COSMETIC TOWN JOURNAL



Liposuction Scars - How to Treat Them

Posted February 17, 2021
Treatment for liposuction scar

Liposuction is a popular cosmetic surgery procedure that is performed to remove stubborn areas of fat from the body. The fat cells that are removed are normally resistant to being reduced through traditional diet and exercise. While there are multiple surgical liposuction methods that can be performed by experienced and board-certified doctors, each of these techniques generally includes making small incisions in the body to reach the targeted fat cells and remove them using a cannula. Since liposuction involves cutting into the layers of skin, patients are likely to have wounds that will eventually result in a scar. Let’s take a look at liposuction scars and the most effective ways to treat them on the body.

Liposuction and Scar Formation

The appearance of significant scarring after undergoing liposuction is normally not an issue if the procedure is performed by an experienced doctor that knows the steps to take to minimize the formation of scars.

The plastic surgeon will likely make the incisions as small as possible as well as place them on the body where they will not be very noticeable by others. If scarring does occur, and the scars are easy to see, it might be because of poor incision placement during the liposuction surgery.

In addition to poor placement of the incisions, hyperpigmentation (patches of skin become darker in color than the surrounding skin) can cause an incision to have a more noticeable look on the skin once it heals.

There are also some patients that simply have a genetic predisposition to keloid scars forming at the site of an incision. Anyone interested in having liposuction should discuss this with their surgeon before undergoing the procedure. 

Non-Surgical Scar Reduction and Removal Techniques

It should be noted that any liposuction scar removal method cannot completely remove a scar but they can reduce the overall look of any scarring. In addition, they can also improve other conditions on the body such as the range of motion in the area with the scar.

  • After the liposuction surgery is performed, the surgeon might have a patient wear a compression garment on the area of the body where the stubborn fat was removed. The wearing of compression garments can help to decrease the risk of scars appearing on the body after the procedure.
  • Patients that want to try “at home” treatments have turned to silicone gel in order to minimize the look of the scars. The silicone gel will need to be applied to the area of the body with the scars on a regular basis. Silicone gel hydrates the skin and stops the body from producing extra collagen during the healing process. The production of excess collagen can result in scars that are raised and visible to others.
  • Chemical peels and microdermabrasion can also be performed to remove the layers of scar tissue that can be seen by others on the skin of the patient. Instead of having to undergo surgery again, these treatments can be performed in the office of a dermatologist. While the healing process varies per person, the most common side effect is redness in the treated area. Multiple treatments might be needed to achieve the desired results.
  • Scars after liposuction can be treated using cryotherapy to freeze the scar from the inside using nitrogen gas. The scar will begin to swell, release any sort of discharge in the treated area and then fade in appearance.
  • Laser therapy is an effective method that doctors utilize to break apart both hypertrophic and keloid scars that appear after liposuction. A laser is used to heat the targeted scar as well as stimulate the growth of healthy cells in the area with the scar. Much like chemical peels and microdermabrasion, it can take multiple treatments to achieve the desired results.

Scar Removal Surgery

If the scar in question is severe and highly visible, scar removal surgery can be performed but it does carry the risk of creating further scars. Thankfully, any scars that form during the healing process after liposuction will likely not be severe enough to need surgery to address their appearance.

Anyone that is worried about the possibility of scarring after liposuction should share their concerns with a doctor that is experienced in performing the treatment. The surgeon can perform a physical examination of the patient and determine if the person is an ideal patient for developing scars after having liposuction. In addition, the doctor can examine the patient after the procedure is performed in order to determine why the scars might not be fading naturally.

During a consultation appointment, the doctor will also ask about the medical history of the patient to learn about past medical issues such as scarring on the body. A review of the medical history of a person can give a doctor greater insight into how likely a person is to develop scars after liposuction surgery.

- MA

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