“TL;DR: Loose skin is a common issue following liposuction procedures, including normal liposuction, liposculpture, vaser, smart lipo, and bodytite. This occurs because skin stretches to accommodate excess fat, which, when removed, leaves the skin saggy. Techniques like Vaser, Smart Lipo and Bodytite use ultrasound, laser and radiofrequency, respectively, to induce temporary skin tightening through fibrosis, but this effect fades within a year, often leaving loose skin. The most effective and safe method for tightening skin post-liposuction is deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency, which stimulates collagen contraction, new collagen, and elastin synthesis for tighter, more elastic skin. A course of 6–12 weekly sessions is typically required, though severe cases may need up to 20 or surgical intervention. Vibration-producing exercises, such as running or using a vibration plate, support collagen production, as does a diet rich in lean protein, polyphenols, and vitamin C and concentrated skin firming creams. Home radiofrequency devices and the usual diluted skin firming creams are generally ineffective.”
Loose skin and skin tightening after liposuction
My skin is loose after lipo. Why is that, and what can I do about it?
What causes skin laxity after liposuction?
How to tighten loose skin after lipo
Is there anything I can do myself to help with skin tightening after liposuction?
Skin looseness and skin tightening after liposuction: frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Laser skin tightening after liposuction?
Will liposuction tighten skin? Or does liposuction leave loose skin?
How long does it take for skin to tighten after liposuction?
How to tighten loose skin on stomach after liposuction
Have a skin tightening/cellulite treatment with London’s cellulite experts
The Cellulite School™: Get advanced training in cellulite reduction and skin tightening
My skin is loose after lipo. Why is that, and what can I do about it?
After any ‘lipo’ procedure skin is left looser.
This applies to ALL liposuction-related types of surgery, collectively referred to as ‘lipo’ in this article:
Normal liposuction
Liposculpture (liposuction with fat transfer)
Vaser (ultrasound assisted liposuction)
Smart lipo (laser-assisted liposuction)
Bodytite (radiofrequency-assisted liposuction)
As more and more people have liposuction, we see at the clinic more and more people with skin laxity after lipo.
In fact, perhaps 50% of our clients these days had some form of lipo before.
What causes loose skin after liposuction?
When putting on weight, skin stretches to accommodate the extra adipose tissue volume. After adipose tissue is removed with lipo, the excess skin appears loose and saggy.
Vaser lipo, smart lipo and bodytite lipo use an ultrasound, laser or radiofrequency cannula tip, respectively, to “coagulate” (basically burn) the hypodermis (deepest skin layer), which results in inflammation and consequent controlled fibrosis formation (sometimes not that “controlled”), in order to artificially “tighten” (basically harden) the skin.
However, this is only temporary and when the fibrosis is gradually dissolved after about a year, skin is left loose and needs some proper skin tightening (sometimes fibrosis is excessive and results in scar tissue lumps, but this is material for another article).
How to tighten loose skin after lipo
The most effective SAFE technology known today for skin tightening after liposuction (or for skin tightening, in general) is deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency.
Any other technology is either less effective or may lead to adverse reactions - in addition to not being very effective either (e.g. RF microneedling).
Deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency works by stimulating:
Existing collagen contraction, for skin tightening
New collagen synthesis in fibroblasts, for skin tightening
New elastin synthesis in fibroblasts, for skin elasticity
The result is tighter, more lifted skin with improved elasticity.
For good results with skin tightening after liposuction most people need a course of 6-12 weekly, deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency sessions. Severe skin looseness may require up to 20 sessions, while extreme skin laxity may require surgical removal of skin (thigh lift, tummy tuck, arm lift etc).
Contrary to what some clinics misleadingly claim, you cannot safely and effectively tighten your skin with 1-4 miracle treatments - do not fall for such hype. Your body does need strong, regular, repeated stimulation to change and this does not happen overnight with miracle treatments.
Is there anything I can do myself to help with skin tightening after lipo?
Vibration plate training and any exercise that involves some vibration (running, fast walking, most sports) can help with fibroblast function with collagen synthesis, via a process called mechanotransduction.
On the other hand, static types of exercise, such as yoga and pilates do not help with firming, as they do not provide any vibration to fibroblasts.
