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How Do I Know if I Need a Tummy Tuck or Lipo?

Asked 25 months ago by Jame in Arizona

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abdomen

Tummy tuck vs. liposuction - which is better?

A tummy tuck tightens fascia and removes extra skin. There are several types of tummy tucks, basically falling into three categories: Mini tucks just below the belly button - OK for scar revision but does not tighten skin or fascia above the belly button. Short incision. Hybrid tummy tuck(R) - tightens fascia all the way up, removes minimal skin. OK for patients with very little loose skin. Small incision. Full tummy tuck - removes lots of skin and tightens the deep layer. Long incision... more

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Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Many factors to consider when deciding between Tummy Tuck or Liposuction

There are many factors that go into deciding if you are better off with a tummy tuck or liposuction. Generally speaking, if you have extra skin then you are better off with a tummy tuck. Also, if you have had children or loss a great deal of weight you are probably better off with a tummy tuck. Usually these patients have stretched the fascia layer just above the muscles and the rectus muscles are separated. The only way to correct this separation is with sewing the muscles together and... more

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Suresh Koneru, MD

San Antonio Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Tummy Tuck or Lipo

Without photos we can not judge exactly what you may need. Go see 3 boarded plastic surgeons in your area or post some photos so we can help. Regards.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Tummy tuck vs liposuction

If you have loose extra skin, stretch marks, muscle laxity from pregnancy you need a tummy tuck. If you have strong muscles, no rolls or folds of extra skin, minimal to no stretch marks and great skin elasticity you need lipo. If you have had kids, about 95% will need a tummy tuck to get the best flattest abdomen they can have. There are far more patients unhappy with what lipo didn't deliver than those who are not happy with a tummy tuck.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tummy Tuck or liposuction: which one do I choose?

Tummy Tuck = Treatment for loose skin, separated rectus muscles. Liposuction = Treatment of localized fatty deposits in patients with excellent skin tone. If you have had children or massive weight gain/loss, I would venture to say that there is a 95% chance you will need a tummy tuck If you are young, fit, or have not had children and exhibit good skin tone with no hernias then you may be a better candidate for liposuction alone. There are many other possibilities as well as permuations and... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tummy tuck vs. liposuction

Tummy tuck and liposuction are very different procedures with different outcomes. Tummy tucks are suggested when there is excess skin around the abdomen coupled with stretch marks that cannot be remedied through diet and exercise. A tummy tuck will remove the loose skin and stretch marks by excision typically leaving a scar from hip to hip. Liposuction on the other hand removes fat from the abdomen by a suction method. You should discuss with several board certified surgeons in your... more

Amy K. Alderman, M.D., M.P.H.

Alpharetta Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Choosing between a Tummy Tuck and Liposuction

Please review my video about tummy tucks after reading this answer. Both the tummy tuck and abdominal liposuction can be used to improve the abdomen. Most people want to avoid visible scars, so there is a tendency to hope the liposuction will improve abdominal contour. Lipo is much more limited in its true application, as the majority of women are not good candidates for only having lipo: Liposuction What it does: Removes fat from below the skin surface Good surgical candidate: Patients... more

Michael A. Bogdan, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tummy tuck or liposuction

Tummy Tuck (abdominoplasty) and Lipo (liposuction) can both be performed on the stomach area to remove fat. Lipo is best used on the abdomen if the skin over the stomach has not been overly stretched with weight gain or pregnancy. In this case, the skin is expected to redrape over the suctioned area smoothly without sagging or hanging. If, however, skin excess is present, an abdominoplasty is the proper procedure to perform because it addressed the skin excess by removing skin in the... more

Robert C. Bledsoe, Jr., MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tummy Tuck vs Liposuction only

Many patients are confused about whether they need a tummy tuck or liposuction. It is easy to think about it like this. Liposuction is a volume reduction operation, while a tummy tuck is a skin and abdominal wall tightening operation. If you have good skin quality and muscle tone, but just have a small area of stubborn fat that is resistance to diet and exercise, then you are probably a candidate for liposuction. However, If you have poor skin quality (stretch marks) and a weak... more

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Andrew Jimerson, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Tummy tuck or liposuction

Without seeing you or examining a patient it is impossible to say what they would be best served having, either liposuction or an abdominoplasty. For those patients whose skin has fallen loose, a skin and subcutaneous tissue tummy tuck may be all they need. For those whose connective tissue envelope, fascia, has weakened by large weight gain or pregnancy, the fascia may not be able to prevent the muscle wall of the belly from bowing forward which creaetes a big bulge. When the doctor... more

Ronald Shelton, MD

Manhattan Dermatologist

Tummy Tuck vs Liposuction

Each operation has different goals (or in medicalese - indications). A Tu Tummy Tuck is meant to correct tummy tissue excess - excess skin, excess looseness, muscle separation from pregnancies etc. A Tummy Tuck will bring the muscles together, flatten the tummy, narrow the waist and raise a sagging pubic mound. Liposuction will remove localized pockets of fat. It will not do anything else despite everything else you may hear. Your best bet is to see 3 plastic surgeons and have them advise... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Should I have a Tummy Tuck or Liposuction?

