Can a tummy tuck fix botched lipo in the tummy area?

I had liposuction on my stomach area 15 months ago. The dr was too aggressive (and didn't use tumescent).

I now have much rippling that goes up to my rib cage but is really bad below belly button, a "pooch" and excess skin. Have met with the dr who performed the operation. He says a tummy tuck will fix this. I see how it could.

My concern is that when the skin that has some rippling above belly button area is pulled down (when doing the tummy tuck), won't that same rippling occur? What should I do for best result?

Can a tummy tuck fix botched lipo in the tummy area?

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11 answers to “Can a tummy tuck fix botched lipo in...”

A: First of all, what is the defect?

By Ricardo Rodriguez, MD - Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

1. What is the defect? The defect here seems to be mainly rippled skin. There does not appear to be a lot of loose skin. There does not appear to be a big abdominal wall defect. 2. What do the proposed operations accomplish? Lipo will take away more fat, but not redrape the skin. Tummy tuck will redrape... more

A: You need contouring with SlimLipo and possible delayed tummy tuck

By Brooke R. Seckel, MD - Boston Plastic Surgeon

The tummy tuck will help remove loose skin and tighten your tummy. However the contour deformities--wavy lines and lumps--will NOT be helped with a tummy tuck. These contour deformities are caused by areas of scarring where too much fat was removed and areas of fat left behind. I have had good luck with... more

A: Neither solution is great

By G. Gregory Gallico III, MD - Boston Plastic Surgeon

You could do more Lipo to try to even things off, but that probably won't make it a big difference. A full Tummy Tuck with a 'free float' of the belly button would help more, but would make a very long scar side-to-side. Repeat Lipo may be the best, but not great.

A: I think an abdominoplasty would help

By W. Tracy Hankins, MD - Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

I think yo u would be helped by an abdominoplasty, although you should be prepard for a small vertical scar in addition to the horizontal scar as you might not have enough excess skin to remove the area wher the incision is made around the belly button.

A: Liposuction

By Christopher L. Hess, MD - Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

I can't imagine what kind of liposuction you got without tumescent unless it was SmartLipo or a similar kind. This drastic amount of contour irregularity is due to the use of large diameter liposuction cannulas during the surgery and likely as well as the lack of a criss-cross pattern. A mini... more

A: For you, I am afraid I don't recommend it.

By George J. Beraka, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Hi. Listen, I have done hundreds of tummy tucks, and I generally tackle difficult cases, but if you were my wife, I would tell you not to have an abdominoplasty to attempt to correct the irregularities. The risk/benefit ratio is not good. 1) You would only get partial correction of the... more

A: tummy tuck to correct lipo abnormalities

By Brent Moelleken, MD - Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Irregularities from very aggressive liposuction are difficult to treat. One of the most gratifying solutions is a tummy tuck, or modified tummy tuck (short incision or low incision variants a possibility).

A: Liposuction Irregularity

By Farbod Esmailian, MD - Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Yes it can be helped by having a tummy tuck to an extent though. Your skin will be tighter and you will have less rippling but some of the irregularities will remain at the expense of an incision. Also sinch you dont have that much loose skin you will be left with a small vertical incision... more

A: Very likely that tummy tuck would correct irregularities but be prepared for scars.

By Otto Joseph Placik, MD - Chicago Plastic Surgeon

I would have to agree largely with Dr. Yuan. I feel that a tummy tuck would largely correct the ripples above and below your belly button. However, the lack of skin laxity would problably leave you with either a small vertical scar below your belly button and a low transverse scar or the lathernative... more

A: Tummy tucks and post-lipo irregularity

By Robin T.W. Yuan, MD - Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

You seem to have relatively good shape with minimal looseness of your abdominal skin. Some surgeons intentionally try to contour the upper abdomen with transverse ripple to simulate the "six-pack" look whan a patient doesn't have that naturally. I don't know whether this wwas the case with your... more

More answers to Can a tummy tuck fix botched lipo in the tummy area?
Southlake - Can a tummy tuck fix rippling from liposuction?

Comments

samantha656
4 posts
21 Jun 2009

Hi Docs. Thanks for all the answers. Am thinking that slim lipo first to even out irregularies makes sense...but seems like a lot of work for something I'd rather just have the doc cut out...I do have a fair amount of excess skin-- the picture doesn't show this because the excess is below my pantline in the pic (I couldn't fit it all into the "shot")... I presume this doesn't change any of your answers (except for the multiple TT scars) Anyway, thanks again! Let me know if you have any other thoughts.