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Liposuction, or Full Tummy Tuck? (photo)

32, Mom of 2 kids (1 C-Section), 5'8, 180 lbs. I have consults scheduled with 4 different ASPS boarded surgeons next week (Seattle area). Real Self has been a huge source of information in this journey, so I thought I would seek opinions here also. I am here to ask if I can expect skin retracting with liposuction only, or am I strictly a Tummy Tuck patient? Also, can a TT ever be done over an existing C-Section scar? Thank you, I appreciate your expert advice!

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24 Doctor Answers | Asked by SeriousResearch in Seattle, WA

Doctor Answers (24)
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Liposuction vs Tummy Tuck

You are not a candidate for liposuction alone. You have too much skin for such procedure. You need a full abdominoplasty with some ancillary liposuction, whether its VASER or other forms. A well executed abdominoplasty for you can be a magical operation, and a poorly judged liposuction can be really disastrous. I am happy that you are seeing qualified Board Certified ASPS members in our area. You will be guided in... more

Surgery

You appear to have some abdominal wall laxity and some hanging skin. Liposuction alone cannot correct these problems

Liposuction vs tummy tuck

As has been said, liposuction alone for the postpregnancy abdomen is rarely the best option because it does nothing for the muscle laxity or the extra skin. These are addressed in a TT. You might want to ask the surgeons if they think you are at an optimal weight at this point fo the best result. Good luck!

Tummy Tuck v Liposuction

Thank you for your question and pictures. Liposuction of your abdomen will definitelyget rid of the extra fat and be an improvement, but it will do nothing for the extra skin and separation of your abdominal muscles that are the result of pregnancy. The tummy tuck will give you a tighter result, but is a bit more recovery and has a scar associated with it. To carefully think through the best choice for you an in person consultation would be best.

A tummy tuck and liposuction usually work best together and give maximum results.

Yes, RealSelf is a great source of information for patients. In terms of procedure selection, it depends on what your expectations are. The maximum improvement will come from a tummy tuck with simultaneous liposuction. I would recommend that you look at photos depicting both liposuction alone and the combination treatment and decide what you would be most happy with. My concern is that liposuction will still leave you with loose skin (any skin contraction is minimal)... more

Tummy tuck or lipo

You will easily be able to find someone to perform lipo on you, but I feel that there is no doubt that you would be better off with a tummy tuck. You have too much loose skin.

Ertified lipidologists nationwide. The American Board of Clinical Lipidology

As you can read the experts are choosing full tummy tuck, as am I. So best to forget about the liposuction as a choice. Good luck

Tummy tuck is the ideal body contouring procedure for patients with abdominal skin laxity

Based on the appearance of your photos- I would recommend a tummy tuck, which would address your skin laxity, rounded abdominal appearance and fattiness. Liposuction can be combined with the procedure to optimize the result. Liposuction alone would leave you with worsened skin laxity.

Tummy tuck or lipo

Thank you for your question and posting pictures. It would appear that you are a good candidate for tummy tuck with a little lipo sculpture as well. Liposuction alone will not give you the tight flat abdomen that abdominoplasty can achieve . The scar can be placed below your C Section scar removing it completely

Tummy tuck better than lipo for loose skin

Although liposuction may help tighten skin a little bit, it is not an alternative to a tummy tuck for loose skin after pregnancy. This is true for laser lipo such as smart lipo. Ask about the progressive tension suture method.

Tummy Tuck or Liposuction

Given the amount of skin excess seen in your photographs, I believe that you would be best served by a tummy tuck. It can definitely be performed in the setting of a previous c-section scar. Liposuction alone may benefit you in terms of reducing some excess fat, but it will likely leave someone like you with extra skin that you may not like. see video

Tummy tuck and/or liposuction

You definitely have excess skin in your abdominal area. In "diving position" this become more prominent. A full " transpositional " abdominoplasty is a must, however liposuction and preferably a liposelection of the flanks is highly recommended to have better improvement in the silhouette of your abdominal area. Go ahead with your surgery.

