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Why Doc Only Did TT Without Lipo, Will I Have to Go Back in for Lipo of Sides. I Wanted to Get Everything Needed for Contour

asked 11 months ago by faithful1 in New York, NY
Latest answer by Vivek Bansal, MD
Question viewed 848 times
Tags: flanks, 3 weeks post-op, swelling

iam 5'9 weigh 185, had a belly with belly button that had a frown from weight loss and a lot of thick hagging skin. went for consult ask PS for TT with lipo of flanks. he said if he feels its needed. iam 3 weeks post op and my concern is that i see bulge around the flanks dont know if its swelling and will go away or it should of been lipo along with TT. I cant take no more time off work and i really worked hard to get the money for procedure. is it too early for me to b freaked out

12 answers to Why Doc Only Did TT Without Lipo, Will I Have to Go Back in for Lipo of Sides. I Wanted to Get Everything Needed for Contour

Contouring the flanks

For most people having a tummy tuck, the contouring of the flanks is accomplished by liposuction. However, a small percentage of women don't need this because they don't have enough fat to suction or they may need to have the abdominoplasty extended around their sides or back because they have more excess skin there. The extended or circumferential abdominoplasty is more common in people who have had extensive weight loss. Three weeks is too early to determine... more

Adam Hamawy, MD
Westchester Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck

At 3 weeks post TT, you are still healing. If you needed lipo, some practices with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon will offer “awake liposuction” which enable you to have lipo on Friday, go to work on Monday. We do this all the time and have very happy patients who do not have to interrupt their schedule.

Vivek Bansal, MD
Danville Plastic Surgeon

Lipo and tummy Tuck

Dear faithful1, I would begin by asking my plastic surgeon if the liposuction was performed at all and the anatomical location of said liposuction. If it was performed, you are only 3 weeks post op and it is to soon to guage the final results. If it was not performed I would ask why? None of use here have physically examined you and your surgeon has an opinion which they should mention to you. As stated by my colleagues below it is acceptable to do flank... more

Ernesto Hayn, MD
West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

Muffin top treatment

Congratulations on what you've accomplished and thank you for the question. Treatment of the stubborn muffin top involves excision (lipectomy) of excess skin and adipose tissue. Liposuction surgery alone will potentially leave you with loose skin and an unsatisfactory result. Although not relevant in your case, patients who are undergoing a standard tummy tuck procedure should be aware however that often an “extended” tummy tuck is necessary to... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Liposuction with a tummy tuck

Please ask your surgeon if he performed a liposuction. Most surgeons would record the amount of fat removed and the areas the fat was removed from. I am sure your surgeon will be happy to share this information with you. If he has not performed a liposuction, I am sure he will explain why. Swelling after liposuction and tummy tuck can take some time to settle down, up to six weeks or so.

Anindya Lahiri, MBBS
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

Lipo of waist together with a tummy tuck

A tummy tuck is usually performed along with liposuction of the flanks to get optimal contouring. In some instances prominent flanks are mostly due to extra skin and not fat. Photos would be helpful. You should ask your surgeon if he, indeed, peformed liposuction of the waist assuming that this was planned before surgery. If he did do liposuction then it is too early to see its result which may take 6-8 weeks. If there should be some residual fat afterwards do a secondary lliposuction is not... more

George Lefkovits, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck

At three weeks after surgery it would be normal to have swelling in the flanks if liposuctions was performed. You Need to ask your plastic surgeon what was performed. Although many plastic surgeons will perform liposuction at the time there are others that will not.

David L. Abramson, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck and bulge

First it is to soon. I usually don't start to assess until 6 -8 weeks. Second the use of a good garment will help with the swelling to help mold your surgery. Also , staging the procedures is safe. Its the american way to get it all done now but some times that is not the best way to get a good result. Also, lipo of the hips is a short procedure with minimal to no down time. Give it time and just be honest with your surgeon.

Paul Albear, MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

www.albearplasticsurgery.com

Please attach pictures

It is impossible to give good advise without pictures. You need to wait at lease 3 months before making a judgment about your result.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction with Tummy Tuck

Maybe this was a miscommunication with your PS. But speaking for myself I regularly perform liposuction with a tummy tuck to achieve better contouring and minimize dog ears at the incision ends. I would recommend asking your PS whether liposuction was performed and if he or she thinks it is just swelling. Otherwise get a second opinion. Best of luck!

Dana Khuthaila, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction after tummy tuck

It is still too early to determine if you need liposuction. It will take several months to fully appreciate the final results from your surgery. You should speak to your doctor again when you you go back for your your followup. Sometimes persistent fullness can be addressed easily in the office under a local aneathesia, so try to be patient.

Beverly Friedlander, MD
Short Hills Plastic Surgeon

Why Doc Only Did TT Without Lipo, Will I Have to Go Back in for Lipo of Sides. I Wanted to Get Everything Needed for Contour

Photos posted would be helpful. But I feel there was a very poor communication between you and your chosen surgeon. But that is now "water under the bridge". Reasons he may have not done your lipo with a TT are: too much blood loss, medical/anesthesia intraoperative issues, no equipment to do the lipo, the lipo equipment broke, he forgot you wanted lipo. Whatever the reason if you still need lipo than ask for it or seek a second opinion. Being unhappy with a result that can be... more