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Can I Get Lipo Instead of Tummy Tuck? (photo)

asked 5 months ago by Mother in CA in Los Angeles, CA
Latest answer by Julio Garcia, MD
Question viewed 420 times
Tags: abdomen, stretch marks, candidate

I'm 30 y/o 5'4 127 lbs and have 4 kids. I dont have much bulging I just want my waist back, I have like 2 strech marks under my belly button and my skin is not wrinkly. I really dont want a tummy tuck because of the scar, I dont have any scars, but I also dont want lose wrinkly skin. Which would be a better choice?

22 answers to Can I Get Lipo Instead of Tummy Tuck? (photo)

Get a tummy tuck

Congratulation on staying in great shape after 4 children. I think you would be unhappy with lipo alone because it is highly likely that you will have wrinkly skin left over. The only way to adequately get rid of that skin is a tummy tuck. Scars fade over time and the contour you have will remain.

J. Jason Wendel, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction vs tummy tuck?

Thank you for the photos. You look great after 4 children! You answered your own question. You do not want to have scars, than you should not have a tummy tuck. Looking at your photos, you can get a great result with VASER liposuction technique, since you have good elastic skin.A side view photo bent at the waist would be more informative regarding how loose the lower abdominal skin is. I would suggest liposuction of your midsection and the whole abdomen. You can always have a tummy... more

George Marosan, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction - or Tummy Tuck?

You may not like this answer but in order to have the best possible result you may need - both! It really depends on what you're looking for and what you're willing to undergo. Lipo is generally appropriate when you have some excess fat and adequate skin tone (the tighter the skin the better from a skin contraction standpoint). A tummy tuck (TT) is indicated when you have relatively more excess or loose skin than excess fat. It's a relatively larger... more

Alan Engler, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck or liposuction?

Full tummy tuck that is carefully planned and masterfully executed will produce a much more beautiful result and youthful sexy belly than liposuction which, because you have no fat bulges, will provide marginal, if any, visible benefit. BTW, you look great considering you've given birth four times.

Steve Laverson, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Abdominoplasty vs. liposcution vs. exercise and diet

Sure you can but the question is will liposuction alone give you what you want. You say you want to get rid of the loose skin and regain your previous waist line. Your photo shows more excess skin and possibly lax muscle than excess fat. You can see that for yourself by looking at the horizontal slit appearance of your belly button on your posted first upright photo. No liposuction procedure alone can get rid of the extra skin and if someone offers you a laser assisted, superficial... more

Aaron Stone, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck Versus Liposuction

Hello Mother in CA, You will not be happy with the results of liposuction of your abdomen, regardless of whether it is ultrasonic, water jet, or laser assisted. The reality is that none of these procedures can effectively tighten skin or the attachments of the skin to the underlying muscle, and will leave your skin unpredicably wavy or irregular in contour. Abdominoplasty incisions can be very low and can potentially heal to be nearly inconspicuous. Many patients feel... more

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Your Expectations Are the Most Important

You are an ideal candidate for liposuction if your goal is to have the majority of fat removed from your lower abdomen and waist. Your skin elasticity seems fine and after doing several thousand liposuction procedures over the years, I feel your skin will re-drape and not sag. Your contour and shape would dramatically improve. However, if your expectation is to have the flattest abdomen possible with tight skin, you would need a tummy tuck. Good luck with your decision. more

Leslie H. Stevens, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction or Tummy Tuck

Assuming your exam confirms what appears to be a little fullness due mostly to fat, I'd be pretty comfortable with you having only liposuction. When I have a patient come in with your shape and good skin I always talk to them about liposuction alone but with the very clear understanding that we don't always know the RIGHT answer and I could be wrong. If that were the case a tummy tuck could still be necessary. But it is always nice to be able to get a nice result with less surgery. more

Ronald V. DeMars, MD
Portland Plastic Surgeon

Lipo vs. Tummy tuck- the big questionfor the waist

You look like you are in great shape, though you are not satisfied. Perhaps it is fat? Perhaps not- what to do. Only an exam will due to make the diagnosis and treatment plan, in conjunction with consultation with you. What I see is a moderate fat pad along with stretching of your abdominal fascia (strength layer), with what appears to be fairly good skin elasticity. My guess is that you can have lipo with a fair result regarding the contour, but you may have sagging... more

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Can I Get Lipo Instead of Tummy Tuck?

