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I Am Not Sure Whether I Should Get a Tummy Tuck or Just Liposuction? (photo)

asked 6 months ago by pnklukyduky in Virginia
Latest answer by George John Alexander, MD
Question viewed 314 times
Tags: waist, flatten, recommendation

I am 23 years old and have not had children but I would like to have children in the future. I'm looking to either have a tummy tuck or liposuction on my abdomen but I don't know which would be the best choice for me. I had a consult with a plastic surgeon; he said a tummy tuck would be best to achieve the result of a smaller waist and flat stomach.

21 answers to I Am Not Sure Whether I Should Get a Tummy Tuck or Just Liposuction? (photo)

23 and no children - Lipo is for you!

Dear pnklukyduky, Unless you forgot to mention a major weight fluctuation (such as gain and loss of 100 lbs), you are likely the ideal candidate for liposuction, and I would discourage you from considering a tummy tuck. A tummy tuck works best on someone who has already "pre-stretched" their abdominal skin (typically by delivering children, or occasionally thru massive weight loss). If your skin hasn't been stretched out, you will not be able to remove much with... more

Michael A. Bogdan, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck vs liposuction

Without an examination I cannot give a definitive answer, but based on your photographs it appears that liposuction would be sufficient. Characteristics that are desirable for liposuction include those relatively close to their ideal body weight, minimal excess skin, minimal laxity of the abdominal musculature (diastasis), and realistic expectations. In addition, since you want to have children in the future, I would suggest that you should defer the tummy tuck. While a... more

Eric T. Emerson, MD
Charlotte Plastic Surgeon

www.seplasticsurgery.com

Liposuction versus Tummy Tuck

Although your photos are a little dark, it looks like you don't have much loose skin, but have a moderate amount of lipodystrophy. It appears that you would be a good candidate for just liposuction. I would recommend that you seek the opinion of several board-certified plastic surgeons before making a decision.

Donald Griffin, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction Versus Tummy Tuck

Based on your photos, it appears that you would benefit from liposuction and would not need a tummy tuck. However, an in person consultation would be needed for a complete evaluation. In general, if you have good skin tone and a moderate about of fat which is not hanging, then liposuction is good. If you have loose skin or hanging fat or diastasis (roundness of the abdomen from muscle separation) then a tummy tuck / abdominoplasty would be needed to achieve the best results... more

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Liposuction rather than tummy tuck is best when the skin tone is OK

Based on the photos, your skin tone looks pretty good. You do have some localized fat excess. I would recommend liposuction of your abdomen and flanks (tummy and love handles). Later, after you have children, you may wish to have a tummy tuck to treat extra loose skin and muscles that have been stretched by pregnancy. It is best to have a tummy tuck after having children rather than before. I have attached the portion of my website on liposuction. more

Eric Swanson MD
Leawood Plastic Surgeon

www.swansoncenter.com

Lipo is the answer!

Women that have not had children and have areas of fat that are diet and exercise resistant can often achieve good results with liposuction.

George John Alexander, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck versus liposuction

Stop! I hope I caught you in time. Based on your photographs and the historical data that you gave, I would not recommend tummy tuck surgery. You don't appear to have redundant or damaged skin. Unless you are not telling us about a massive weight gain and subsequent loss, your abdominal fascia is probably intact. If you think that there is a good chance that you will have children in the future, then that alone is a relative contraindication to tummy tuck surgery.... more

Michael A. Epstein, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

23 with no children and good skin, lean toward liposuction

Based on the pictures you sent, it appears that you would be a good candidate for liposuction. You appear to have good skin quality and have not had children. I hesitate to do tummy tucks on women in their 20's who haven't had children yet. Seek the advice of more than one plastic surgeon in your area.

J. Jason Wendel, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck or Cool Sculpting

Hi, We usually wait until a patient is done having children before doing a tummy tuck. You look good. I would recommend CoolSculpting which would remove your fat with no downtime, no anesthesia, and no needles. Good luck with your family in the future. All the best ! "Dr. Joe"

Joe Gryskiewicz, MD
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction is all you need.

