Liposuction is an effective plastic surgery procedure that is capable of removing excess fat from specific areas of the body. However, for certain patients, there is a risk of skin dimpling after liposuction. In this blog post, we review who is at risk of skin dimpling after liposuction, and how it can be prevented and treated.
Causes of Skin Dimpling after Liposuction
When liposuction is performed, the cannula (a tube that suctions the fat) passes through both adipose and connective tissues, causing minor trauma to surrounding tissues. Dimples form when the tissues heal unevenly, extra weight is gained or lost, large amounts of fat are removed, and the patient has poor skin elasticity.
- Weight fluctuations: Patients whose weight is unstable are at a higher risk of dimpling after having liposuction. Gaining and losing weight can cause unevenness.
- Large amount of fat removal: Patients must also be realistic about the amount of weight lost from liposuction. Taking out too much fat from a single area can cause dimpling.
- Uneven healing or fat removal: Patients should choose a skilled plastic surgeon who can remove fat evenly and gently from the target area.
- Skin elasticity: The skin is more likely to contract and conform to new body contours in younger patients. Patients with poor skin elasticity may want to combine liposuction with skin tightening treatments that are designed to smooth out the skin.
- Cellulite: Women who have pre-existing cellulite may also be at a greater risk for skin irregularities after liposuction; the procedure can disrupt connective tissues and the distribution of fat.
How to Prevent Skin Dimpling after Liposuction
Keeping your weight stable and wearing compression garments on the treated area are the best things patients can do to prevent dimpling. Compression garments will help to reduce the appearance of dimples, sagging skin, and track marks.
- Keeping weight stable: To stay at a healthy weight, patients should maintain a calorie-restricted diet that is low in sugar, transfats, and sodium. When they heal from surgery, they should begin a regular exercise routine that consists of 30 to 60-minute workouts most days of the week. Patients should also reach their desired weight before surgery, not after. Weight loss after liposuction may cause a lumpy, uneven contour.
- Medications: Medications should be accounted for when maintaining weight. There are certain medications that cause unforeseen weight gain. For example, women should be aware that if they take synthetic estrogens or oral contraceptives, they could lead to water retention and localized weight gain.
- Stay well hydrated: even with a balanced diet, some people have a hard time keeping their weight down. Consuming too much sodium and drinking too little water can cause retention of excess fluid and makes the whole body, including the treated area, look puffy and uneven.
Treatment of Skin Dimpling after Liposuction
There are ways to reduce skin dimpling after liposuction. These include:
- Massage: If unevenness develops, patients can massage the lumps to soften them. Some spas offer massages specifically designed to help with unevenness after cosmetic surgery.
- Non-surgical skin tightening: Treatments like Thermage may be beneficial to some patients who have excess skin and dimples from liposuction. Make sure that any laser treatments are performed by a licensed health professional at a plastic surgeon's office or a dermatologist's office.
- Surgery: Surgical skin tightening procedures such as tummy tuck, arm lift, and thigh lift allow for the removal off excess skin. The remaining skin is re-draped and pulled taut, resulting in a smoother appearance to the skin.
To find out if you are a good candidate for liposuction, contact Dr. Paul Pin's practice today.