Abdominoplasty with Liposuction for Fairly Large Pannus?

If the pannus is heavy and hanging, it may be best to reach your goal weight first. Perfoming liposuction of the abdomen at the same time as undermining the abdominal flap may cause tissue death in the central triangle below the umbilicus.

My approach to reshaping the abdomen is to discuss excisional body lifts as well as liposuction, before we get to the O.R. It's important for patients to realize that the redundant pannus (skin & fat) below the belly button will be discarded and so liposuction isn't so important in this area. Liposuction can be useful 1) to thin out the remaining skin, which will be redraped as well as 2) to reduce the "dog ears", which stick out of the end of the incision. Most... more

Hello, You are probably looking at an extended tummy tuck plus or minus liposuction. Lipo can add to the swelling and healing time, so I try to avoid it if possible. It usually is possible.

I have discussed this in an article on my website.  It is safe to an extent.  But you must remember that alot of the pannus is excised and discarded so this may not be an issue. You should be evaluated by a board certified plastic surgeon who can accurately go through your options. Good luck.

The primary question should first be are you a good candidate for either Abdominoplasty or Liposuction - Stated another way, will the appearance and results of either procedure, if done on you, justify the increased risks and cost? Obviously without either photographs or an examination, it is impossible to state. Most plastic surgeons would ask that their patients' weight be stable with a BMI of 30 or below. If this is not the case, I would save my money since the outcome may not be... more

Liposuction of the flanks and minor thinning of the skin above the belly button is routine in most tummy tucks. In a standard tummy tuck the amount of fat that is removed in the upper abdomen(above the belly button) is limited. The surgeon does not want to injure the blood circulation to the skin that is being pulled down. The Avelar lipoabdominoplasty allows for a much more aggressive and complete removal of fat from the entire abdomen, flanks and waist. In this procedure a very... more

The real answer is that a surgeon will do what it takes to get the job done. There is no set method for doing an individual abdominoplasty. The object is to be able to tailor a procedure to fit the patient's anatomy and needs. A pannus is often removed with a panniculectomy or in conjunction with a full abdominoplasty. Liposuction can be used as an adjunct procedure if necessary. To what extent and in what combination is individualized.

These can be done together depending on your age, health, body mass index, etc. In my practice, I always do liposuction with a tummy tuck. Although one can divide the torso into multiple cosmetic units, I like to treat this as one cosmetic unit. This way you achieve the best results all the way around including the flanks, buttocks,back and abdomen. The pannus is excised and does not need to be liposuctioned. The upper abdomen can be liposuctioned judiciously to preserve the blood supply.... more

If you include a picture, we may be able to give you more specific advice. However, I include minor liposuction of flanks (at no additional charge) on about 90% of the abdominoplasties that I perform. I feel that it gives you a much better overall result. If you need major liposuction, that that is a whole different story and I would need to see you in consultation to determine which procedures would be best for you. I hope this information is helpful. Good luck with your procedure.... more

The tummy tuck will take care of the pannus and liposuction can be done if you have rolls of fat in the flanks. The charges for this are separate in my practice because liposuction equipment needs to be opened up during surgery as it is not part of a plain tummy tuck. Other practices may differ in this regard though.

Surgeons may or may not include this in the price of their tummy tuck procedure. Please realize that not all tummy tucks are the same; some are mini, some are full, some are extended, and some are combinations, etc. Many surgeons will ultimately price the procedure according to the time they think it will take them. Although, you may not want your surgeon to rush through the procedure. So shopping around for price may not be the best indication. see video