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Does Liposuction to the Upper Abdomen Prior to a Full Tummy Tuck Give a Better Result?

asked 1 year ago by kimwhite in syracuse, ny
Latest answer by Brian M. Braithwaite, MD
Question viewed 480 times
Tags: stomach, upper abs, female, lower abdomen

I have buldging in both my upper and lower stomach. I joke that I have two stomachs because I kind of do. My waist does not buldge like it does above and below. Would I get a better tummy tuck result by having lipo to the upper abdomen prior to my tummy tuck.

16 answers to Does Liposuction to the Upper Abdomen Prior to a Full Tummy Tuck Give a Better Result?

Liposuction of the upper abdomen almost always gives a better tummy tuck result.

The problem with just doing a tummy tuck is that it doesn't address the fullness of the upper abdomen. You will almost always need to liposuction the upper abdomen, either prior to, during or later. Ideally you would want your surgeon to do it at the same time as the tummy tuck to get it all done at once.

David Hansen, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

www.DrDavidHansen.com

Liposuction vs. Tummy tuck

Lipo or tummy tuck or both? For ladies who have never had children, or for those fortunate women who have not developed an abdominal bulge after childbirth, lipo is just the ticket. Often local anesthesia or IV sedation are possible. Lipo removes fat. It doesn't tighten the deep layer (fascia). Lipo doesn't fix hernias. Lipo doesn't remove extra skin. There are many types of short incision tummy tucks for ladies who have had children, maybe... more

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Lipoabdominoplasty

I perform liposuction during tummy tucks on virtually all my patients, including liposuction in the upper abdomen. Once considered an unacceptable risk, combining these procedures has become mainstream and perfectly acceptable so long as the surgeon adjusts his or her technique to maintain adequate blood flow to the abdominal wall tissues. Staging the procedures is fine but this adds significant cost to the final result.

Brian M. Braithwaite, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Many people who think they need a "tummy tuck" benefit from liposuction alone.

Many people who think they need a "tummy tuck" benefit from liposuction alone. If after a consultion with a surgeon one decides to have an abdominoplasty, it is safer to liposuction the upper abdomen separately, before or after. This can be done with only local anesthesia. See link below.

William Coleman III, MD
Metairie Dermatologic Surgeon

Liposuction before a tummy tuck

Liposuction may be performed before or after an abdominoplasty. Some plastic surgeons do both together but it is important to asks about the surgical risks of doing these two procedures at the same time. You need an examination to determine if you are a candidate for either the abdominoplasty, liposuction or both.

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Lipo of Upper Abdomen with Tummy Tuck

It is difficult to predict the best procedure for you without a physical exam or pictures. Many patients can have an upper abdominal bulge due to skin excess or muscle laxity. This will be corrected by the tummy tuck. If the primary problem is a thick fat pad, I would not recommend central upper abdomen liposuction in conjunction with a tummy tuck. This carries a higher risk of wound healing complcations. If necessary, I would perform the... more

Paul S. Gill, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.drpaulgill.com

Does Liposuction to the Upper Abdomen Prior to a Full Tummy Tuck Give a Better Result?

No I would recommend doing the tummy tuck first with recti repair to see if that resolves the issue. From MIAMI DR. Darryl J. Blinski

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction and Tummy Tuck

For many years liposuction with a tummy tuck was felt to increase the risk of decreased blood flow to the stretched skin below. Keeping the surgical approach to the upper midline muscle repair narrow has made it possible to minimize this risk. Since only the area of the muscle repair is elevated, the area over the ribs (which provides the blood flow) is left intact and can be reduced in bulk by liposuction. Using this technique, improvement in the upper abdominal fat excess... more

Ricardo Izquierdo, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.FaceAndBodyChicago.com

Liposuction prior to, during, or after tummy tuck

In some cases the tummy tuck will "unfurl" the fat in the upper abdomen and treat this roll as well. However, liposuction is discouraged with the tummy tuck in the areas you mention. Therefore I tend to perform the liposuction at a later date if needed.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction before tummy tuck

I usually like to stage it, but it depends upon your body habitus. If you are fairly thin, I would do the tummy tuck first and then a later stasge if the abdomen is a bit full, I would do liposuction. Sometimes combining the two increases the risk of wound complications.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction before tummy tuck?

For a long time, this is what Plastic Surgeons recommended, feeling that combining the two operations was dangerous. Fortunately, that is not the case, and lipoabdominoplasty (lipo + tummy tuck) is a very common and safe operation. If you are young enough and have good enough skin and not too much fat, then liposuction alone may do the trick. But remember that if you think you'll need a tummy tuck later on, the scarring from the liposuction can seriously complicate the tummy tuck.... more

Verne Weisberg, MD
Portland Plastic Surgeon

www.drverne.com

You can get tummy tuck and liposuction at the same time

Please send pictures . The use of liposuction before tummy tuck will cause scaring and will make the tummy tuck harder. The traditional belief is that the combination of the lipo and tummy tuck is dangerous. I just published a paper in the journal of the aesthetic surgery and my experience been opposite . There is a special way to combine the lipo and tummy tuck together safely.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

You might be quite pleased with improvement with just liposuction.

Dear Kim Unless you have a c-section scar, it is very nice not to have a big honking scar across your body if you can possibly avoid it. Even a small well-healed c-section scar is much better that a big tummy tuck scar. If your issues can be addressed by liposuction alone, that is a much better option that having the tummy tuck. Unfortunately some women do need both procedures especially if there is a history of significant prior weight loss (as is commonly seen... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Liposuction before a tummy tuck can be helpful.

Getting the best results with a tummy tuck is a team effort between you and your Plastic Surgeon. Many patients desiring this surgery have the combination of a too thick layer of fat across the abdomen in addition to the laxity of the skin and underlying muscular wall. The first step is to achieve a high level of fitness and to be near your ideal body weight. A starting point is to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than 30 and preferably less than 25 before having surgery. Some patient... more

Mathew C. Mosher, MD
Vancouver Plastic Surgeon

www.drmosher.com

Tummy tuck

If you have excess skin, then a tummy tuck with liposuction would give you a good result. Liposuction could also work, but this wouldn't address abdominal wall laxity. Weight loss, then an tummy tuck would be the best approach, without the benefit of a photo or an examination.

Shahin Javaheri, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Upper abdomen issues prior to a tummy tuck

The thinner you are in the upper abdomen the better for the best TT result. I don't personally advocate lipo, rather weight loss for this to avoid scar tissue ect during the TT. Also, make sure you are talking about fat not muscle laxity up there.