How Can You Determine if Fat is Abdominal or Not?

asked 1 year ago by St. Louis8937 in St. Louis
Latest answer by David Stoker, MD
Question viewed 274 times
Tags: belly fat, excess

I am scheduled for a TT on June 15th. I am worried that my fat is abdominal fat and not "loose" fat--thereby hindering my positive results. How can I tell what kind of fat I have?!?!

11 answers to How Can You Determine if Fat is Abdominal or Not?

Abdominal Fat

Great question. Fat that can be removed during a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) can be grabbed or pinched with your hand. You can move it up and down when you grab it. Abdominal fat (internal fat) is deep and you cannot grab it. Hopefully this simple test helps you. Good Luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Types of abdominal fat

When I gently pinch abdominal skin, I'm also pinching the subcutaneous fat under the skin. The subcutaneous fat is superficial and may be removed with liposuction or a tummy tuck. Fat that is deep to the abdominal muscles, otherwise known as intraabdominal fat, surrounds the internal organs. This deep fat is not able to be removed with cosmetic surgery. Women tend to carry their fat in the subcutaneous layers and men tend to carry their fat in the deep abdominal... more

David Stoker, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Intra-abdominal vs Subcutaneous Fat

Intra-abdominal fat cannot be removed by either liposuction or tummy tuck. Only subcutaneous fat can be removed with these procedures. Subcutaneous fat can be pinched when you tighten your abdominal muscles, intra-abdominal fat cannot. This simple exam determines who is a good candidate for these abdominal procedures. A patient with a distended abdomen due to large amounts of intra-abdominal fat will not have a good result from either liposuction or a tummy tuck.... more

Brian M. Braithwaite, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Removable fat by Tummy Tuck

The fat that is modified by a Tummy Tuck is the subcutaneous fat (that between the skin and the muscle). The only way to modify the fat beneath the muscle and around the gut is by diet. This should be done before considering an Abdominoplasty. This makes the procedure much safer and allows us to better mold your abdomen and waist. The way to tell which fat is which is to stand and tighten your abdominal muscles or lay with your shoulders off what you are laying on. With tight muscle you... more

Robert T. Buchanan, MD
Highlands Plastic Surgeon

Where is the fat?

A good tummy tuck candidate has loose skin and fat outside the abdominal cavity. If you can grab and pinch or hold the loose skin and fat in your hands, then it's outside the abdominal cavity. You your skin/fat seems tight but you have a bulging belly, it's because of fat and volume inside your abdominal cavity. Sincerely, Martin Jugenburg, MD

Martin Jugenburg, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

www.torontosurgery.ca

Pinch your skin

You can not pinch the fat behind the ab muscles. You can tighten the muscles to get a more accurate pinch. The pinched part can be removed with lip. The fat behind the muscle will stay and can be lost by loosing wight. Good luck with your surgery.

Moneer Jaibaji, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Is my Tummy Fat UNDER the Skin or INSIDE my Belly

What you can pinch is fat that is under the skin. This, subcutaneous fat, can be reduced by liposuction and, if located between the belly button and your privates, it will be removed with a Full Tummy Tuck. You are doing the right thing by consulting a Plastic surgeon. A good surgeon will advise you what would be the best procedure for you. Peter A Aldea, MD

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Determination of Fat Location in Abdomen

Your plastic surgeon, assuming he or she is reasonably experienced, should be able to determine if your abdominal fat is subcutaneous or intra-abdominal. This is, as you have alluded to, a very important determination to make. Again if you are seen by an experienced board-cerified plastic surgeon, he or she can usually make this distinction.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Abdominal fat and Tummy Tuck

Intra bdominal fat will not respond to a Tummy Tuck procedure. If you have a protuberant, rounded shape and your tummy does not assume a flatter, more concave shape while lying on your back, the fat is more likely intaabdominal and will not be effected by the procedure.

Stephen Delia, M.D.
Boston Plastic Surgeon

Is fat over or under the muscle

A good way to determine the location of the fat on the abdomen is to tighen the Ab muscles and pinch the skin. Whatever you can feel is on top of the muscle and will respond to the tummy tuck. Your plastic surgeon should be able to help you more with your question, as he can show you during the examination.

Beverly Friedlander, MD
Short Hills Plastic Surgeon

Fat on the inside or outside?

A useful measure of how much fat is outside the tummy is by pinching the skin-this will be reachable with liposuction or possibly may be removed directly during a tummy tuck. Men have a tendency towards more intra-abdominal fat than women. It is also useful to try to hold your tummy in and gauge how much flatter your tummy gets as a measure of the effect of muscle tightening from a tuck. Liposuction will not tighten your muscles in any way. A consultation with a... more