Liposuction Irregularites: Excessive Fat Removal Can Be Difficult to Treat

Do any of you know a friend whose liposuction results were less than optimal?  Consider the following patient...

I had a few question about revision liposuction.  I'm tall and slender (5' 9", 145 lbs.), and I had small pockets of fat around my flanks and outer thighs that I had VASERed last May. [The VASER is the latest and greatest ultrasonic liposuction machine.]

At the time, most of my friends thought I was crazy for getting anything done, since most people thought I looked good in a bikini.  My thighs were smooth with no dimpling or cellulite, even though I'm 46. I look much younger than my age with good muscle tone (I'm an ex-dancer, and I still workout everyday), and I have very good skin elasticity.

I had the ultrasonic liposuction done by a dermatologist who does VASER procedures in New York City.  I ended up paying way too much, considering I could have had the same areas done with traditional lipo for less, but I figured, since there was very little there, I would do the VASER.

Now almost 10 months after the procedure, I still have the SAME small pockets of fat on my flanks.  My outer thighs, while slimmer, are very dimpled with contour errors.  I went from people telling me I look good in a bikini, to not even being able to wear short shorts--because of all the dimpling on my thighs from the procedure.

The doctor who performed the procedure offered to fix one leg for free, but I am not going back to him.  If he couldn't fix it when it was perfectly smooth, I doubt that he could now since it is so severely dimpled.  Also, I've read many horror stories about revisions that made things worst.

I probably should have gone to a respected plastic surgeon to begin with instead of a dermatologist with a talent for PR, and this time I don't want to repeat the same mistakes.  I would like to fix the contour errors on my thighs and do things the right way, as a way of making amends to myself for this disaster, so I would like to ask a few questions.

1. Are there any plastic surgeons with a specialty in revision liposuction?
2. Do you think I should stick with traditional lipo for revision work in order to get the best results, since I am so disappointed in the VASER?

Really tough situation.  How should I answer?

1. I do have an interest in revising liposuction complications.
2. For contour irregularities, I recommend a combination of fat grafting and traditional liposuction.

First, I am sorry that this patient suffered disappointing results.  However, I am not sure that I would blame the machine.  I use the VASER for 90% of my body contouring procedures, and I love it. I have actually had fewer contour irregularities since switching from traditional liposuction to VASER ultrasonic liposuction.

(I wonder whether her doctor had had appropriate training with this device.  The VASER is awfully powerful.  It can extract fat that could never have been easily removed with traditional techniques. Perhaps, he/she was overly aggressive.  Then again, even great surgeons occasionally get poor results. Surgery is as much art as science.  However, it is concerning that her doctor was not Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.)

Second, the patient needs to decide whether she is willing to undergo a series of additional procedures.  For the patients whom I have seen for complications of ultrasonic liposuction, I typically recommend traditional liposuction to remove excess fat from the "high points," and then I replace fat into the divots ("low points") created by the previous liposuction.

Sounds difficult to smooth out irregularities, doesn't it?  Well, actually it is. This surgery is very tricky, and I warn patients that I may need to repeat the process 3-6 times before we are mutually satisfied.

I have had good results in the past.  All is not lost!

Comments

[Nik Vik]

Thanks for the info , i liked it.
I read an article at :

www.liposuctionnycguide.com

Here it shows having good results .

[dermatology upland]

Thank for the recommendation about the traditional liposuction to remove excess fat from the "high points," and then I replace fat into the divots ("low points") created by the previous liposuction,its very informative.

by: sphin

[Andy]

Hi I had a lipo and my legs and stomach..THEY got all wavy and they look really bad I cannot get nude or wear shorts o mini skirts like before and I m desesperate to find a solution. I TRY TO FIX IT ONCE AND I GOT MORE BUMPS I DONT KNOW WHERE TO GO AND WHO I CAN TRUST. THE TIME WHEN I TRY TO FIX IT WAS WITH SOMETHING CALLED LASERLIPOLYSIS. THE FAT SUPPOSES TO MELT AND GET EVEN, BUT GOT UNEVEN. I REALLY NEED HELP WITH THIS SO I CAN KEEP WITH MY REGULAR LIFE. THANKS FOR THE INFO

[Michael Pickart]

Dear Andy,

I am sorry that your outcome is so unsatisfactory.

First, find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in your locale. Go to www.plasticsurgery.org and search by ZIP code.

Second, be aware that reconstructive procedures can be much more difficult than the primary procedure. The goals should be to level the hills, and to fill in the valleys.

Removal of pockets of excess fat
Fat grafting to areas of excessive fat removal

Third, expect this process to require 2-6 treatments. A single session is unlikely to be effective.

Fourth, hang in there! There is hope. Dont give up.

Sincerely,
Mike Pickart

Michael C. Pickart, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Pickart Plastic Surgery, Inc.

428 Poli St.,#2C, Ventura, CA 93001
(805) 648-4567 | fax (805) 641-0811

To: info@pickartplasticsurgery.com
Subject: [Pickart Plastic Surgery Blog] Andy submitted a comment to Liposuction Irregularites: Excessive Fat Removal Can Be Difficult to Treat
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:36:26 -0800