Hi there- This is actually pretty straightforward... Liposuction involves the removal of fat from between the muscle layer and the skin, and to achieve a good outcome requires skin with good elasticity or tone, so that it will contract after surgery and look smooth. Liposuction will not improve the appearance of skin that has lost its elasticity, or muscles that have become loosened by pregnancy. For women that have experienced a loss of muscle tone and or have true skin excess, a tummy tuck is more

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Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Choosing between Tummy Tuck and Liposuction

Hello, If you are looking to accomplish tightening you are usually looking at a tummy tuck. If you have fatty excesses and tightening is not in the goal picture, them lipo might be adequate.

John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck or Lipo

The true way is to see a board certified plastic surgeon to exam you. Some things that point you more towards a tummy tuck is multiple pregnancies, loose skin, skin with stretch marks and bulging of the abdomen when you are completely relaxed. Hope that helps.

Farbod Esmailian, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Best way to know is to make an appointment for a consultation

Its amazing how many patients misdiagnose what they need or incorrectly assess their appearance. The fastest way to find out what you need is to make an appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon. This will allow you not only to see what you need but also to ask questions about recovery, pain, followup, etc...It will also give you an idea of the cost of the procedure.

Robert Frank, MD

Munster Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tummy tuck vs. Lipo

This decision to have a tummy tuck or liposuction is in most cases straightforward: if your skin quality is good, your abdominal muscles intact and not stretched from pregnancy and you just have some excess fat, liposuction will usually work very well. If on the other hand the skin is stretched or thin, the abdominal muscles stretched or the belly bulges a bit, then a tummy tuck is really the only way to get a significant improvement. I would look at the before and after photos of the... more

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Shahram Salemy, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

May need liposuction and a tummy tuck

Often liposuction and tummy tucks are combined. Lateral rolls are preferably liposuctioned rather than cut or excised. Excess fat above the umbilicus is liposuctioned. Separation of abdominal muscles needs to be repaired surgically with a tummy tuck operation. This condition is called diastasis recti. Pregnancy is a big cause of separated abdominal muscles. If there is a roll of skin causing an overhang this needs to be excised directly during a tummy tuck. Liposuction does not... more

Keith Denkler, MD

Marin Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Tummy tuck vs. liposuction for abdomen

Traditionally, a tummy tuck works best for patients who want to remove excess skin along with fatty tissue (ex. following pregnancy/stretch marks, extreme weight loss, lax abdominal muscles). An abdominoplasty will also allow your plastic surgeon to tighten your abdominal muscles if indicated. Liposuction works best for patients whose main problem is a mild /moderate amount of excess fatty tissue with good skin tone/elasticity. Usually younger, fit patients. I would recommend seeing a... more

David A. Robinson, MD

Munster Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Its all about skin quality

The important thing to recognize in your case is that liposuction has limitations: it will not 'tighten' your skin- no matter if your skin is heated with ultrasound or a laser- liposuction, in of itself, does not tighten skin. Youthful, elastic skin has the ability to 'shrink' around the reduced volume that was liposuctioned. This ability is inherent to your skin, not to the liposuction technique that was used. If you are starting with skin laxity and stretch marks on your abdomen,... more

Scott Sattler, MD

Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

See a plastic surgeon to decide between tummy tuck and lipo

I just saw a patient yesterday who had been to a liposuction clinic for another consult. She was seen only by a salesperson, who examined her and recommended liposuction (of course, since that's all they do). The problem is that she had extensive stretch marks, loose skin, and a separation of the muscles, all of the things that a tummy tuck corrects in addition to removal of localized fat. She was clearly not a good candidate for liposuction alone. A plastic surgeon who does both procedures... more

Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Abdominal paniculectomy done simultaneously with liposuction is a good combination

Depending on whether you have loose skin or fat deposits or both, will determine the best operation for you. If it is just loose skin may be all you need is a tummy tuck with tightening of the muscles of the abdomen. What I find most frequently is that the great majority of patients would be best served with a combination of liposuction of the abdomen to thin out the skin flaps to give better definition of the abdominal musculature in combination with repairing the abdominal muscle... more

Carl W. "Rick" Lentz III, MD

Daytona Beach Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Choosing tummy tuck, liposuction, or both

Liposuction is an ideal solution to localized fat deposits in the abdomen, hip, and flank when there is good skin elasticity without laxity or diastasis, a separation of the sit-up muscles caused by pregnancy. Many patients will benefit from liposuction alone, however once the abdominal tone has been lost and skin becomes lax tummy tuck becomes the best solution. From the surgeon standpoint the decision is not always either or. Liposuction is an excellent compliment to tummy tuck to shape... more