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A Doctor Told Me That I Could Get a Way with Liposuction Instead of a Tummy Tuck? (photo)

Unfortuanately I know when something is too good to be true. I do know that I would not need to get my stomach muscles tightened and I do agree with his statement on that note. My sister had a mommy makeover & we are the same size. She got a regular tummy tuck all he did was tighten her up and give her a new belly button. The problem is... I am worried about how high the scar will be, hers is so high and the dr. told her it was low. What are my options on minimal scarring and low as possible?

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20 Doctor Answers | Asked by littlefizzer in Gilbert, AZ

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Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck

From your photographs, you definitely need a tummy tuck since there is excess skin above the umbilicus. There are 2 components to a tummy tuck. One is removal of the excess skin and second is tightening underlying fascia. Fascia is the support layer that holds your abdomen flat when your stomach muscles are not contracting. The use of mesh in tummy tuck results in weight loss and maintenance of the reduction of weight. I would not recommend liposuction but do... more

Tummy tuck

You are a good candidate for a tummy tuck. The scar from a tummy tuck is pretty long, but it gradually fades over several months. Don't waste your time with lipo; you won't get much improvement/

Lipo or tummy tuck?

Your photos would indicate that a tummy tuck would be your best procedure as there appears to be fairly significant laxity of the underlying muscles as well as redundant skin overlying. Your concerns about scar position are very valid. This is a point to discuss with your plastic surgeon and have him/her show you where they anticipate the final scar to be.

Tummy tuck

Based solely upon your photos it looks like you have a lot of loose skin and could benefit from a tummy tuck. Liposuction will not remove the loose skin and weak muscles. The scar can usually be placed pretty low.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck or Lipo?

Just from your pictures a tummy tuck is the obvious answer, be sure your doctor is a board certified plastic surgeon, many "cosmetic surgeons" only perform lipo suction and way over promise laser lipo results. I perform laser lipo on a regular basis and while it does offers some improved skin tightening, it does not take the place of a Tummy Tuck. With a mini tummy you could get your scar quite low, good luck!

A Doctor Told Me That I Could Get a Way with Liposuction Instead of a Tummy Tuck? (photo)

I dont think Lipo would give you what you want...Your tummy wall is stretched out and your skin is loose...That has "Tummy Tuck" written all over it!!! Unless you are never planning on wearing a bikini, you really do need your tummy tightened and even then, it doesn't seem like you have that much fat anyway....

Tummy tuck or liposuction, that is the question.

The photos seem to strongly suggest that you would most benefit from a tummy-tuck. The photos also suggest that the incision can probably be quite low. But the final decision can only be made by an actual physical examination by a Board Certified plastic surgeon. Good luck!

Tummy tuck will produce better result

It is impossible to comment on your sister's result sight unseen. If she needed an abdominoplasty with liposuction and had only a tummy tuck, then the result might not have been optimal. You have too much excess skin and bulging for liposuctioin and, personally, I would rather not operate on you than to perform a procedure you think you want but will not produce a result that I consider acceptable, I hope that you are seeing a board certified plastic surgeon. The scar can be placed low... more

You will get much better result with tummy tuck

You have excess skin and rectus diastesis. Your standing straight shows the bulging of the abdomen due to muscle separation and bent forward shows the excess skin. Liposuction is to suck the fat and your issue is not excess fat. The position of the scar can be low based on the patients anatomy. you would benefit from mini tuck with floating the belly button. Please check my web site for a patient similar to you.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck is better than liposuction when there is loose skin or stretch marks

Despite the hype about laser lipo such as smart lipo tightening skin, it doesn't do nearly enough to make a significant difference when the skin is loose after pregnancy or weight loss in the vast majority of cases. It is important to have a thorough discussion about scar placement though. I believe that the scar can be lower when progressive tension sutures are used.

Can I "get away" with liposuction instead of a tummy tuck?

Thanks for the photos. You can get away with liposuction, depending what you want your end result to be. I think you would be terrible disappointed with liposuction alone. In the bent forward photo, you already showing lots of skin laxity, both below and above the belly button, thin skin. In the upright view, you show significant abdominal fullness which tells me that you have diastesis or separation of the muscles and/or fascial laxity. For a good result and a flat abdomen,... more

Can I get a good result with liposuction instead of a tummy tuck?

There is not a definitive right or wrong answer to your question. When you bend over your abdominal skin looks quite loose. But this is true for everyone when they bend forwards like that, so it really exagerates the amount of loose skin that you have. If you have had children, then your skin is almost certainly more loose than it was before having children. The question then becomes how much are you willing to accept in terms of surgical down time, scar, and expense to achieve a... more

Tummy tuck for mommy makeover

Thank you for good pictures! Liposuction alone would make you look worse since you already have excess skin and it will not shrink after just liposuction. You need muscle tightening and skin removal which is a tummy tuck. Liposuction may be performed to help thin or contour areas of excess fat. Please see a board certified plastic surgeon for consultation and good luck!

Tummy tuck scars

First of all you would not receive significant improvement from just liposuction. Your best procedure would be a full tummy tuck. The scar can be as low as you want it to be. If very low you may have a small vertical scar from where the belly button was previously. If your surgeon's scars tend to be too high find another surgeon.

Tummy tuck vs. Liposuction

Thanks for your question and photos. You have excess and lax skin, and liposuction would be disappointing for you- it does not impact these issues. You are correct in that the downside of a tummy tuck is a scar, but it can very likely be low enough to be hidden in most clothes or swim suits. Discuss this concern with your surgeon, and ask to see pictures of other patients that they have done with low scars, so that you can make sure that your understanding of a low scar is the same as theirs... more

Tummy Tuck versus Lipsuction

You definitely need to consider an abdominoplasty and not liposuction. Discuss the scar location with your surgeon.

Donald Griffin, MD

7 reviews

Nashville Plastic Surgeon

A Doctor Told Me That I Could Get a Way with Liposuction Instead of a Tummy Tuck?

Thanks four the photos posted. dr Rand is correct, you need a tummy tuck. What you need to understand is the placement of the incision might be higher or you could opt for a lower incision with a vertical midline extension. Best to see OTHER boarded PSs in your area. Was this dock a PS?

Tummy tuck vs liposuction

It certainly seems from your photos that your skin laxity and excess is the primary problem here and as you already know, liposuction will do nothing good for that. Therefore a TT is the best choice IMO and the scar can go as low as your excess skin above the umbilicus will allow it to.

Tummy Tuck or Liposuction

Based on your photos, your instinct is probably correct that a tummy tuck is in order. Your surgeon may wish to proceed in stages with liposuction to contour the body first and then assess where you are after this procedure. Ask him/her to clarify his treatment recommendation, and check with at least 2 other surgeons to ensure a clear understanding of your options. see video

Liposuction Instead of a Tummy Tuck?

Thanks for including good photos, it helps. You could certainly have some improvement with liposuction alone, but there is so much laxity to your tummy skin that you will need a tummy tuck to get maximum improvement. Sometimes the doctor will draw the anticipated surgery incision line at the bottom of the loose skin. The problem is that the incision (scar) will get pulled up by the natural elasticity of the upper skin. You must first manually pull the tummy skin up on the abdomen and then... more