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Smart Lipo Vs Mini Tummy Tuck for Slimming Torso?

GEEZ Plastic surgeons vs Dermotoligists vs Cosmetic surgeons.

Can someone plese be straight? For the good of the good ole patient.

I am looking to slim down my torso I would love to do Smart Lipo but one PS told me that it could be toxic to do upper /lower ab and flanks and chin at the same time and suggests a Tummy Tuck -Mind you he has Smart lipo and does not believe skin "tightens" but the posts here claim they do. Is there anyone honest in the NJ area?

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skin body slimming fat reduction

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16 Doctor Answers | Asked by elise21 in New Jersey

Doctor Answers (16)
Community Comments (0)

Smart Lipo vs Mini Tummy Tuck vs Full Tummy Tuck

I hope I can make you feel more enlightened rather than add to the confusion. First, it is somewhat difficult to fully assess your situation based on your picture alone, but you appear to have some fat excess, some skin excess - particularly in your lower abdomen, and probably some muscle wall laxity. Liposuction procedures primarily address only fat excess, (with the possible exception of Smart Lipo which can get some increaed skin tightening-but is not a miracle device). A Mini... more

Skin

That is a good picture but, seeing you is better. If You have had several babies and your stomach muscles are weakened and separrated, a tummy tuck is needed. However, if this is only fat and skin smart lipo will do a good job. The laser procedure has a much easier recovery and can be done without going to sleep. Skin tightening does occut but, if not enough for you, a little skin can be removed later. Because it take several hours to do,I prefer multiple sessiions close to each other more

David A. Bray, Sr., MD

6 reviews

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

drbray.com

How best to slim your torso? Who to trust to do it?

Elise21: I don't blame you for being confused by the various claims. As a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in breast and cosmetic surgery you can take my advice for what it is worth. I suggest you focus your attention on finding an experienced surgeon you can trust. Ask friends and neighbors. Ask your primary care physician (or their nurse). Ask women at your gym, hair salon, etc. Your county medical society may offer a referral service. Notice I DID NOT say to decide... more

You will have much better result from tummy tuck

Each procedure is designed for specific condition. You have extra fatty tissue(liposuction) lose skin(tummy tuck) and also separation of the abdominal muscle (tummy tuck). You will get a great result with lipo and tummy tuck combined. Laser lipo has a limited indications .

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

SlimLipo pictures are worth a thousand words

I have used SlimLipo (different laser wavelength than Smartlipo) for over a year; in fact I helped the company develop the machine. I do not own stock or have a financial interest in the machine or company but am paid honoraria to give lectures and teach doctors how to use the machine.I am a practicing plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and do many tummy tuck procedures.If you have lax muscles or a doiastasis recti ( a split in your muscles caused by... more

Full Tummy Tuck will yeld the best shape

After reviweing the advice below, I totally agree with many of the doctors that: 1- Slim Lipo and Smart Lipo are a waste of time and money. 2- Because of the norizontal laxity of your belly button that a mini- tuck won't be the answer. 3- A full tummy tuck will yeld the best shape, but two warnings: a. Look for a doctor who makes the belly buttons look natural. look at their photos. b. Get ready for a scar on the low abdomen. Look at the doctors photos and make sure that they can keep... more

Tummy tuck!

I am having a great time reading the various opinions, as each one is different. I'll give you my algorithm: Fat only, normal skin= lipo Loose skin below the belly button= mini-tummy tuck, +/- lipo (rare!) Loose skin above the belly button, or a hooded horizontal belly button: full abdominoplasty (This means you!) Smartlipo is, indeed, a gimmick. I have been trying out slimlipo, which uses a different wavelength laser, and seems to have a little tightening, but I don't think it will be... more

Lisa B. Cassileth, MD

3 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Both seem like a bad idea for you.

Hi! 1) First, SmartLipo is a gimmick. In Manhattan, I don't know any experienced, board certified plastic surgeon who uses it. You want to go to a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. (there are many "boards", and some don't mean anything it is very confusing for the patient.) On my website, you will find links to the plastic surgery societies, where you can find a qualified surgeon near you. 2) From your picture, you may not need a tummy... more

A mini-tummy tuck is not for you

Smart Lipo is a very good tool for liposuction alone. It helps to remove fat and the laser portion can actually tighten your skin (a little bit). A mini-tummy tuck only addresses your lower abdomen and removes some excess skin in the lower abdomen. It does nothing to address your upper abdomen and nothing to address the bulging muscles underneath. In my opinion, you could benefit from a tummy tuck, which would remove as much excess skin as possible, tighten your abdomen, tighten the... more

If it's worth the scar - do the tummy tuck...

Just from the one pic, you look like you would have the most dramatic outcome with a full abdominoplasty. You need to see someone who knows everything - not just the weekend course that they attended. I would suggest that you see at least 3 Plastic Surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery in your area and see what their opinions are. You can find them in your area by going to www.plasticsurgery.org and using the surgeon finder. You can certainly travel to see anyone... more

Use reason

You can actually reason this one out yourself, irrespective of the surgical specialties. Liposuction removes fat. It does nothing for extra skin, and it does nothing to tighten the deep layer (fascia, "muscles"). So liposuction alone won't fix the loose skin or the loose fascia that are present on your picture and typical of women who have had children. The tightening effect of laser lipolysis seems minimal at best. It provides nothing close to a tummy tuck. The tightening... more

Smart Lipo or tumescent liposuction should take care of this nicely

While tummy tuck is a very cute phrase, the results of it isn't so much. You will be left with an unsightly scar that goes from one side of your abdomen to another and a very unnatural belly button afterwards. Additionally, you will have a recovery period that is about 10 weeks or longer and much more expense than tumescent liposuction. While SmartLipo does improve the results and tightening a little bit, it is the main tumescent lipo that is the part that improves things significantly. We... more

Laser Lipo (Slim Lipo, Smart lipo) vs VASER vs Mini Tummy Tuck vs Full Tummy Tuck

I understand why you would be frustrated with the verbiage and the choices. The solution critically depends on your findings (age, number of children or planned pregnancies in future, BMI, amount of fat under the skin etc). Rather than spewing "SmartLipo" for everything, because the only tool some non-Plastic surgeons have is a 145,000 machine which needs to be paid for, I would suggest you see a real plastic surgeon instead (check www.PlasticSurgery.org) who performs ALL of these... more

There is a difference between slimming your torso and tightening your torso.

You state that you would like to slim your torso. Smartlipo can do that and provide some modest tightening of the skin ( I have Smartlipo). However, your photo shows a lax abdomen with loose skin. If your goal is to tighten that abdomen significantly, Smartlipo won't do it. I have not had the chance to examine you. Your plastic surgeon sounds like he is being very honest with you. There is the scar that an abdominoplasty requires, but it would be the only way to really tighten your torso. ... more

Honestly...

If you go to a dermatologist or a "cosmetic" surgeon, you are painting yourself into a corner where they will do all that they know how to do (no plastic surgery training!) and tell you that it is exactly what you need. This is not honest. What you want is a real Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who can do all the procedures and help you decide which will get you the result you want. Smart lipo doesn't shrink your skin any better than traditional lipo so what you need is a... more

Lipo for fat or tummy tuck for weak muscles and diastasis recti

First of all, you did not tell us your salient facts, age, height, weight, any children? All of these are factors. Smart lipo is only smart for the company that sells it - it is a marketing gimmick to allow non plastic surgeons to charge a fortune for a small surgical procedure. From your photo, it appears as if your abdomen is slightly protruding, whether it is fat or weak muscles, I can't tell from the photo. Come in for a consultation, and I will give you an honest opinion. Lipo is good... more