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Liposuction Vs Abdominoplasty for Male Who Had Massive Weight Loss?

Dear Doctors, When I was 17, I lost 80 lbs over 8 months. Now I'm a medium (soft) kind of build, 25, 6'1", 177lbs. I go to gym 7 days a week for a hour. My stomach now sags excessively, very wobbly. My question is, how much do I need to weight? 160lbs? I'd like a number people my size should be if possible & will the abdominal skin shrink back? If I can't lose this skin or fat, (I'm not sure what it is), do you recommend Liposuction? What kind/where? Or is a Tummy tuck more appropriate? Please Help.

Asked 28 months ago by hou77027 in Houston, TX
Sort 17 expert answers by:
+1

Liposuction Versus Abdominoplasty After Weight Loss

Dear hou77027, Congratulations on your weight loss! At 6'1" and 177 lbs, most people would say that you are already at a healthy weight. As far as your midsection goes, it looks like you have a significant amount of extra skin. This problem occurs frequently after massive weight loss. Unfortunately, the loose skin rarely shrinks on its own nor with exercise. The good news is that a tummy tuck or belt lipectomy can remove the extra skin and give you a sleek contour.... more
Larry Fan, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction or Tummy Tuck after Massive Weight Loss

Hi Hou77027, First of all, congrats on the weight loss. It's not so easy to lose weight, and even harder to keep it off. It sounds like you're well on your way to having accomplished both. Nicely done! Another few pounds will not make an absolute difference for you, in my opinion. You already look so much better than you presumably did before that we are quibbling over a tiny percentage of your transformation. There is not question that the... more
Alan Engler, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Stabilize weight, then tummy tuck at least

Hello, Congratulations on the weight loss! You need to get your weight in a stable range then start with an extended tummy tuck or lower body lift depending upon how much the loose tissue extends towards your back.
John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction vs Abdominoplasty

I would recommend abdominoplasty in your case. It appears that you have lost a lot of weight which you should be congratulated on. What has been left behind is a lot of loose skin which can only be removed with a tummy tuck. Liposuction will remove the excess fat but would not do anything for the extra skin that you have. Good luck.
Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Abdominoplasty will address loose skin after massive weight loss

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck). Liposuction is a localized fat removal tool. Period. Despite whatever you may read out there, it is a very poor way to try and shrink skin. Since your fat is gone but it produced a lot more skin with poor elasticity, your best solution is to have all the extra loose skin removed and tailored to the newer you. Good Luck.
Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Abdominoplasty vs. Liposuction

Abdominoplasty will help remove the excess skin. It does not look like you have any fat left to liposuction. The skin should gradually contract as you have lost the weight. At this point it is unlikely that significant skin contraction will occur. In general, I tell my patients if they have an excess roll in the lower abdomen it can be made smaller if I liposuction, but I will never be able to remove it completely without a tummy tuck.
Sharon Theresa McLaughlin MD
Long Island City Plastic Surgeon
+1

Massive Weight Loss = Massive Skin Excess

Congrats on your accomplishments !  A lower body lift or abdominoplasty along with a pubic lift will probably be needed to get a trim and toned-appreaing abdomen.
John LoMonaco, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon
+1

Male tummy tuck vs liposuction after massive weight loss

Based on your photo, you have significant excess skin and would certainly qualify for a tummy tuck. There is not a role for liposuction in your particular case. Since you are now close to your ideal weight, all you really need is removal of the redundant skin. Liposuction or exercise will not change the status of your excess skin. A tummy tuck will also allow for tightening of your abdominal muscles which likely have become weakened or separated due to your increased weight. Consult with... more
William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Skin excess after massive weight loss

You will not be helped at all by liposuctioning. You have excess skin that needs to be removed surgically.  Yes, there is some fat under your  skin but the excess skin is the primary proble. Your weight is fine.
John P. Stratis, MD
Harrisburg Plastic Surgeon
+1

Skin excess after masive weight loss

What you have is excess skin that will never shrink any more than it already has.  You do not need to lose any more weight, what you need is a tummy tuck to remove the skin.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Dealing with skin redundancy after massive weight loss

This is a question that is constantly asked and is a point of considerable confusion. Liposuction  is not "dermatosuction" . It cannot remove excess stretched skin which has lost it 's intrinsic and extrinsic supports. Abdominoplasty would be the best proceedure in your situation.
Barry H. Dolich, MD
Bronx Plastic Surgeon
+1

Abdominoplasty versus Liposuction

Based on your picture, you are a great candidate for abdominoplasty. Liposuction is not for you. The degree of skin tightening that you need is just not possible with liposuction - including any of the laser or ultrasound or radiofrequency devices. Congratulations on all your weight loss and good luck with your surgery.
David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Healthy stable lifestyle

If you have achieved a healthy, stable lifestyle with a good exercise and activity routine and good diet that you can maintain, then you are probably a good candidate for consideration of body-contouring procedures. i doubt if liposuction alone is going to be of much benefit except in very selective areas and you appear to have characteristics of skin laxity that only an abdominplasty can help. Speak to an experienced surgeon who is board-certified in plastic surgery as to your options and... more
Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction alone is not enough

Congratulations on your weight loss. Withoout question you have increased your life span and improved the quality of your life tremendously. It would be wonderful to undergo a more minor procedure, but to achieve the reults you hope for I recommend that you consider surgery to remove the excess skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue in conjunction with liposuction. Your surgeon will be able to adequately advise you on what needs to be done based on your desires.
Jack A. Friedland, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon
+1

Procedure Following Massive Weight Loss

You absolutely will not benefit from liposuction.  You need at least a TT.  You might well benefit from a body lift where an incision is made around the entire waist, removing excess skin from the back, buttocks, and flanks as well as the abdomen.  Congratulations on the extreme weight loss!
John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Abdominoplasty

You obviously have extra skin and need to have it removed. Thus you are a good candidate for an abdominoplasty and not liposuction. Liposuction only gets rid of extra fat not skin.
William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Abdominoplasty or Tummy Tuck Following Weight loss.

Congratulations on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and physic. The excess skin you are holding from your abdomen could be removed with abdominoplasty. It would be best to see a plastic surgeon to discuss your specific goals and desires after a thorough examination. More weight loss would create more extra skin as would liposuction in most situations. Best of luck!
Charles Perry, MD
Sacramento Plastic Surgeon
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