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Liposuction and Stretch Marks

asked 1 year ago by Atlanta807 in Atlanta, GA
Latest answer by Scott L. Replogle, MD
Question viewed 1,083 times
Tags: age 25-34, stretch marks, female, 130-149 lbs, 5 ft 4 in to 5 ft 7 in

I am 34 years old with two children. I am 5'4" and weigh 140 pounds. I had an umblical hernia repair with mesh 4 years ago after my second child was born. I have this pooch that will not go away with any amount of exercise, dieting, healthy eating, etc. As you can see, I do have stretch marks on my abdomen. I do not want to have a tummy tuck but I would certainly like to have a procedure that will get rid of the fat in that localized area and also tighten the skin. Is that feasible without a tummy tuck?

16 answers to Liposuction and Stretch Marks

A Tummy Tuck is your only realistic option.

You have too much loose skin and stretch marks for any kind of lipo to help. Get your tummy tuck and you'll be so happy. sincerely, david hansen,md

David Hansen, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

www.DrDavidHansen.com

No lipo for you

There is NOTHING but a full tummy tuck that will work for you. Do not be fooled by those places and people who will try to tell you that your skin will shrink after laser lipo and that you don't need a TT. You can take out fat but the skin will be looser from lipo. Just in the past few days I have answered more than a few questions on RS about getting tummy tucks after laser lipo didn't tighten the skin the way they had hoped. Don't make the same... more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Stretch marks, liposuction, and tummy tucks

Liposuction, properly done, only removes excess fat cells down to the minimum normal amount for a given area. It does nothing good or bad to the skin including skin tone, stretch marks, scars, or tattoos. Therefore liposuction can no achieve a particular desired shape or contour and it does not tighten the skin. Tucks basically reposition the skin and remove excess skin and give the illusion of tightening but don't actually tighten the skin or solve stretch marks unless... more

Scott L. Replogle, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction vs abdominoplasty

Liposuction will remove the fat but there is no liposuction devise that will tighten the skin in a significant way (despite the marketing claims). Based on your pictures, a tummy tuck may be the better option.

Karol A. Gutowski, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck is the way to go

Looking at your pictures, you like like a great candidate for an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). That would remove the redundant skin, the "pooch" by tightening the abdomen and give you a much improved sculpted look. Liposuction would leave all of that redundant skin, the abdominal wall laxity would not be treated and you might feel dissatisfied.

Jennifer Keagle, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck only

After looking at your pictures, the answer to your question is in a word, "No!" Bite the bullet and have the tummy tuck if you want a good result. Anything less is a waste of your time and money.

George Sanders, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck is best treatment for loose skin and stretch marks

Based on your photos, I would recommend a tummy tuck to give you the best outcome. Liposuction will not address the excess skin and the weakness of your abdominal wall. In fact, liposuction could end up worsening your situation by leaving you with an irregular contour to your abdomen. Please consult with a board certified plastic surgeon prior to having any type of cosmetic abdominal surgery. Best wishes, Dr. Bruno

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck for contour change instead of liposuction of the abdomen

Your photos demonstrate a deeper contour change than what liposuction can improve. You should see a board-certified plastic surgeon for a consultation to see what risks and benefits are involved with a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). Do not waste your money with only liposuction.

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Liposuction results

Thank you for sharing your pictures. I believe your home run result will be with a tummy tuck. Yes, you will have a scar within the bikini line, but you will have defined contours of the abdominal skin, fat, and musculature. LIposuction can only reliably treat fat, not skin or muscle laxity. If you consider liposuction, I would recommend a detailed physical exam by a board certified plastic surgeon to ensure that you do not have any hernia formation, as this... more

Paul S. Gill, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.drpaulgill.com

Liposuction can increase visible stretch marks

Once the elasticity is lost in the abdominal skin and stretch marks are evident, liposuction can offer contouring, however it is likely that as fat is removed the stretchmarks may become even more visible. Liposuction of any kind (or claim) has little skin tightening effect if elasticity is lost. Also if your abdominal muscle is separated from pregnancy liposuction is unlikely to flatten your stomach. From your photos stretch marks abound and the belly button is bit of a mess. If... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tummy contouring options

I will have to concur with my colleagues here. To correct for your post pregnancy changes, a tummy tuck will be your best option. Liposuction will only help remove fat from areas. It will have no impact on your muscles that are stretched out from pregnancy contributing to the bulging tummy and no impact on your excess skin.

C. Bob Basu, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

PHOTOS: If you're not willing to have a tummy tuck, don't waste your money on lipo

If you're not willing to have a tummy tuck, don't waste your money on liposuction. A tummy tuck will remove excess or lax skin and repostion the muscles (you're problem) liposuction will remove the fat (not you're problem) and do NOTHING for the muscle or skin.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction VS Full Tummy Tuck in regards to Skin Tightening

The After Baby Pooch is NOT made up only of loose skin and some underlying fat. It is mostly created by the permanent stretching and splitting of the underlying abdominal muscles by your pregnancies. This stretching and splitting is NOT reversible by diet and exercise and as soon as you stand up the After Babies tummy literally pooches out as it fills with your abdominal contents. Despite all the great hype you hear about Laser Lipo (such as Smart Lipo etc) and other magical treatments -... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Treating the abdomen

Just from the photos it looks like that you would be a better candidate for a full tummy tuck. You have loose skin and it looks like abdominal weakness as well. It may be difficult to tighten the abdomen with mesh in place.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Smartlipo may be the only other option

Atlanta, You really need a tummy tuck to effectively tighten your skin and muscles. Laser liposuction in the form of Smartlipo would only address the fat and POSSIBLY tighten the skin somewhat. Don't expect to have drum tight skin with Smartlipo, but it would be the only other possible option for you. Good luck! see video

Kenneth R. Francis, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck best for stretch marks and loose skin

There is nothing out there that will tighten skin very much when there are stretch marks or remove the stretch marks other than a tummy tuck. I understand that it isn't what you want to do but you will be disappointed with the results if you don't, and possibly worse with laser lipo.