44 Yr Old, No Kids, Relatively Fit - Lipoabdominalplasty or Mini Tummy Tuck?

44 yr old female, no children, eat healthy and workout several times a week - but would like to get rid of accumulation of fat around torso (love handles and abdominal area).I am probably about 10-15 lbs over my "ideal" weight. Am concerned about the lumpy bumpy problem I hear about with lipo, but not sure that I really need a tummy tuck. Also always concerned about the health risk of any surgery, wondering if one procedure is "safer" than the other.

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10 Doctor Answers | Asked by Kitters in Prescott, AZ

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Mini Tummy Tuck or Lipo

I cannot answer your question without examining you and looking at photos. I would want to determine the elasticity of your skin, the amount of fat present and whether you have stretch marks. I consultation would be very informative for you.

Lipo vs tummy tuck

A photo would have be helpful to determine which procedure you are a good candidate for. Since you have not had any children and are in good shape, it may be possible that you do not need a tummy tuck. A tummy tuck involves repair of the rectus muscles (usually stretched from pregnancy) and removal of loose, excess skin in the abdominal region. A tummy tuck will require more recovery time and is the more invasive procedure of the two. Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss... more

Lipo versus Tummy Tuck

This is a good question. It would be more helpful if you post pictures of your "before." However, the general rule is that if you have loose skin, then you need a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). If you only have fat, but your skin has good elasticity, then liposuction is what you need. However, every patient is different. So, without seeing pictures or examining you in person, it is impossible for us to give you specific advice. Good Luck. more

Liposuction or Tummy tuck

Whether or not you need a tummy tuck or just benefit from liposuction is mostly dependent on the prsence or absence of losse skin. You state that you are 44 years old, work out and never had any children. Thsi scenario suggets that you probably don't have excess skin although pictures would be helpful.I would suggets that you be examined a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who should easily be able to tell you liposuction or tummy tuck.

Abdominoplasty or liposuction decision making

Its impossible to answer this question without a couple of photos to look at. A mini tummy tuck addresses loose skin, fat and laxity of the abdominal wall from about the belly button position and below. Very few patients are good candidates for this procedure.

Should I have Liposuction or Tummy Tuck?

This is one of the most common questions in my practice. If you have excess skin, stretch marks, or abdominal wall laxity (fullness in the lower abdomen), then the best result will be achieved with a tummy tuck. If you have excess fat with good skin quality and no stretch marks, then liposuction is an excellent procedure. The lumpy bumpy abdomen can be avoided by an experienced board certified plastic surgeon. It is impossible to eliminate all the fat from the abdomen with liposuction, this... more

There are risks to every surgery

Kitters, At age 44 with no children and exercising several times a week it is likely that you would be a candidate for liposuction. The limiting factor will be the elasticity of your abdominal skin. Consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon will either confirm your eligibility or steer you towards a tummy tuck. The "lumpy bumpy" effect that you mention is a risk of any liposuction procedure, regardless of the technique used. Good luck! more

Tummy tuck vs abdominal liposuction

Liposuction addresses the excess fat accumulation whereas a tummy tuck/mini tummy tuck are procedures used to remove excess and lax skin. Photographs would be somewhat helpful to better determine what your condition may be. The procedure chosen should be based on if can address your particular issue. Both of these procedures when carefully performed by board certified plastic surgeons and given your apparent low medical risk, should be relatively safe with a very low risk of major... more

Decision depends on condition of skin

The first question is whether you need a tummy tuck. If your skin tone is reasonable and you don't have a lot of stretch marks, you may do just fine with liposuction alone (if you can grap a roll and shake it up and down, you may be better to have a tummy tuck). Contour irregularities sometimes happen with liposuction. The most important factor in preventing them is the skill and experience of your surgeon, so you want to go to an experienced plastic surgeon. I... more

Loose skin will require a tummy tuck

You are correct that contour abnormalities can occur with liposuction, but if you have loose skin you would require a tummy tuck opposed to just liposuction. This is difficult to determine without seeing photos or examining you in person. Both procedures are quite safe if performed on the correct patient by a board certified plastic surgeon. Most tummy tucks in fact will be done with some liposuction of the flanks (love handles) at the same time. Meet with a plastic surgeon for a... more