As body contouring procedures like liposuction, tummy tucks and fat grafting have become more popular, Dr. David Sayah sees more and more patients who are unhappy with their results after surgery elsewhere. If you are living with lumps, dents or uneven areas after a body contouring procedure, you are not alone, and these problems can often be improved.
Revision surgery is often more complex than the original procedure. Scar tissue, previously disrupted fat layers and changes in skin quality all affect what can be safely corrected and how much improvement is realistic. Dr. Sayah is a board-certified plastic surgeon, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a graduate of the UCLA School of Medicine, with surgical training at both NYU and UCLA. His research in wound healing and scar formation shapes how he plans each revision, and every patient at his Beverly Hills practice begins with a thorough evaluation of their tissue, prior surgical history and overall health. Not everyone is a candidate for revision, and results vary from person to person, so Dr. Sayah takes time to discuss realistic expectations before recommending any treatment.
What Are Contour Irregularities?
Contour irregularities are visible bumps, dips or dents in the soft tissues that disrupt the body’s natural, smooth shape. They can show up after liposuction or a tummy tuck when fat is removed unevenly. After fat grafting, the transferred fat can settle unevenly and create lumpy or asymmetric areas.
Some transferred fat may also fail to survive. When that happens, it can form firm lumps called fat necrosis, which can be both visible and felt under the skin.
Dr. Sayah draws on his training in reconstructive surgery to correct each of these problems with techniques he has refined over more than two decades.
Correcting Lumps, Dents and Divots
High-definition liposuction. For residual bumps after liposuction or a tummy tuck, Dr. Sayah performs high-definition liposuction with extremely fine cannulas. This lets him reduce lumps precisely and sculpt a smoother contour.
Fat dispersion and redistribution. When a patient has both bumps and depressions, Dr. Sayah uses a technique he developed called fat dispersion and redistribution. With specialized cannulas, he gently loosens fat cells so the tiny fat droplets can shift and settle into the hollow or depressed areas.
Imagine pouring thousands of tiny marbles onto an uneven floor. The marbles roll into the low spots and fill the dips until the surface is level. Builders use the same principle when they “float” a floor with a thin, self-leveling layer of concrete. In the same way, redistributed fat settles where it is needed, producing a smoother, more even contour.
Treating Fat Necrosis After Fat Grafting
Small areas of fat necrosis can often be removed with liposuction or a minor surgical excision.
Larger, firm areas usually need to be removed surgically. Taking them out can leave a depression, which Dr. Sayah then reconstructs with micro-droplet fat grafting. Think of it like a 3D printer: each tiny droplet of fat is placed deliberately and artistically, building the contour back up layer by layer until the depression is restored.
Insurance May Help Cover Your Care
Depending on your health plan and your diagnosis, some revision and reconstructive procedures may be partially or fully covered by health insurance. This applies especially to treating fat necrosis or deformities that cause pain or functional problems. Our team will review your situation and help verify your benefits before treatment.
Learn more about Body Contouring Revision.
Schedule Your Consultation
You don’t have to accept results you’re unhappy with. Dr. Sayah is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who completed his fellowship training at UCLA. He combines that reconstructive expertise with an artistic eye to help patients regain smooth, natural contours.
Call (310) 385-0000 or request a consultation online to talk with Dr. Sayah about your concerns and your options for correction.
Medically reviewed by David N. Sayah, MD, MD, FACS on
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436 North Bedford Drive Suite 202
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: (310) 385-0000
