Real Cases of Botched Lipo (Looks like a Bad Photoshop Job!) And How Dr Puah Fixed Them

Many people worldwide choose liposuction as a fat reduction and body sculpting procedure because of its efficacy and immediate results. Liposuction is often considered an "easy procedure" that produces excellent results with relatively low risks, side effects and discreet scars (if any!).

For some patients, liposuction can be a positive transformative experience but unfortunately for some, it is a new chapter of nightmares.

Have you heard of a patient in the UK who was promised a ‘perfect Instagrammable body’ but the result was less than heart-worthy?

Anna Sabreze, a 49-year-old trainee lawyer from the UK, is suing her cosmetic surgeon after a botched lipo procedure left her with an uneven body contour such as dimples and asymmetry and significant scarring, although she was promised a 'perfect Instagrammable body.'

Anna argued that she wasn't given enough information about the risks to make an informed decision and was seeking revision surgery and damages. The surgeon denied promising her a perfect result and claimed that Anna had been warned about the risks via email. The lawyers insisted she was told by the surgeon to lower her expectations for the outcome, and further claimed she was informed of the chance of ending up with irregularities such as "lumpiness, scarring, dimpling, contour irregularity and laxity of skin."

Dr Ivan Puah, an MOH-accredited liposuction doctor in Singapore, has over 20 years of experience in liposuction, gynecomastia, fat grafting and corrective surgeries, shares : 

"Botched lipo procedures often occur due to problems with either under-correction or overcorrection. Undercorrection occurs when not enough fat is removed. Overcorrection is the opposite and may lead to bumps, depressions, and asymmetries. These usually occur in the hands of inexperienced, inadequately trained, or unskilled liposuction practitioners who may cause tissue damage. Poor communication between doctors and patients may also result in poor outcomes."

Successful Case Study #1: Asian woman in early 40s underwent corrective liposuction on lower abdomen and waist with fat grafting 

Patient Background

Ms S is a petite woman in her early 40s, who has undergone several liposuction procedures over the years in Singapore. Her first surgery was on her outer thighs a decade ago, followed by abdomen and waist liposuction, as well as breast fat grafting in 2019. 

Despite these procedures, she was unhappy with the remaining persistent fat pockets in those areas. When her surgeon dismissed her concerns as "muscles," she felt dissatisfied and sought a second opinion from Dr Ivan Puah.

Consultation for a Tailored Corrective Liposuction Surgical plan with Dr Ivan Puah

During the private consultation and assessment at Amaris B. Clinic, Dr Puah observed:

• significant fat pockets on her waist
• many depressions and dents
• patches of unevenness on her abdomen
• scarring around the abdominal area
• depressions on the right and left outer thighs

Considering the complexity of her botched lipo procedure, Dr Puah proposed to:

1. remove the fat bulges on her waist and reshape it for improved definition
2. correct the unevenness in her abdomen and on her outer thighs
3. repair the dents and depressions in multiple areas

He advised her to maintain realistic expectations regarding the results of the corrective surgery, given her history of multiple liposuction procedures. He explained the possible complications and the pros and cons of the surgery in detail. 

Results of Dr Puah's Corrective Liposuction Surgery with Fat Grafting

A week later during her first post-op review, it was observed that her wounds were healing well. Her stitches were then removed. By her final review in December 2021, Ms S expressed high satisfaction with the results, as she achieved the aesthetic improvement she desired.

Successful Case Study #2: Caucasian man in late 60s with botched hi-def Vaser Lipo procedure underwent corrective surgery with fat grafting on chest and abdomen 

Patient Background

Mr JE, a Caucasian man in his late 60s, had several abdomen and waist liposuction surgeries locally and in Australia in early 2000. The procedures went smoothly without complications. 

In 2017, he underwent high-definition Vaser liposuction on the chest and abdomen in Australia. Unfortunately, this surgery caused unevenness, leftover bulges, depressed patches and adhesions. This left him feeling both physically and emotionally upset. He visited Dr Puah in Singapore to get revision liposuction surgery to fix the uneven results.

Consultation for a Personalised Corrective Liposuction Surgical plan with Dr Ivan Puah

Mr JE travelled to Singapore to consult Dr Puah about corrective surgery for issues caused by his high-definition Vaser liposuction in Australia. He is upset about the bulges, scars, unevenness, and dents on his chest and abdomen. 

Dr Puah examined him and found several concerns:

• Uneven and asymmetrical indentations on his chest and abdomen  
• Adhesions in both chest areas  
• Unnatural fat pads with lines and bulges  
• Over-suctioned areas, leading to an unnatural appearance

Dr Puah proposed a comprehensive revision surgery plan to correct the botched lipo procedure that includes the following:

• Fat Grafting to correct depressed patches, indentations, and unevenness in the skin.
• Liposculpture to remove leftover fat bulges, even out uneven fat pads on the abdomen, and address unnatural linear lines.
• Waist Liposuction to extract quality fat for grafting while also sculpting and contouring the waist.

Dr Puah emphasised the importance of managing Mr JE's expectations due to the presence of fibrotic scars and adhesions from multiple previous surgeries. Preoperative blood tests were also conducted.

Results of Dr Puah's Corrective Liposuction Surgery with Fat Grafting

The corrective surgery took place in 2020 and was carried out smoothly without any complications.

Mr JE came back to the clinic the day after his surgery for a follow-up. The doctors found that his wounds were clean, and there were no signs of swelling or bruising. He continued to recover in his home country, where a doctor removed his stitches later on.

One year after the surgery, Mr. JE emailed the clinic his post-surgery pictures and thanked Dr Puah for the improved results.

Read other Real Patient Stories on Botched Lipo Procedure by Dr Ivan Puah:

• Asian Woman In Early 40s, Corrective Lipo On Lower Ab & Waist With Fat Grafting To Multiple Areas
• Woman in her 30s for facial, buttock and thigh correction surgery with fat grafting
• Mid-40s Caucasian Man, Botched Gynecomastia Surgery
• Late 60’s Caucasian Man, Corrective Surgery and Fat Grafting On Chest & Ab After Botched Hi-Def Vaser Liposuction

You shouldn't bear the consequences of someone else's mistakes! If you suspect that you are a victim of a botched lipo procedure, we welcome you to schedule a private consultation with Dr Ivan Puah today!