Consuming enough lean protein (most women don’t), polyphenols (berries, herbs, spices, citrus fruits etc) and vitamin C are essential for collagen production.
You can also have a daily shake with collagen power or “vegan collagen” powder.
Do not bother with home radiofrequency machines: they are a waste of time and money. Find a reputable clinic instead, even if you have to travel a bit to them.
You may also also use a real cellulite cream, i.e. one with multiple high-purity actives in high concentrations, relevant to skin firming. As most skin firming body creams are very diluted, do your due diligence first before wasting your money on nothing more than a moisturiser.
Skin looseness and skin tightening after liposuction: frequently asked questions (FAQs)
We hope everything is now clear regarding skin laxity after lipo and what you can do to tighten the skin.
Below are some straight, quick answers to the most common questions related to this subject, to clarify finer points and add more detail.
Laser skin tightening after liposuction?
Lasers do have some utility for facial skin tightening, where skin is thin and surface area very small.
However, lasers are too superficial and inefficient for alrge areas so they are almost completely useless for body skin tightening, especially compared to deep, strong radiofrequency. Don’t waste your money on lasers for body skin tightening.
Will liposuction tighten skin? Or does liposuction leave loose skin?
Of course liposuction does not tighten skin. In fact, quite the opposite happens, as we explain above.
Even the so-called skin tightening lipo procedures, such as vaser or smart lipo, eventually leave skin loose after an initial skin hardening period - if you manage to avoid fibrosis.
We are not against liposuction - in most cases it is the only choice for local fat reduction. However, liposuction almost always results in skin laxity.
How long does it take for skin to tighten after liposuction?
Young skin can gradually tighten to a large extent on its own after lipo but not always completely. Older skin tightens much more slowly and never completely.
This is the reason skin tightening treatments like deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency are necessary after liposuction.
How to tighten loose skin on stomach after liposuction
The skin tightening advice given above (deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency, vibration plate training, high-protein and high-polyphenol diet, overall exercise, concentrated skin firming cream etc) applies to laxity on all body areas, i.e. the stomach, the arms, the buttocks, the waist etc.
Have a skin tightening treatment in London with the experts
At LipoTherapeia, we’ve focused exclusively on skin tightening and cellulite reduction for over 20 years, delivering more than 20,000 sessions.
This is our daily study and practice, having explored and tested all significant skin tightening technologies and their manufacturers hands-on.
As deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency and ultrasound cavitation are the leading methods for skin tightening and cellulite reduction, we’ve invested in the world’s top RF/ultrasound systems.
(Naturally, we continually seek new technologies, and should a superior option emerge, we’ll be the first to adopt it. But we’ll never chase the latest ineffective fad just because it’s marketed as trendy, yet delivers poor or unsafe results.)
Over the past two decades, we’ve refined advanced RF and cavitation protocols to maximise our technologies’ effectiveness, ensuring natural, safe, and optimal outcomes.
For even quicker, enhanced results, we now integrate our RF/ultrasound treatments with high-power red/infrared LED therapy.
Our radiofrequency/ultrasound/LED treatments are comfortable, painless, require no downtime, involve no injections, are 99.5%+ safe, and always non-invasive.
(We avoid unsafe or ineffective RF microneedling and HIFU, as well as safe but ineffective options like acoustic wave therapy, superficial RF (bipolar/tripolar/multipolar, etc.), low-power RF/cavitation, electrical muscle stimulation, lymphatic massage, cupping, dry brushing, or absurd bum bum creams.)
Our commitment is to honest, realistic, science-driven treatments, paired with caring, professional service and a warm smile.
We look forward to welcoming you, evaluating your cellulite, skin laxity, or fibrosis, hearing your story, discussing your needs, and providing the most effective treatment possible.
The Cellulite School™: Get advanced training in cellulite reduction and skin tightening
Why train with The Cellulite School™?
Training in cellulite reduction and skin tightening is often overly simplistic, typically lasting 4-6 hours. It includes basic machine operation instructions from manufacturers, filled with myths, inaccuracies, and misconceptions, alongside minimal health and safety guidance.
Proper, in-depth training on the science of cellulite, skin tightening, radiofrequency, ultrasound, and related technologies is virtually non-existent globally.
Do you want to thoroughly understand radiofrequency, ultrasound cavitation, LED phototherapy, cellulite, and skin tightening?
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