Post-Baby, Can I Do Liposuction or Do I Need a Tummy Tuck?

I am a 29 year old mom of three. I am 5'2" and currently 136 lbs, my waist 37" presently. I have a 5 week old son and normally are 128-130 lbs. I have a lot of stretch marks and loose skin below belly button and stretch marks along the sides. My belly button is also misshapen. I want a flatter more contoured stomach to match my active lifestyle. I am OK with living with stretch marks and am more concerned with how I look in clothing versus naked or in a bikini. Will a reputable doctor do lipo?

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11 Doctor Answers | Asked by heatherm716 in Buffalo, NY

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Your babies stretched your abdomen; liposuction is a mistake!

Your loose skin and stretched abdominal wall tissues will not become firm or taut with liposuction, which only further "empties" your already-flabby skin. A "prune-belly" appearance can occur, and THEN you will not have any doubt as to what operation is necessary! Furthermore, liposuction will not tighten your abdominal wall fascia (the "gristle" layer that surrounds your six-pack muscles and was stretched by your pregnancies); only tummy tuck and muscle... more

Liposuction versus Tummy Tuck after Babies

Dear Heatherm716, You are an ideal candidate for tummy tuck. This procedure is usually performed with some liposuction as well. In addition to removing fat, a tummy tuck removes redundant or extra skin, and tightens the abdominal muscular wall, neither or which is affected by liposuction alone. Please consult with a few doctors certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Best of luck!

You need both

Tummy tuck is the procedure of choice based on the photo you provided. You have some excess skin and anterior muscle laxity. These will be addressed with tummy tuck. You will however, need liposuction to the waist area. So a combination of tummy tuck and liposuction is the answer to your question. Your plastic surgeon will be able advise you about both procedures.

Tummy tuck vs. liposuction

The abdominal contour changes commonly seen after pregnancy are usually best addressed with an abdominoplasty or "tummy tuck." This procedure not only removes excess skin and fat but also serves to tighten up the muscle layer which has been stretched during pregnancy. This combination leads to a flatter abdomen and a more youthful contour. If you are considering having more children it is best to wait until you have completed your family as pregnancy after... more

LipoSuction and Tummy Tuck for mommy makeover

You will not be satisfied with liposuction only to contour you belly. After 3 pregnancies, your abdominal wall is strectched out, the sit-up muscles are likely seperated and the bulging you see is NOT just extra fat. A tummy tuck in addition to lipo-contouring will give you the best result: Flat tummy and better belly button shape Gets rid of many stretch marks and extra roll of skin that you see when you sit Realigns the muscles, which may also help your core feel... more

You need a tummy tuck

Greetings, You're a perfect candidate for a tummy tuck. Your photos reveals looseness of the abdominal wall muscles, excess skin and fat, and stretch marks. Liposuction would ultimately give you the appearance of having more loose skin and a residual abdominal bulge. Let's face it: if every patient had a choice, they would avoud the incisions and downtime associated with a tummy tuck. That being said, for your constellation of physical findings, it will certainly give... more

The tummy tuck is for you

Only the tummy tuck will tighten the muscular foundation and correct the skin laxity from your pregnancy. The muscular repair will be a very important part of your procedure to restore the contour and tone. Your surgeon should also be able to use liposuction over the hip during the tummy tuck to smooth the transition and enhance the contour. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Lipo vs abdominoplasty

I think that based upon your photos, your abdomen would benefit most from a full tummy tuck. It would tighten the muscles and flatten the abdomen. The loose skin and umbilcus would also be improved. Good luck.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck will help

It is too early after your pregnancy to discuss surgery. You will need to have tummy tuck to remove the stretch marks,tighten the abdominal muscle and do some liposuction. Liposuction by itself will not work.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Abdominal contouring best done with tummy tuck

You've got a lax abdominal wall giving you a 'barrel' shape, loose skin and fat, plus a transversely oriented belly button. You need a standard tummy tuck. Any liposuction procedure you get will only address excess fat, but will do nothing for abdominal wall contour or skin excess. Seek out a plastic surgeon board certified and a member of the ASPS. Accept no substitute.

Tummy tuck is your best option

From your photos and your history you look like the perfect tummy tuck candidate. You need muscle tightening, skin removal from pubic hairline up to the belly button and would get a nice flat abdomen from this. In my opinion, liposuction would be a poor choice because the muscles will still be loose, the stretch marked skin won't shrink well and the whole process would produce a very unacceptable result. Of course, this isn't medical advice as that can only come... more