Mini Tummy Tuck: Q&A
Ask a QuestionLiposuction Vs Mini Tummy Tuck?
I am 35 and have had 2 C-sections. I do have a acummulated fat in the lower part of the abdomen and on the flanks. I had a recent consultation with a Plastic Surgeon who mentioned that I may be happy with Lipo alone, but could benefit from lipo+ mini tummy tuck (he says only a smalll % of people can actually qualify for it). I don't want the added risks involved with another procedure, and not the cost if would not make a drastic difference. He did say my skin is not in bad condition ...I do have some extra skin, but nothing sagging. You can notice it if I bend, for example, or move etc....It seems to be a lot of hype about samrtlipo and the benefits of skin Tightening. Would that be enough to have a flat tummy? Also, I don't like the idea of general anesthesia. Can a mini tummy tuck be performed under local+sedation, maybe?
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42 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
Carli_FL
in Deerfield Beach, FL
+6
Depends on what the problem is
Which procedure you choose depends on what is wrong and how it can be fixed. Most women who have had at least two children and two C-sections have several problems: Loose skin, a C-section scar with irregularities, extra fat, loose fascia. If you choose not to fix any of these problems, the unfixed problems will still remain and most likely make you unhappy with your results.
1. Loose skin. If skin is loose, it needs to be removed to achieve a good result. This will involve either a...
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+6
The best procedure depends on your body and how tight a result you want
When patients come in after having children, there are usually issues of excess skin and muscle laxity. Often there is extra fatty tissue as well and C-section scars with overhanging tissue rolls. There are several ways to approach these issues.
Liposuction alone is the most limited approach. No technology has yet been developed that will make our skin shrink better than nature will allow! So, if you have stretch marks, rolls of loose skin, or skin that shakes easily when you wiggle it...
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+6
Patients will determine what will benefit them
The basic question with any cosmetic surgery is asking what are the anatomical conditions that make you look the way you look and what do you want to achieve as an end result. It is a relatively simple puzzle of how to get from A to B. The procedure will be determined by answering these questions, not the other way around.
The abdomen is affected by a number of anatomical components: intra-abdominal contents including fat and organ, muscle mass and tone, extra-abdominal fat in many locations...
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First of all... I've lost a little over 100 pounds on my own in about 11 months. I've...
+6
Smart Lipo is not so Smart!
Tumescent liposuction tightens the skin significantly if the Plastic Surgeon is aggressive with Liposuction. Smart Lipo is just a Hype and there is nothing smart about it.
Considering that you have had two c-sections, there is a high likelihood that you have poor skin elasticity, especially in the lower abdomen. Therefore, doing a mini-tummy tuck along with lipo is a very good idea. Otherwise, you will most likely have some redundant and wrinkled skin in the lower abdomen.
Although all these...
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+4
Lipo with a mini-tummy tuck.
I think I can visualize what your problem is because it is very common. Many women who have had a C-section develop a shelf along the C-section scar with skin and fat hanging over this shelf-like scar. If this is what your stomach looks like, then you are an ideal candidate for liposuction of the abdomen with a mini-tummy tuck. The recovery from this combination treatment is only a few days, and the results are very gratifying.
+4
It's difficult to know exactly what the best option is...
It's difficult to know exactly what the best option is for you without an examination, but in general if you have some skin laxity now, chances are liposuction alone (regardless of it is conventional lipo or smart lipo) may not be enough, especially if you have had C-sections and the scar is stuck down to your abdominal muscles, creating an indentation or "shelf".
Options include tummy tuck, tummy tuck plus liposuction done at the same time (this needs to be done very carefully to...
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+3
Sounds like you should do the mini-abdominoplasty.
If there is loose skin, this may improve or may get worse after liposuction of your abdomen depending on your skin elasticity. If your plastic surgeon recomends the mini-abdominoplasty, you would probably benefit from it. You already have a portion of the scar from your C-section. I frequently do a miniabdominoplasty at the time of abdominal liposuction in patients who need the benefit of skin tightening. This can very easily be done with just light sedation and local anesthesia, even...
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+3
Your Best Outcome
Hi-
Your desire to avoid a larger operation is very understandable, and I agree that you should- but only if the more minor operation will achieve your goals. I do believe that you should always have the smallest operation necessary to make you happy, but just as important is understanding that the only thing worse than being unhappy with your abdomen is having an operation and still being unhappy... so if the more minor operation is unlikely to achieve your goals, you would be better off...
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+3
A mini tummy tuck certainly can be performed safely...
A mini tummy tuck certainly can be performed safely under sedation. In fact some surgeons would tell you that it would be safer than general anesthesia for a procedure such as this. Liposuction works very well for some people but given the extra skin and c-section scar you would likely have a "better" result with the mini-TT. I offer Smartlipo and some ladies in exactly your situation have been delighted with the result but you need to understand that skin tightening from Laser or...
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+3
Lipo vs mini tummy tuck
Without being able to examine you, it is impossible to be sure what the best option for you would be. I think it is most likely, with your history of a C-section scar and extra skin, that you would benefit most reliably by a mini-TT. I also feel that this is best done under general anesthesia, which should have very low risk given your good health.
Of course, you may get enough improvement from either liposuction alone or esp by the Smartlipo (this may be more beneficial for extra skin...
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These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.
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