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Will a Tummy Tuck Help Sagging Love Handles?

asked 2 years ago by g3nome in Virginia
Latest answer by Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
Question viewed 4,123 times
Tags: weight loss, loose skin, love handles

I have lost a lot of weight (205 to 155), and now I have a lot of loose skin in my love handle area. This is extremely noticeable at night more than day time. I have a lot of stretch marks on my love handle area. I am fine with my stomach and how it looks, just not my love handles, which is mostly excess skin sagging. What can I do?

13 answers to Will a Tummy Tuck Help Sagging Love Handles?

+5

Tradeoff

While a tummy tuck is a possibility, you will have a trade off of loose skin for scars which may be unacceptable. Consult with 2 - 3 surgeons in your area who can do a thorough consultation including physical examination so you have a clearer idea of the possibilities.
Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS

West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon
+2

Tummy tuck will not help love handles but liposuction may.

Hi. Be careful about surgery, because you may find the scars unacceptable. Tummy tuck will not help. Tne back half of a body lift would help, but there are prominent scars. Usually this area is treated with liposuction with superficial tunnelling, which tightens the skin some. But your skin may be too loose for this approach. So I am afraid you don't have great options.
George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Love handles and excessive skin

I completely agree that you will be trading one concern for another. I would really think about how much this bothers you. If you determine the trade-off is worth it, consult with a reputable board certified plastic surgeon in your area. The surgeon will examine you and discuss the benefits and risks for the appropriate treatment option.
Christine Sullivan, MD

Columbus Plastic Surgeon
+1

Understanding the trade you would be making....

Hi there- In situations like yours, I always explain to my patients that what they have to be comfortable with is making a trade: You must be comfortable trading the loose, excess skin you have, as well as money and time recovering from surgery, for a body shape that is improved, with less skin and which has scars on it... I wholeheartedly agree with some of the other surgeons that it is vital that you understand that while the QUANTITY of your skin can be reduced, the QUALITY of your skin will more
Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon
+1

Love handles. Liposuction or tummy tuck?

Great question and the photos help. It appears you have minimal to moderate fat and the fact that you have stretch marks in this area you can assume your skin is permanently damaged. Your options as I see it are liposuction first to see if you can thin the area out, though this will not improve your skin laxity, therefore ultimately you would be looking at an outer thigh lift to remove this area. You are trading scars for the stretch marks though the scars can be hidden under clothing.... more
Andrew P. Trussler, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Consider Smartlipo

Looking at your picture, specially the right side which is not being stretched by your hand, the amount of skin laxity if not too bad. It seems in the picture you still have some localized adiposity on your abdomen and flanks. Liposculturing of your abdomen and flanks with smarlipo MPX, looks like a good option, this will not address your stretch marks but if the shape is improved and if your skin gets tighther, I believe you will be happy. You need to consult with a Board certified... more
Victor Manuel Perez, MD

Kansas City Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck to help sagging love handles

All the expert posters seem to warn you about the trade off of poor elastic skin vs a scar. I wholeheartedly agree. Be careful what you wish for. FROM MIAMI DR B
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Loose skin after weight loss

Unfortunately, by being overweight, you destroyed the natural elasticity in your skin and it will never return to a tight state even if you try to excise the skin as in a tummy tuck. This would give you some nasty scars and the skin will still be looser than you would like. Probably doing nothing would be best or a little liposuction at the most.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Thigh lift is an option but may be excessive

You are essentially describing a hip dermolipectomy (outer thigh lift) type procedure. This can leave extensive scars but is the the only consistent method of achieving correction of loose skin.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Surgical correction for excess fat and loose skin of love handles

The treatment of excess fat for love handles is liposuction. However, in your case, if the skin is so loose that it hangs or when you sit it bulges, then removing the skin is the only option.
Michael A. Jazayeri, MD

Santa Ana Plastic Surgeon
+1

Love Handle Fix

From the photo provided, I think you are being a bit super critical of yourself. Mild skin laxity in the love handle areas is NOT really "sagging love handles". If the love handle areas WERE filled with fat (which they do not appear to be in your case), Liposuction would have been the answer. On the other hand, if there was skin excess with over hang, a Buttock Lift with lateral Thigh Lifts would be the answer. However, the scarring associated with this operation extends like a... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction versus tummy tuck

Based on your photos I would suggest liposuction. You can always do a tummy tuck/abdominoplasty if you are not happy with the liposuction results but the tummy tuck scar is permanent. In my opinion it is always better to try the more conservative approach first before doing the more aggressive procedure. I would also suggest using either laser (SLIM or SMART liposuction) or ultrasound (VASER) to give you more skin tightening.
John Burns, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Yes, a tummy tuck with an extended scar will help

Your weight loss is a great accomplishment, but the common complaint afterwards is loose skin. From your picture, your skin tone appears pretty good in that you don't appear to have any sagging or overhanging rolls. Yes, that skin can be tightened by removing the excess skin. But as I'm sure you are aware, this will leave you with a scar..... that's the trade off. You appear to have enough skin to allow you to do a tummy tuck. To tighten the skin of your Love Handle area, the scar will have... more
Daniel P. Markmann, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

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