You have many things in your favor of getting an excellent result from just liposuction. You are young and you have not had children. You gave no history of, nor do your photos show any evidence of, you being very overweight. You appear to have focal collections of fat which you want addressed. Therefore your skin should be of excellent quality and elasticity and should conform very well over the areas after the liposuction is done. I would strongly steer... more

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck or Liposuction

Based on your pictures and young age, i think liposuction would be the better choice for you. You should ask your surgeon why a tummy tuck would be better.

Karol A. Gutowski, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction

It is not easy to get surgeons to agree. You are very lucky. In the right hands you should have an excellent result with liposuction alone.

Richard D. Nadal, MD
San Juan Plastic Surgeon

Reccomend liposuction

I believe you are an excellent candidate for liposuction because you do not appear to have a large skin excess and your rectus muscles are not separated because you have not had children. Good luck

Vishnu Rumalla, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Should I Have Liposuction or a Tummy Tuck?

From your pictures it seems that you have good skin quality without excess skin, some excess subcutaneous fat, and probably no muscle weakness (since you have not had pregnancies). You are an excellent candidate for liposuction. If there was muscle weakness, stretch marks, or excess skin, then a tummy tuck is a better option. I would recommend SmartLipo in order to decrease bruising, enhance fat removal, and improve the skin contracture after the procedure.

Frank Agullo, MD
El Paso Plastic Surgeon

www.elpasoplasticsurgery.com

Lipo or Tummy Tuck

Lipo, Lipo, Lipo. There' s nothing like an examination to confirm, but from your photos you should do great with lipo. Go get another consult.

Ronald Schuster, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

www.drschuster.com

Tummy Tuck or Liposuction?

Thank you for the question. Unfortunately, your pictures are dark and not adequate for precise evaluation. Based on your description however, I think a tummy talk would be overkill and premature. You may or may not be a good candidate for liposuction depending on your physical examination ( for example the quality of skin elasticity present). You may want to visit with a few more well experienced board-certified plastic surgeons if you are still considering... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

I Am Not Sure Whether I Should Get a Tummy Tuck or Just Liposuction? (photo)

As you see all expert posters would use a type of lipo. I agree, I would use the Smart lipo TRIPLEX + lipo.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck or Liposuction

It is hard to be definitive without examining you but you appear to have good quaility skin without significant skin laxity, and you have not had children. Therefore I think liposuction alone would provide very satisfactory results in your situation. Remember that with a Tummy Tuck there is a tradeoff of a long scar which is acceptable if you have rolls of loose skin and a stretched out muscle wall, but that is not where you are at. If you wanted to have a smaller waist, then you should... more

Braden Stridde, MD
Federal Way Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction vs a tummy tuck?

Liposuction is best used in the treatment of excess fat whereas a tummy tuck addresses lax skin. These are different issues but can, at times be used, concurrently. Though your photos are dark and not of very good resolution, and combined with a history of no pregnancies and I'm guessing no massive weight gain and loss, then it appears your issue is more related to fat deposition rather than lax skin. Therefore, liposuction is probably the better choice. You should seek two or more... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

Tummy tucks usually after childbearing

The only one who can make a definitive recommendation is a plastic surgeon examining you personally, but in general tummy tucks are done after pregnancy. Liposuction removes fat but does not tighten skin very much (even with laser), so if your skin tone is good and the fat is localized to the abdominal area, lipo might be a good choice. Pregnancy often results in skin laxity with stretch marks and muscle separation, so the tummy tuck can address those issues better. more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck or liposuction

Based on your age and your photos, I would think that liposuction alone should give you an excellent result. Your skin tone looks good and you do not have loose skin. The recovery is much easier and the only scars you will have will be a few 1/4 inch long marks that should not be very noticeable at all. Best of luck.