Liposuction is one of the most popular body contouring procedures performed in America today. The majority of cosmetic surgery patients in Orlando are very happy with their liposuction results, but as with all surgical procedures, less than satisfactory outcomes can occur. Many liposuction patients are turning to Orlando plastic surgeon Dr. Kenrick Spence to achieve their expected contour, improve skin irregularities, or smooth out uneven fatty deposits through a revision liposuction procedure.
Many forms of liposuction and fat dissolving procedures claim the ability to tighten the skin. It is important that patients ask for justification of these claims by thorough review of photographs and perhaps talking to patients of similar skin types who have had the procedure performed.
Some indications for revision liposuction include:
Sagging Skin
If your skin is already sagging, removing additional fat tissue is likely to cause further drooping of the skin. Before undergoing liposuction in Orlando or being enticed by high tech devices promoted to tighten excess sagging skin, Dr. Spence urges you to determine that you are in fact a good candidate for the procedure. During his consultations, Dr. Spence discusses how different areas of the body respond to a liposuction procedure.
For example, there are times when skin with less than optimal elasticity can undergo liposuction over the concave hollow of the waist line while the same kind of skin may be quite unforgiving on the inner thigh. Dr. Spence recommends the use of compression garments designed to reduce swelling and as well as constantly moisturizing the skin to optimize skin tone after liposuction.
Dimpling or Concave Contour
One of the key aspects of liposuction which has made it a reliable procedure throughout the years is the uniformity of fat removal allowed by the procedure. With fat dissolving procedures, the injections of chemicals may not always be uniformly distributed throughout the tissue and may not uniformly dissolve fat leading to irregularities in the skin. Even with traditional liposuction in Orlando, Dr. Spence advises that the surgeon must delicately and evenly extract the fat so as to avoid concaving or dimpling of the surgical area.
The ability to fat graft areas of hollow contour irregularities is essential. For example, women who have had too much fat removed from the lateral buttocks giving a masculinized look may require a narrowing of the waistline with liposuction and fat grafted to the lateral buttock to achieve a natural feminine curve. Men on the other hand want a more squared-off look which can be achieved through removal of excess fat around the lateral thigh area.
Silhouette Imbalance
Revision liposuction requires an Orlando plastic surgeon to have a strong artistic sense of the body shape to determine the elements of contour that are missing to create an enhanced silhouette.
Specialized techniques are available to remove fat from areas previously treated with liposuction, mesotherapy, or Smartlipo™. The waistline has very dense fat and when previously operated on this area may have significant scarring. Dr. Spence has found power assisted liposuction to be the ideal cosmetic surgery technique to revise unsatisfying results in this area. In addition, his experience with fat grafting is very helpful in knowing just how much to graft and where to graft.
As we age our abdominal muscles become lax. Childbirth may have taken its toll. Skin that has lost its tone begins to sag and develops stretch marks, fatty deposits appear in unwanted areas around the thighs, hips, arms, neck, knees, and even the ankles. The pubis drops and the belly button changes shape. The experienced body contouring plastic surgeon must pay attention to the details of all areas to produce a look of aesthetic harmony. What we see from the back and sides is just as important as what we see from the front.
Aesthetic harmony can only be achieved by paying attention to these details for a Three Dimensional Approach. A flat abdomen with a wide waist or a flat abdomen, narrow waist with wide hips and lack of tapered knees or even thick ankles will have an unfinished look.
When performing liposuction, Dr. Spence pays particular attention to how each body area "fits" with surrounding areas to create three dimensional body harmony. While visiting with Dr. Spence he will guide you on a mental picture of the total body image you want to achieve. Detailed drawings, evaluation of skin tone, height and weight consideration along with the length of the torso, thighs, and shoulder width will all be taken into consideration during your consultation for Three Dimensional body sculpting.
How Soon Can I Get Revision Liposuction?
If you’re unsatisfied with the results of a previous liposuction procedure, you’re likely eager to correct them. However, it’s best to wait until you’re completely healed to ensure you get the best possible outcome from your revision.
Typically, liposuction revision procedures aren’t performed before six months of recovery, but you might need to wait up to a year. Our board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Fernando Ovalle Jr. and Dr. Kenrick Spence, can give you a more specific timeline at your consultation.
Can Other Procedures Be Combined with Revision Liposuction?
Revision liposuction procedures frequently include other techniques. For example, if your original liposuction procedure removed too much fat in some areas or left dimpling, fat grafting could fill in dents or hollow spots. In addition, if loose abdominal skin is a concern, a tummy tuck procedure might be part of your revision process.
What to Expect During Your Revision Liposuction Procedure
Our providers will use various advanced surgical techniques during your revision to minimize an uneven appearance and dimpling, reduce loose skin, and fill any overcorrected areas from your first procedure. Because you’ll be under general anesthesia, you won’t feel anything during the surgery. After your liposuction revision, you’ll typically be monitored for several hours before being cleared to go home.
Revision Liposuction Recovery
Your recovery process will depend on the types of procedures we perform during your liposuction revision. If your primary concern is that an insufficient amount of fat was removed, you may be able to get more liposuction to achieve your desired results. In this case, your recovery will likely look similar to the first time.
If fat grafting is used to fill concave areas, the recovery timeline often looks similar to liposuction. Patients with more straightforward revisions typically return to work after one to two weeks. You can wear a compression garment for three to six weeks to reduce swelling and bruising.
Recovery may take longer if your revision plan requires a tummy tuck. However, light activities are still typically fine as soon as the first week, and core exercises can be resumed after six to eight weeks.
Are Liposuction Revisions Common?
As more people try cosmetic procedures, more people are getting revisions across the board. The most common reason is that the original surgeon lacked an artistic eye or wasn’t experienced enough with certain techniques.
At Hillcrest Plastic Surgery & Dermatology, we pride ourselves on the results our knowledgeable board-certified plastic surgeons consistently deliver. They’re extremely familiar with the advanced surgical techniques that liposuction revision requires. If you choose liposuction revision with Dr. Ovalle or Dr. Spence in Orlando, you’ll be in highly qualified hands.
Can CoolSculpting® Fix Bad Liposuction?
If you don’t want to take time away from your busy life to recover from a second liposuction procedure, you might wonder if CoolSculpting will fix your concerns. Unfortunately, this treatment has limits. CoolSculpting won’t correct issues like sagging skin or significant asymmetry.
It also can’t fix areas where you feel too much fat was removed, causing a concave look. However, CoolSculpting might be an option if you’re happy with the overall results of your first liposuction treatment but have a few areas where you want a little more fat removed.
Avoiding Revision Liposuction
All patients want to achieve their ideal appearance the first time around, but like all surgical procedures, liposuction is not completely free of complications. Risks can be minimized by seeking several opinions, asking to view before and after photographs, and selecting a surgeon with extensive experience. Ask how complications would be dealt with. Ask your Orlando plastic surgeon what makes a good candidate for the procedure and what kind of results can be expected. Be realistic with respect to your skin tone, body shape, height and weight. Learn of the steps to be taken before and after surgery to enhance the outcome of your procedure. When you visit our cosmetic surgery practice in Orlando, you will receive a thorough evaluation including detailed drawings, evaluation of skin tone, and a discussion of your desired results.
To schedule a consultation call 407-999-2585 or request a consultation online. Also, feel free to browse through our Before and After Photo Gallery for liposuction photos.
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