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Big Saddlebags & Belly: Get Liposuction and Tummy Tuck or Just SmartLipo?

Help! I would like to ask for tips from all of you: I weigh 136 and am 5'1. I am looking to get rid of major saddlebags and my mini-tummy that sags down. I work out 5-6 days a week. One Dr. says do SmartLipo, the other one says it is a gimmick and I need the lipo and a tuck. How does one make the best decision - I am only doing this once!!! Any advice would help! Thanks!!!

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stomach fat saddle bags liposuction alternative

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22 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon

Doctor Answers (22)
Community Comments (0)

SmartLipo not necessarily the best choice

SmartLipo has a purpose for smaller areas but it has not been proven for substantial areas like for your "major saddlebags." We would recommend more proven techniques at this time for such significant areas. Do you really want to undertake the cost, time, and emotional resources for an unproven technique that may leave you dissatisfied?

SmartLipo is a gimmick

The doctor you saw who described SmartLipo as a gimmick is probably correct. The dictionary tells us that a gimmick is something that has a special feature that makes it "stand out" from the rest. It's just that the special feature is of little relevance or use. With SmartLipo, there are a few such "special features" that its advocates tout. If you look at them one at a time, they are either not unique, or their advantages have not been shown. There is a major push in... more

SmartLipo versus Liposuction

When considering doing liposuction or body contouring surgery, liposuction should be done smartly by smart plastic surgeons that use the right instruments or technology. The way to obtain the best results in liposuction and body contouring surgery is to seek a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon that has expertise in body sculpting. It is not the use of new, yet improved technology such as SmartLipo that has a high index for marketing, but very low index for science and therefore has a... more

Rod J. Rohrich, MD

10 reviews

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Smartlipo alone will not give you tummy tuck and remove big saddlebags

The answer to your question is to consult 2 board certified plastic surgeons and evaluate their opinions. Laser liposuction like Smartlipo and Slimlipo can provide excellent results when done by experienced talented plastic surgeons who know how to use these new technologies. I have used laser assisted liposuction fror 3 years and have had excellent results. Skin tightening is impressive and more impressive is the smooth skin after laser lipo without the skin irregularities often seen after... more

Smartlipo does not replace a tummy tuck

Smartlipo may or may not be a smart choice for you. No type of liposuction (Smartlipo or not) replaces the need for a tummy tuck. What you need is a smart surgeon. If you already have sagging skin in those areas, liposuction alone does not sound like the best option for you. Combining a tummy tuck and liposuction is a great way to get rid of both excess skin and fat. (If you only had excess fat and good skin quality than you could expect good results with liposuction alone.) Somehow... more

Tummy Tuck and Liposucition

In most cases, a Tummy Tuck is the best option for removing skin. Liposuction is best for removing small pockets of fat. Consult with Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Upon evaluation and examination, your surgeon will be able to recommend the procedures that would best address your individual concerns. Best wishes!

In this case, SmartLipo not so smart

Thanks for your question! SmartLipo alone will not be able to effectively treat all of these areas and give you the results that you are probably looking for. SmartLipo works best for small areas. Areas such as the saddle bags can be very effectively treated with liposuction or U/S lipo. All of the tummy tucks that I perform include liposuction because liposuction lets me treat areas that I would not be able to with a tummy tuck alone. Best.

Tummy Tuck or Smart Lipo- which is best for me?

Hi there- Without a careful discussion of your goals and an examination, it would be nearly impossible to advise you properly and responsibly, but the following does generally apply... If you have loose, excess skin, there is NO form of liposuction that will improve this, no matter what you are being told. Claims of skin shrinkage by the manufacturer of the Smartlipo device and by those physicians who have purchased it have largely been debunked at this point. Your best bet is to find a surgeon more

Lax skin will have to be excised with Tummy Tuck

It sounds as if you have lax skin, at least to the lower abdomen. The Smart Lipo advocate is trying to convince you that it can tighten the lax skin. This is often touted by advocates of the technique, but this effect is very minimal, if present at all. If you have lax skin to the lower abdomen, you will need to have it excised, meaning a tummy tuck. There is no alternative for skin that has lost its elasticity. If the skin tone is also poor to your saddlebags, you will require excision of... more

Tummy tuck vs Smart Lipo

It's difficult to answer that question without examining you or at least seeing photos, but based on your description, it sounds like you need a tummy tuck with liposuction of the saddlebags. You mentioned that your mini-tummy "sags down" ... saggy skin is usually best treated with a tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck, and not liposuction. I recommend you discuss your goals with a board certified plastic surgeon so the two of you can make your plan together. Best of luck!