Liposuction or Tummy Tuck San Diego? (photo)

Forget about liposuction. Weight loss and tummy tuck (which includes removal of C section scar and replacement by abdominoplasty scar) are most transformational. I've seen some great results achieved by a regular Realself contributor from the Seattle area. Your pregnancies have resulted in weight gain, stretching of skin, and stretching of abdominal wall. Liposuction corrects none of this. Lipo is a procedure to remove and sculpt fat contours in a localized area... more

Tummy tuck vs. Liposuction

I would recommend a full tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) with liposuction of the flanks (love handles). You can do this even with your c-section scar (which will be cut out!) You will love the removal of the excess skin and the new waist you achieve with liposuction of the sides. You are a great candidate! Good luck! K. Roxanne Grawe, MD Columbus, OH

Tummy tuck or liposuction. Why not both?

Thank you for your question and photos. Tummy tuck or liposuction are not mutually exclusive. Most surgeons do some liposuction with their tummy tucks. In my practice I use the VASER which allows me to do advanced body shaping as opposed to traditional liposuction. You are an excellent candidate for a lipoabdominoplasty with contouring of your full back, bra rolls, hips, abdomen and arms. Yes, the arms too. I see too many photos of abdominoplasties with good contour of the midsection and... more

Tummy tuck vs. liposuction

You have both excess skin in the abdomen and fat deposit on the flanks and upper back. Liposuction alone will not remove excess skin and would not provide enough skin retraction to give a good contour. I recommend a combination of abdominoplasty and liposuction of the flanks. We do routinely performed abdominoplasty through previous C-section scar and the scar is removed during the surgery. The added benefit of an abdominoplasty is tightening of the abdominal rectus musclse to improve... more

Liposuction, or Full Tummy Tuck?

Thanks for including photos, as it is the only way to give us the info we need to help answer your questions. With the loss of skin elasticity you have developed as a result of pregnancies, your skin will have very little if any contraction after liposuction. It would be a waste of a surgery and of your money. The C-Section scar will be removed during the TT and is not a problem.

Liposuction or tummy tuck

You have a combination of excess skin with overhanging skin and excess fat. You will have the best result with a tummy tuck. Doing liposuction alone will leave you with more loose skin and an irregular abdominal contour. If you are planning to lose weight then you should have the tummy tuck after you have achieved your weight loss goals. If you wish to have a tummy tuck now then some liposuction may be included as well to better contour the abdomen, flanks and hips... more

Benjamin Chu, MD

12 reviews

Honolulu Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction, or Full Tummy Tuck?

It is a very difficult case, you have both, excess of skin and fat, you need liposuction and full tummy tuck. Spanish translation provided by doctor: Es un caso muy dificil, usted tiene exceso de piel y grasa, necesita de una lipoaspiracion y abdominoplastia.

Liposuction Will Not Correct Skin Excess

I do not think that liposuction alone will provide you with a result with which you are happy. The excess skin which you have can only be satisfactorily corrected with a TT. This would also enable a muscle repair which would be beneficial.

Liposuction or Tummy Tuck

Tummy tuck will be necessary to remove the loose skin. You could have tummy tuck and liposuction of flanks and back at one surgery. However, the abdominal fat remaining may bother you due to its thickness. You could also consider liposuction of 5 liters of the abdomen, flanks, and back first. Then the tummy tuck could be performed in 3 to 6 months. This would produce the best cosmetic result. However, this represents two... more

Full tummy tuck necessary for hanging skin.

Hi. 1) Liposuction of the abdomen (when done both deep AND superficial, Gasparotti technique) is very powerful, but of course there is a limit. 2) I think you have enough excess skin that you really need a full tummy tuck.

Liposuction, or Full Tummy Tuck?

When a prospective patient has some skin overhang, that is a pretty good predictor of a poor outcome for treatment by liposuction. Liposuction works well when the excess tissue is limited to fat. A tummy tuck, on the other hand, will address excess fat, excess skin, and can tighten the abdominal wall, all of which seem to be issues in your photos. Tummy tucks are often done in women who have had c-sections. Often the scar is used as the central part of the TT incision,... more

Liposuction VS tummy tuck

Hello 'SeriousResearch', thanks for your question. Before anything, I would make sure you are done having children, as any future pregnancies may have a deleterious effect on your cosmetic results. Based on your photos and the amount of loose skin and fat present, I would recommend a full tummy tuck with liposuction of the flanks. I think liposuction alone will lead to more skin laxity, which can retract to an uncertain extent, but I do not think it will be enough to give... more