Is Liposuction necessary when having Tummy Tuck?

Tummy Tuck surgery typically combines a number of surgical tools.  Liposuction is but one of many better surgeons use to help with their sculpture.  For my Tumescent Tummy Tuck, the liposuction is an element of my artist's pallet of tools to sculpt the body.  With undermined tissues,... more

I think each patient is different. Most patients can have some liposuction done at the same time as an Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) and liposuction to the upper abdomen is almost always done at the same time. The most important thing is safety for the patient. If I thought that it would be too risky then I... more

Recent reports state that conservative liposuction with a tummy tuck(abdominoplasty) does not significantly increase the risks to the patient or the flap.  This surgery is never necessary and you ultimately have the decision on what surgery is performed.  If your surgeon is recommending liposuction... more

I consider myself a conservative and safe surgeon.  Yes,  liposuction can be performed on that abdominal flap in the superior abdomen at the time of abdominoplasty.  However, this does run the risk of injuring the blood supply to the flap and thus increasing the risk of wound healing problems... more

Hi!  It sounds as if you do need liposuction.  In New York City, we do abdominoplasty together with liposuction safely all the time.  The key is how the tummy tuck is done. We use a MINIMAL UNDERMINING abdominoplasty technique which does not damage the blood supply to the skin.  This makes... more

This is a very interesting topic.  Textbooks have stated that it is risky to perform abdominal liposuction at the same time as a tummy tuck, but recent plastic surgery articles have discounted this.  In my practice, I'll liposuction the flanks only with a tummy tuck to help preserve the blood supply... more

I like to do liposuction at the same time as a tummy tuck because it helps the skin advance and makes you look thinner.  I have to be careful not to do much in the area above the umbilicus because this is the area of maximum stress.  The waist area and front part of the hips are a good... more

In about 20% of my tummy tucks, I also do liposuction laterally to the flank area as this is not treated by the tummy tuck.  The key is to not perform liposuction to areas where the blood flow to the skin of the tummy tuck would be injured and increase the risk of healing complications. 

There are many issues here which are too complex to answer completely in this format but I will try to simplify. Some physcians have concerns with any combination of the procedures and feel that there is an elevated risk of deep venous thrombosis. This, at one time in the past, let the Florida State... more

The reason some of the plastic surgeons you met are concerned about safety with liposuction and tummy tuck is that if done without care particularly in smokers, it can add to the risk of the skin edge dying and this can lead to delayed healing.  The good news is that over the last decade tummy tuck... more