Fast facts

Liposuction

What it is: Liposuction or lipoplasty is a surgical procedure to address excess fat deposits in specific areas of the body.  Liposuction is not intended to be a weight loss solution.

What it addresses:  Fat deposits in body areas including:

- Stomach
- Buttocks, Hips & Thighs
- Love Handles
- Saddle Bags
- Calves & Ankles
- Breasts
- Back

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Question

Sagging skin and lump after Liposuction

I had my arms Liposuctioned almost 3 months ago. I had great elasticity before the procedure, so the doctor told me I was an excellent candidate. However, now I have some sagging skin on one arm, and while most of the lumps are gone, I still have a big lump on the other arm. I massage it daily but it won't go away. The doctor said I should get some more retraction, but I'm not too sure about that. Are these things normal after Liposuction?

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Asked by: likklean cute
jamaica

Answers (4)

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1
November 25, 2008

Time will help

Darrick E. Antell, MD
Darrick E. Antell, MD
Board Certified
Plastic Surgeon
Hopefully, you will have some more retraction of the skin and evening out of the lumpy areas. Give it a little more time. It can take six months to a year for full healing.

 

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2
November 25, 2008

Wait a bit more

Steven Wallach, MD
Steven Wallach, MD
Board Certified
Plastic Surgeon

Lumpiness can be from swelling or areas that were not adequately liposuctioned. However, it is a bit early to revise anything. Massage is unlikely to improve the lumpiness at this time.  The skin laxity will probably not improve.

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3
November 24, 2008

Two issues

Brent Moelleken, MD
Brent Moelleken, MD
Board Certified
Plastic Surgeon

You mentioned you had two issues with your liposuction:  lumpiness at 3 months' time and sagging skin on one arm.  Presumably there is an asymmetry since one side is sagging and the other not.

The best course is generally to wait for about 6 months before considering revision liposuction, if any is needed at all.  Lumpiness after liposuction generally responds to massage and time.  Small irregularities generally respond to revision liposuction, if they are bothersome to the patient. 

At the 6 month timepoint, it would also be good to assess the degree of skin looseness, especially if it is present on one side and not the other.

If the mass does not diminish in size over time, you should have your doctor consider the possibility that the mass might be something other than a post-liposuction indurated area.  I have seen several cases where a patient has had liposuction, and a mass was then noted which was actually a separate growth rather than a post-liposuction irregularity.  Fortunately these masses tend to be lipomas, but should generally be treated with surgical removal and biopsy rather than liposuction.

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4
November 24, 2008

you will likely need a touch up procedure

Shahram Salemy, MD
Shahram Salemy, MD
Board Certified
Plastic Surgeon

It sounds like there may be a small area of fat that is still remaining, but this can easily be treated with a procedure under local anesthetic. Give yourself a minimum of 6 months before undergoing a repeat procedure, but it should do the trick.

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