Liposuction remains one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the nation—for good reason. This versatile procedure can provide cohesive, slimming results when performed alone or in combination with another body contouring procedure, such as a tummy tuck. Still, one of the biggest concerns prospective liposuction patients have is the presence of scarring after their procedure. This blog will focus on the question of scars after liposuction: where they are placed, how to avoid them, and what additional procedures can be used to minimize them (such as laser resurfacing).
Will I Develop Scars After Liposuction?
As with any cosmetic surgery, a liposuction procedure will leave some scarring on your skin. This happens as a result of the incisions made by your plastic surgeon during the course of the procedure. These incisions allow your doctor to insert a surgical cannula into the skin, extracting the fat cells from that particular area.
To your body’s immune system, those incisions are wounds. As your body begins to heal, the new skin cells develop in robust formation around that opening, ultimately sealing it off. Scarring occurs because the newer skin cells don’t always align perfectly with the older ones, and a build-up of tissue occurs.
A skilled and experienced plastic surgeon will do their best to create incisions in subtle parts of the body, such as along natural folds or in easy-to-cover areas.
What Can You Do to Reduce Liposuction Scars?
Scars are a normal part of healing. However, several factors can influence the development and appearance of these scars:
- The size of the incision: Most liposuction procedures only require very small incisions because the cannula is quite thin.
- The location of the incision: Skilled surgeons can hide most incisions well. For example, for abdominal liposuction, the scar is often hidden in the bikini line area or the naval, making it easy to cover with undergarments or swimwear.
- Your genetics and age: How well your skin heals can depend on your age and genetics. If you have a history of developing scars or keloid scarring, you are more likely to have visible scars from liposuction.
While scarring is an expected part of surgery, patients can take proactive measures to reduce their appearance:
- Follow aftercare instructions: Your surgeon will give specific post-op instructions after liposuction. Follow them as closely as possible to promote healing and reduce the risk of noticeable scarring.
- Eat a healthy diet: Give your body the nutrients it needs by eating a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein. Healthy eating habits promote healing and minimize the appearance of scars during recovery.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking limits blood flow throughout your body, which can negatively impact your liposuction recovery and increase the likelihood of noticeable scarring.
- Sun exposure: Exposing your incision to too much sun during the healing process can lead to discoloration, called hyperpigmentation. Make sure you wear sunscreen and protective clothing to reduce the likelihood of noticeable scarring.
How Noticeable Are Liposuction Scars?
The prevalence of liposuction scars depends on the location of the incisions and your skin’s ability to heal. Most of the time, these scars are minor marks on the skin that fade over time.
To get a better idea of potential results, you can research before and after photos of actual liposuction patients. It is especially helpful to study the results of your specific plastic surgeon to gain a better understanding of their work and end results. An expert plastic surgeon will produce results where it’s not easy to pinpoint scars on the body.
How to Treat Liposuction Scars
For those looking to reduce the appearance of scarring, there are options that may help reduce the risk of scars. At Center for Plastic Surgery, we work closely with our clients to provide a range of treatment options that can help with scar reduction, including laser scar removal.
The Halo® hybrid fractional laser is a skin resurfacing method that gently reduces scars, wrinkles, and other deep blemishes. The Halo® hybrid fractional laser is highly customizable and combines ablative and non-ablative lasers to achieve brighter skin with minimal downtime. Meet with our Washington, D.C. team to determine the best scar removal strategy for your skin.
Explore Your Liposuction and Scar Removal Options
Center for Plastic Surgery has a reputation for providing patients in the Washington, D.C., area with safe, natural-looking liposuction results. Call our Tysons Corner location at (703) 560-2850 or our Chevy Chase location at (301) 652-7700 to schedule your consultation today. You can also complete our online contact form to learn more.