Tummy Tuck Q&A
94%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
2,305 Reviews
Tummy Tuckbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Tummy Tuck Cost: $7,950

Learn about Tummy Tuck

7,750 people and 865 doctors are talking about Tummy Tuck

Get Free Email Updates

What Are The Risks With Upper Abdominal Liposuction with Tummy Tuck?

asked 10 months ago by Meli777 in Raleigh
Latest answer by Ayman Hakki, MD
Question viewed 520 times
Tags: combination, risk, safety

I would like to get the best results possible I know this increases the chances of necrosis but what percent of patients do you see that end up with necrosis?

20 answers to What Are The Risks With Upper Abdominal Liposuction with Tummy Tuck?

+1

Upper abdominal lipo should be avoided during a tummy tuck

This is a topic which always seems to be discussed at plastic surgery meetings and conferences. Basically if you liposuction the upper abdomen during a tummy tuck you risk injuring the blood supply to the abdominal skin which can lead to skin death (necrosis). I can not give you an accurate percentage, but we do know this carries a risk which can easily be avoided by not doing liposuction. It is a risk that most plastic surgeons are not willing to take because of the potential disastrous... more
William Bruno, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.williambrunomd.com

+2

Different techniques of liposuction with a tummy tuck.

To answer this question, a bit of knowledge on the technical aspects is necessary. In a traditional abdominoplasty where the entire skin flap is elevated off the abdominal, the main blood vessels to the central and upper skin flap are divided. If you were to liposuction this area of the flap, the skin is put at risk as the remaining blood supply can be damaged. However, in a technique known as "discontinuous undermining", the flap is separated from the abdominal wall primarily... more
David Bogue, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck and liposuction

For years (ten) i never did liposuction on my tummy tucks, then for another ten years I did it routinely. today i select which cases do I combine and which cases I stage. good judgment comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgment. see a board certified plastic surgeon and discuss your concerns. Safety is Important, but the two can be combined; in most patients.
Ayman Hakki, MD

Washington Plastic Surgeon
+1

Lipo and Tummy Tuck

I routinely perform liposuction of the upper abdomen with tummy tuck surgery and because I limit the undermining of the abdomen above the belly button to a small tunnel to correct muscle laxity, I have not found there to be any increased skin necrosis. One of the biggest causes of necrosis is smoking which must be stopped prior to surgery. In selected patients I will perform circumferential liposuction of the trunk with a tummy tuck.
Richard Linderman, MD

Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Abdominoplasty and liposuction

If you are not smoker and do not have other medical conditions which increases the chances of having complications ( Diabetes,cardiovascular diseases,etc...), and if you do not have any incisions (deep cuts) above your belly button, you are not at significant higher risk of loosing your skin flap. Of course your plastic surgeon should be competent/experienced enough to perform the operation with just adequet underminings and gentle liposuction, not to compromise blood supply of the... more
Fereydoon S. Mahjouri, MD

Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Abdominoplasty and liposuction of the abdomen

There are techniques were liposuction of the abdomen with abdominoplasty can be done safely with a minimal risk of necrosis. These techniques are relatively newer ideas and the difference from a traditional abdominoplasty is that these newer techniques may have minimal undermining of the supra umbilical area of the abdomen. What cannot be done is to liposuction the same area that is undermined. If you do not undermine the flap than liposuction of the abdominal flap can be done safely... more
Wendell Perry, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction along with Tummy Tuck

Many surgeons perform some liposuction during the tummy tuck procedure. Safety should ALWAYS be the first priority. We need to limit the amount of liposuction performed during the tummy tuck procedure so that there is no compromise with the recovery process. It is ideal to meet with a couple of board certified plastic surgeon's who have experience with abdominoplasty surgery and get their advice.
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

+1

Lipo upper abdomen with tummy tuck

Liposuction of the upper abdomen can safely be done during a tummy tuck as long as the tummy tuck does not jeopardize the upper abdominal blood flow too extensively. The upper part of the tummy tuck dissection should be more central and conservatively done and this will allow the upper abdomen to be safely liposuctioned. I perform these 2 procedures at the same time very frequently and I have not seen any skin necrosis problems due to it, of course you have to be in good health and a non... more
Antoine A. Hallak, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Generally not recommended to do liposuction at same time as tummy tuck

Generally, I do not recommend doing liposuction at the same time as the tummy tuck because of the chance of necrosis of the abdominal flap. Conservative liposuction to the hip areas are okay.
James Tang, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction During Abdominoplasty

Liposuction is commonly performed with a tummy tuck, but not commonly on the upper abdomen where the tissues are "elevated." This puts the tissues at risk for loss and what is commonly termed "necrosis." This isn't commonly done, but the consequences are significant if it happens and most surgeons aren't willing to take that risk of an avoidable complication. A second procedure to address this area can easily be done later, but if you loose tissue,... more
Vincent P. Marin, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction and Tummy Tuck at the same time?

