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Tummy Tuck or Liposculpture First?

I am in need of a Tummy Tuck & Lipo/Body sculpting. I am 5'6", 150lbs, 47 years of age. I had 2 kids they are both adults now. One doctor told me I should do all the liposcultpure first which includes upper/lower back, abdomen, waist/flanks, inner thighs. And 6 months later, get the Tummy Tuck. Another doctor said it all togather including lipoing my upper/lower abdomen, which I heard is not safe. Is that trye? I would appreciate your opinion. Thanks, doctors.

Asked 24 months ago by feb14 in Greenville Sc

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age 45-54 abdomen back flanks inner thighs outer thighs waist female 150-169 lbs safety

Combining Liposuction with Tummy Tuck

There are two factors to keep in mind. Your abdominal skin has three sources of blood supply. During a tummy tuck surgery, two of the blood supplies are cut. The only source comes from the sides. Therefore, if one liposcutions the upper and lower abdomen at the time of surgery, the risk of skin necrosis and skin slough becomes very high. I, therefore, do not recommend lipo-suctioning the abdomen during a tummy tuck. However, the flanks (love handles) can safely be liposcutioned. The... more

Michael A. Jazayeri, MD

Santa Ana Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Liposuction or Tummy Tuck first....

Hi there- I tend to approach cases like yours on an individual basis, and my recommendation would depend on several variables, like: Your skin How much fat there is- and WHERE it is Your preferred recovery Your goals I would talk with your surgeon about the recommendation they have made for you and why that is their recommendation. If it makes sense to you, great. If not, you probably need to communicate to your surgeon what you want.

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Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Lipo before or after tummy tuck

I would use liposuction in a limited manner when performing a tummy tuck. When performing the amount of liposuction you have described i would be concerned about injuring the circulation to the skin resulting in poorly healing areas, particularly just above the incision in the center portion of the lower abdomen. If you have a fair amount of fat then it is reasonable to undergo liposuction in all the areas mentioned and then waiting about 6 months and having your tummy tuck to produce... more

Earl Stephenson Jr., MD, DDS

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Tummy Tuck and Lipo

I would not do all that at once, as it is not safe (my opinion). Also, again, my opinion, I don't lipo the central abdomen at the same time as a tummy tuck due to the risk of compromising blood supply, with resultant tissue death. It is impossible to tell what would be best without at least a photo, but my inclination is tt first because lipo may make the tissue a bit inelastic and hard to remove all the skin that would be ideal. I recommend a third opinion.

Scott E. Kasden, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tummy tuck versus liposuction

Every surgeon has his or her own preference. I prefer to do the tummy tuck first, and then follow 3 months later with liposuction as needed. If you plan to have a large number of areas suctioned, I would definitely advised staging surgery for reasons of safety. Good luck, /nsn.

Nina S. Naidu, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

This can be done at the same time

The combination of the liposuction and tummmy tuck can give you better result if your surgeon is experienced in this procedure. The problem with the lipo first an tummy tuck later is the scaring of the tissue which makes the tummy tuck harder. The technique for the combine procedure is different from the traditional tummmy tuck. When lipo is done at the same time, surgeon should undermine less to preserve the blood supply. In combined procedure,liposuction removes the fatty tissue and tummy... more

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tummy tucks and large volume liposuction may need to be done at separate times

Hello - Depending on the amount of fat you want removed, it may be safer to separate the procedures. The blood supply to the abdominal skin may be placed at risk after a lot of liposuction and a tummy tuck. Also, separating the two procedures will allow much more skin to be taken off with the tummy tuck because the liposuction will "deflate" the skin making it easier to remove.

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Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

To Separate or NOT to separate Large Volume Liposuction and Tummy Tuck

Every Plastic surgeon will have his / her own opinion on this topic. But - all would agree that the shorter the operation the quicker the recovery and the lower the risk of serious complications and that one would probably do a much more thorough and aggressive liposuction if they knew it would not be followed by an immediate Tummy Tuck in the same operation. In cases such as yours, I prefer to stage the operation (separate them into two procedures). The initial (VASER) liposuction would... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Tummy tuck or liposculpture depends on how much fat is being removed

There are some patients that I perform tummy tuck who are also in need of liposuction. Each patient needs to be assessed individually not only on their needs but also what can be done safely and effectively. Some of my patients are candidates to have liposuction done at the same time as a tummy tuck. These are usually patients that have a small amount of fat to be removed. If a patient feels that they are at the lowest weight that they can attain with diet and exercise, and they still... more

Joseph M. Perlman, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tummy tuck plus or minus lipo may take care of it alone

For a more predictable result and possibly avoiding a second procedure I would suggest the abdominoplasty first most often. During that procedure, significant debulking of the fatty thickness can often be performed such that staged liposuction is not required. For less bulky patients, "lipo-abdominoplasty" may in fact be preferable which combines agressive liposuction and conservative disection for the tummy tuck.

Robert Oliver Jr., MD

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction and Tummy Tuck

Liposuction is done by itself usually when many areas are done since it is safer that way rather than trying to combine it with tummy tuck. Often a tummy tuck isn't needed if the results of the liposuction is sufficient. Expect to pay around $6,000 - 7,000 for lipo on that many areas.

David Hansen, MD

Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck or Liposculpture

Without a photo, my guess would be Tummy Tuck + 1 liter Lipo. Then wait 2 to 3 months for an additional Lipo. Second operation much easier on you. Regards.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Tummy tuck or liposuction?

You will clearly get many different recommendations on this. Some surgeons stage or separate liposuction and tummy tuck due to the potential, but fortunately very rare possiblity of deep venous thrombosis, for deep venous thrombosis. Other surgeons prefer to proceed with a one stage operation and treatment.