There are pro's and con's to both surgeries. You certainly can do liposuction only, however there would be no tightening of the skin. Without examining you, it is difficult to tell whether any of your tummy bulge is from diastasis- where the muscles have seperated from pregnancy. I have gotten surprising great results is some women who wanted lipo only, who I thought should get a tummy tuck, but not in every case. I recommend that you see a Board Certified Plastic... more

Amy T. Bandy, DO
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

Can I Get Lipo Instead of Tummy Tuck?

It appears from your photos that you would have a nice result with liposuction to your abdomen and hips in order to regain a smaller waist.

Julio Garcia, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

lvcosmeticsurgery.com

Liposuction or tummy tuck?

Based on your photographs, I agree that a full abdominoplasty with liposuction will give you the best result with no loose, wrinkly skin. There is always a trade-off, a scar with better contour or wrinkly skin the same abdominal protrusion.

Donna Rich, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck may give better result

This is difficult to answer without examining you in person however if you are not prepared for the scar of a tummy tuck then liposuction may be better for you. I would consult with an experienced board certified plastic surgeon to see which procedure is best based on your skin elasticity and anatomy. Sometimes the best contour is the procedure which leaves more of a scar, but this depends on each patient.

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction or tummy tuck

The key to determining which procedure you should undergo, or even whether a choice will be available to you, is to have a comprehensive consultation with a board certified platic surgeon. Your skin tone looks good from the photo and the question is whether your skin can retract sufficiently after liposuction so as to create a good result without skin sagging. The abdominoplasty scar can be placed down into the pubis so as to be almost invisible. However, admittedly, it is a much larger... more

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck vs liposuction

If your skin is loose, liposuction will more than likely make it worse. If you do not want the tummy tuck scar, eventhough it will probably give you a better overall contour, then perhaps go with the lipo and see what you get. you can always have the abdominoplasty as back up.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck versus liposuction

Your question and concerns about scarring are very common when it comes to rejuvenation of the abdomen. The liposuction will remove the bulging fat and allow for better contour of the tissues while employing very small incisions. However, it will not tighten the skin and there may be increased, undesirable laxity. A tummy tuck will allow for tightening and contouring but at the cost of far more extensive incisions that should be covered, however, by most clothing. Only a physical... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

Can I Get Lipo Instead of Tummy Tuck? (photo)

"I really dont want a tummy tuck because of the scar, I dont have any scars, but I also dont want lose wrinkly skin." In your quote you really leave NO options. Based upon your photos I recommend an extended mini TT with mid/upper abdomen lipo.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction is possible

You are a candidate for liposuction. Your skin looks good, not hanging, no looseness around the belly button. However, you will look more slim but the skin will not be tight. You will have some irregularities. You expectations must be closely examined. A tummy tuck will give a tight flat abdomen with a tight waist. see video

Miguel Delgado, Jr., MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction or Tummy Tuck

If you don't want a scar, then liposuction may help - but be prepared for some loose skim. If you can accept a scar, liposuction with an abdominoplasty may give the best result

Karol A. Gutowski, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction versus Tummy Tuck

Based on your pictures, my suggestion would be for a full tummy tuck with liposuction of your flanks. Liposuction alone will not improve your loose and wavy skin. Good luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Tummy Tuck or Liposuction?

Thank you for the question and pictures. It is obviously not ideal to give you advice without direct examination or having had the opportunity to discuss your goals in detail. However, based on your history, pictures, and stated goals I think you will be much better off with tummy tuck surgery. As you know, the upside is that you should have a flat abdomen with a very nice waistline; the downside is the scar ( which will be placed within undergarments/bikini lines). I think... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

You would get much better result from tummy tuck

You can answer your question by a simple test. If you are happy with folds over lower abdomen when sit, then you will be happy with the liposuction since the number of folds will double. If you do not like your abdomen touching your thigh while your sitting ,then you will be happy with tummy tuck.