Dr. S’ 5 rip for deciding liposuction vs. tummy tuck

1. A tummy tuck is usually indicated after weight loss greater than 30% or pregnancy. 2. Lase liposuction and RFAL are continuing to improve the ability to tighten loose skin while melting fat. 3. If you are considering having children it is a better idea to get a great result with the liposuction and reserve the tummy tuck for post... more

Smart Lipo not Equal to a Tummy Tuck

There is no comparison when it comes to tummy tuck vs smart lipo. Saddle bags that you describe will need more than what smart lipo can accomplish. There are many new devices that sound promising, however, few have proven to stand the test of time. Visit with a board certified plastic surgeon with whom you can connect.

Big saddlebags and belly treatment

Though I often use Slim Lipo with great results on the areas you're describing, if you have any significant skin relaxation in your abdomen and you only want to undergo a procedure once and get dramatic results, you should probably do the tuck with lipo. This will ensure you best and most dramatic result possible with current technology.

People are falling out of love with Smart Lipo

From your description of your problem, you have excess, loose abdominal skin and saddlebags. The only way to eliminate the loose skin is to have and abdominplasty, or "tummy tuck." Traditional liposuction will treat the saddlebags very nicely. There is absolutely no proof that Smart Lipo or any laser-assisted liposuction provides any advantage. As a matter of fact, for over 20 years there have been articles in the plastic surgery journals stating that the addition of laser to... more

SmartLipo for Loose Tummy Skin is NOT Smart

Every operation is a tool. A hammer is great at driving in nails or but is lousy at putting paint on walls. Similarly, when operating we pick the operation best suited for the problem. It has been said multiple time but it bears repeating - Liposuction is a tool for fat removal NOT a tool for shrinking and tightening the overlying skin. ALL claims to skin tightening are exaggerated and teeter on being fraudulent. If you have saddle bags - you may greatly benefit from liposuction. Each... more

"tummy that sags down" - Don't choose the lipo!

Lipo works great if the skin tone is good. If you have very tight & stretchy skin, then removing fat from below the surface will allow the skin to shrink down and look good. If you have skin that is already sagging, it already shows that it has poor elasticity and looks deflated. Removing more fat from below the surface will only accentuate the problem. Yes, the heat generated from laser lipolysis does cause some thermal injury to which the body responds with scaring (collagen... more

Liposuction or Tummy Tuck

Liposuction or tummy tuck? It really depends upon the quality of the soft tissues and the laxity of the skin. If the muscles are weak and you have had children, I would recommend a tummy tuck.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Smart Lipo vs Tummy Tuck

You probably need liposuction to the saddle bags and a full abdominoplasty. Smart Lipo is a GIMMICK, that is worthless, it is like any other method of liposuctio. It does not replace a tummy tuck, it does not tighten skin, IT IS A MAKETING TOOL to part you from your money.

Deciding between Lipo or Tummy Tuck

There has been a great marketing push recently to try and convince people that smart lipo will tighten skin enough to replace tummy tucks. Although there is some evidence that it tightens a little, if you have been told by an experienced plastic surgeon that a tummy tuck is in order then you will be disappointed with smart lipo on the tummy. Any kind of lipo should work for saddlebags. Go for smart surgery, not marketing hype.

Some form of liposuction would correct saddlebags

Without photos all any of us,'expert' posters can state is some form of liposuction whether it be traditional, UAL, Vaser or Smart Lipo would be a great choice to correct the saddle bag deformity of the hip/thigh region. As for the lower abdomen, again without a photo you could need a full tummy tuck, mini tummy tuck or just some form of liposuction. Now as for the classification of any liposuction as a "GIMMICK". Until you have walked in my shoes maybe a blanket statement... more

Treatment of excess skin and saddle bags

In your case, it sounds like you have significant fat deposits (saddle bags) and excess skin in the tummy area and waist. In your case, I think "smart lipo" should be called "small lipo." Smart lipo *may* be effective at treating really small deposits of fat. However, in your case, you are likely dealing with 1) excess fat, 2) loose/lax/excess skin), and perhaps muscle separation (rectus diastasis) if you've had kids. A tummy tuck procedure with adjunctive... more

Traditional liposuction would be my recommendation for...

Traditional liposuction would be my recommendation for the saddlebags you have. The need for a tummy tuck is based on how much extra skin you have in your lower abdomen and how tight and flat you want it and how much tolerance you have for a scar. There is NO WAY that Smartlipo, or any other lipo, can give you as tight and flat a result as a tummy tuck. So ask yourself what is the result you really want to get and proceed.