enough for your skilled surgeon to insert his or her cannula. And most cannulas are just a few millimeters in diameter.

This means that the scars on your body are just going to be a few millimeters long. They are not deep scars.

Today, we also have scar therapy options that can help flatten and smooth out even small liposuction scars. Longer incisions like those that are necessary for a tummy tuck surgery or some knee surgeries or abdominal surgeries, for example, will leave more noticeable scars than Vaser liposuction. Still, even these will fade naturally with time and can be smoothed with scar therapy.

Tips to Minimize Vaser Liposuction Scars

1 – Take care of yourself during your recovery time.

The first step to minimizing the appearance of Vaser lipo scars is to allow your incisions to heal well. Believe it or not, this won’t necessarily happen on its own.

Proper healing begins with rest. After your procedure, take a few days to just relax and not do much. You’ll have some slight pain, swelling, and bruising after your procedure (which is normal), so you’ll probably want to sleep a lot. That’s good.

Taking a short, easy walk a few times a day is generally okay too, but don’t do more than this. Get a good night’s sleep each night, and naps are okay too right now! Be sure to wear your compression garments.

Finally, eat a healthy diet with lots of protein, veggies, and fruits, and drink plenty of water to help reduce swelling during your recovery time.

2 – Avoid sun exposure.

Scar skin is different from surrounding normal skin. It darkens more with sun exposure (UV light exposure), and the darker color is often permanent. Those with melanin-rich darker skin may experience this more than those with lighter skin.

To help your scars better match the rest of your skin, stay out of the sun. If you must go out in the sun, be sure to use a sunscreen with a high SPF, and reapply it every few hours. Of course, you should avoid tanning beds as well.

3 – Harness the power of silicone.

Silicone gel sheets are one of the best at-home treatments for scars. Several studies — and our own experience — have confirmed that silicone can do wonders when it comes to reducing the noticeability of scars over time.

4 – Get extra help with scars if you need it.

Certain individuals may scar more easily (and worse) than others. Some may develop keloid scars.

If you know you scar easily or if you find your incisions seem to be healing poorly, contact us. We can help you determine if an alternative scar therapy such as a laser treatment could help you.

Vaser Lipo Scar FAQs

When will my Vaser lipo scars go away?

This depends on a multitude of factors. First, some people scar more easily than others. Second, if you have a lot of liposuction performed, you’re going to have more incisions, and that means your collective grouping of scars may end up being more noticeable.

The good news about liposuction procedure scars is that over time, almost all of them will fade. The bad news is that this can take between six months and a year to happen.

Does SmartLipo or Vaser lipo cause more scars?

For most patients, the scar sizes that result from SmartLipo and Vaser liposuction are comparable. They are extremely small with both types of liposuction.

How can you soften scar tissue after a liposuction procedure?

Scars should soften over time on their own, but you can help the healing process by using silicone scar therapy. Keeping the area moist with silicone gel sheets or serum will improve the softness and appearance of your scars over time.

Set Up Your Vaser lipo Consultation

At Sieber Plastic Surgery, we want you to love your results. Scar management and therapy is part of the care we provide for patients after their liposuction surgery.

To learn more about managing scars after surgery, or to see if you qualify for Vaser lipo, contact our office today and schedule your consultation appointment with double board certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Sieber. We look forward to hearing from you!

References

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/scar-treatment-101-what-are-the-first-steps