Typically, I perform a small amount of liposuction at the same time as abdominoplasty surgery. This is usually done on the upper abdominal area and on the patient's flanks/waist. However, one has to be cautious about performing too much lipo in combination with the tummy tuck procedure. Why is this? A rich blood supply is needed for the abdominoplasty incision to heal, and having too much lipo at the same time can... more
Erez Sternberg, MD

Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction and tummy tuck can be done saafely

The combination of the liposuction and tummy tuck can give you better results if done right. The undermining of the upper abdominal tissue is different when you do lipoabdominoplasty. I published a paper in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal November/December 2010 , 30: 6: 884, regarding lipoabdominoplasty.
Kamran Khoobehi, MD

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction with Abdominoplasty surgery

Typically, I do a small amount of liposuction with abdominoplasty surgery. Usually I lipo the upper abdomen area and maybe a bit on the waist. However, I am very cautious about doing too much lipo in combination with abdominoplasty procedures. Good blood supply is needed for the abdominoplasty incision and having too much lipo at the same time can potentially compromise good blood flow. I often stage the procedures, performing an abdominoplasty first and then... more
Jeffrey Hartog, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon
+1

Can Liposuction be performed with a TummyTuck?

Liposuction can be performed with a tummy tuck but it needs to be done conservatively. I usually liposuction the hip region at the lateral aspect of the incision to emphasize the waist and minimize the incision. I prefer not to liposuction the mid line because of the significant risks of skin necrosis. The risks are increased further with many medical conditions and smoking. More aggressive liposuction can be performed at a later stage when the tummy tuck has... more
Elizabeth S. Harris, MD

San Antonio Plastic Surgeon

www.eharrismd.com

+1

Liposuction with tummy tuck will increase risks

It is impossible to give exact percentages, though we all know based on experience and case reports that liposuction with tummy tuck will increase risk of infection, tissue loss, seroma, or poor healing (and worse). Most of us will suction the side or transition areas over the hip and flank. But suctioning under the flap, or suctioning other body areas can become a serious problem for patient and surgeon. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd
Peter E. Johnson, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction at the Time of Tummy Tuck

Liposuction is commonly performed at the same procedure as a tummy tuck, but suctioning an area that has to be lifted from its blood suppy increases risk. That risk is related to interfering with blood supply resulting in tissue loss or infection. The risk is highest in smokers and diabetics, but can also be increased in those with poor nutritional status. It may be smarter to allow for a second smaller procedure for liposuction of the upper abdomen some months... more
Mary Lee Peters, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Upper abdominal liposuction and tummy tuck

I will usually do a small amount of upper abdominal liposuction in every case. However, rarely I will have to do more than I like due to a local excess of fat. I never do extensive liposuction to reduce the risk of necrosis. If your Plastic Surgeon feels comfortable with this and leaves enough tissue connections to the fascia (better blood supply) then you might be able to have more done. Necrosis is not the only problem I have seen with additional liposuction, by the way. The tissues get... more
Victor Au, MD

Chapel Hill Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction of upper abdomen at time of abdominoplasty

In my opinion percentages do not matter when discussing an individual patients care. The risk of necrosis increases when liposuctioning an undermined flap(tummy tuck). I normally do not like to do this. I will liposuction carefully the love handle( not undermined), but not the upper flap. Those that do perform the procedure with liposuction of the upper abdomen do so cautiously or undermine less. I would suggest you discuss this with your individual surgeon.
Rick Rosen, MD

Norwalk Plastic Surgeon
+1

Separate Upper Abdominal Liposuction & Full Tummy Tuck

I realize that this is a contoversial area, but I prefer to perform upper abdominal liposuction as a separate procedure a few months after the tummy tuck. You can do some liposuction of the upper abdomen at the time of the tummy tuck, but bear in mind that the normal blood supply to the abdominal skin is from vessels perforating the rectus muscle. All of these vessels are devided at the time of a full tummy tuck. The blood supply must then come from collateral sources... more
John Whitt, MD

Louisville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Combining liposuction with tummy tucks

Most experienced surgeons will be able to perform liposuction with a tummy tuck. Certain tummys lend themselves to more liposuction than others. Not all tummy tucks are the same and different tummy tucks lend themselves to more aggressive liposuction than others. Regardless, care must be taken when performing liposuction during tummy tucks so as not to cause a problem with circulation and then delayed healing. You certainly can't fault your surgeon for being conservative in order to avoid... more
Ronald Schuster, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

www.drschuster.com

Ask a question