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Mummy Tummy Lipo and Thermage Vs Tummy Tuck?

asked 1 year ago by Bailey1895 in Concord, NH
Latest answer by Vivek Bansal, MD
Question viewed 742 times
Tags: stretch marks, love handles, options, pooch

Hi, I am 26 years old with two children, youngest is 2. I am slender at almost 5' 8" and 130lbs. I lost all my baby weight by diet and exercise but I continue to have the typical "mummy tummy" I have moderate stretch marks below my belly button and my muscle are not seperated and feel flat. I have a loose bulge starting below my belly button and love handles. Heard lipo and a skin tightening treatment are the new "mummy tummy" makeover. Anything to the hype?

12 answers to Mummy Tummy Lipo and Thermage Vs Tummy Tuck?

Mommy Makeover

Some can benefit from this, but the results seem to be too inconsistent. I recommend you see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and consider a mini TT or full TT, and be rid of the skin you do not want.

Vivek Bansal, MD
Danville Plastic Surgeon

Mini Tummy Tuck

Thank you for including your photos, it is helpful. When a patient has damaged skin and abdominal muscles that have separated due to pregnancy, usually a tummy tuck surgery is what will achieve the look that most are wanting to achieve. I do not perform Thermage and have heard from patients who tried it first and then came back for the tummy tuck surgery that it didn't give them the results they thought it would. Do your research and take a look at the credentials of... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Tummy tuck vs. thermage + liposuction

The amount of skin tightening you get from Thermage isn't even in the same league as what you get from a properly performed tummy tuck. They really aren't comparable. Also, not everybody responds to Thermage predictably. Although I would have to examine you to tell you which one is best, I would suggest that your options are: 1) abdominal liposuction + mini-abdominoplasty (for skin resection) 2) standard abdominoplasty I don't think that... more

Thomas Fiala, MD
Altamonte Springs Plastic Surgeon

Not every woman needs a mommy makeover.

Hi. 1) You look like a good candidate for tumescent liposuction of the abdomen. From your pictures, I don't think you need a tummy tuck. 2) You need both superficial and deep liposuction (Gasparotti technique). Superficial tunneling really tightens the skin. 3) Thermage may give you some additional minor benefit.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Talk to a Plastic Surgeon for mummy tummy problems

Hi, Based on your pictures, you would seem a good candidate for liposuction and a "mini" tuck. I personally don't do thermage, but have seen several patients who have had it done and were disappointed with the results. I also know a few plastic surgeons who have tried it and simply given up on it, saying that the machine is just collecting dust. In our area, there are many "non-core" doctors (non plastic surgeons) advertising various non-invasive... more

Paul W. Loewenstein, MD
Milwaukee Plastic Surgeon

Fixing the "Mummy Tummy"

Fortunately, it looks like you have recovered very well from your pregnancy and have smaller issues than many women. Thermage has been around for years but many of the results are underwhelming at best. However, you look to be an ideal candidate for a mini tummy-tuck. This treats problems from the belly button down and it seems as this is your area of concern. I would recommend consulting with a board certified surgeon in your area to discuss a surgery. The scar in this... more

Vincent P. Marin, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

You said it best! Hype is ALWAYS hype!

You have loose skin that any form of liposuction will further empty, causing more laxity and making your stretch marks even more visible. Thermage is of VERY limited value in improving stretch marks or tightening skin--that is why tummy tucks are still necessary for a majority of women who have had babies. There will always be a few women who qualify for liposuction because their skin tone is still great and their babies were small, but truthfully, these women are in the minority.... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

Mommy makeover - abdominoplasty

When we assess a patient for surgery such as an abdominoplasty they fall into 3 categories those who would clearly benefit from the procedure (those with abdominal skin hanging over the genitalia), those who would not and those who lie in the grey zone in between and are hard to evaluate. Your 3 limited photos, some out of focus, make assessment impossible given that you are in the grey zone. Your posted photos justify your concern but again do not allow full... more

Aaron Stone, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Are there Non-Surgical Treatments for Stretch Marks?

There are a variety of Laser or Heat generating machines such as thermage who promise to tighten up skin and eliminate stretch marks. In my experience they have not been able to consistently show any real results. Lets put it this way, I would not do it for my own wife! Reviewing your pictures it seems that you not only have stretch marks but you also have lower abdominal wall weakness which give you a pouch. The only way to eliminate your stretch marks, tighten your skin and your abdomianl... more

S. Sean Younai, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction and Thermage vs. Tummy tuck

Dear Bailey, It is difficult to assess the status of your tummy from the photos, but from your description it seems you have a little bulge and some skin laxity. Skin tightening procedures whether it is Thermage or Laser lipo do not have long term effects and they are not a substitute for a tummy tuck. You may benefit from a mini tummy tuck that should take care of the excess skin and stretch marks on your lower belly as well as tighten the separation of your muscles... more

Dana Khuthaila, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.drkhuthaila.com

Lipo with Thermage not a substitute for tummy tuck

A few years ago I participated in the clinical trial of immediate post-liposuction Thermage for skin tightening, and reported the results at a national plastic surgery meeting in 2009. I found about 40% more skin shrinkage on the Thermage treated area as compared to lipo alone. This sounds impressive, and is indeed much more than reported for laser lipo (for example Smart Lipo), but it is still a lot less than what a tummy tuck does. For Thermage to work well there has to be a good... more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

baxterplasticsurgery.com

Mommy makeover tummy tuck liposuction vs thermage

The moderate stretch marks below your belly button are an indication that your skin has lost its elasticity. Although you feel your muscles are flat, it appears you have weakening, stretching or diastasis of your abdominal muscles. Liposuction and thermage can be performed on just about anyone, however I do not believe it is going to give you the makeover you are looking for. These will also not remove your stretch marks. Obtain a consultation with a plastic surgeon to determine... more