Liposuction: Q&A

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Will I Need a Tummy Tuck After Liposuction?

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Will I need a tummy tuck after liposuction?

The best way to evaluate if liposuction is the best treatment option is to establish the goals after a careful examination of the area. I am looking for the texture of the fat, which areas we are talking about and the skin laxity. Liposuction may shrink the skin a little but if there is skin laxity and you suck out a large amount of fat, you will be left with redundant skin.

Liposuction is sometimes done in conjunction with a tummy tuck, and sometimes is staged

Liposuction "debulks" areas of excess fat in the abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, and/or other areas where the body can store fat that is resistant to a healthy diet and regular exercise. If your abdomen has only excess fat and no extra, stretched-out skin (from weight gain and loss or pregnancies), and also does not have "rectus diastasis" (separation of the rectus abdominis muscles), then liposuction alone may in fact be appropriate for you. However, if you also... more

Tummy tuck after Liposuction?

Thank you for the question. It is critical for patients seeking to him improve the appearance of his/her abdominal wall to receive expert advice. In my opinion, this is best done in consultation with a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon. During this consultation it is extremely important to make the correct diagnosis and tailor recommendations based on the diagnosis. If for some reason a correct diagnosis is not made (for example physician lack of experience or... more

Whether or not you need a tummy tuck after liposuction depends on the skin

The answer to this question depends on the amount of excessive and loose skin, the degree of skin elasticity (often age-dependent), and individual patient goals - such as removal of “stretch marks”. Generally, patients who are younger than 65 years old and have only mild to moderate lipodystrophy (excessive abdominal fat) will have excellent results from abdominal liposuction alone. This is especially true for younger patients who are interested in “liposculpting”... more

Tummy Tuck Necessary After Liposuction?

Just because you have liposuction doesn't mean you'll need a tummy tuck. Liposuction alone can take care of excess fat tissue, but loose skin and stretch marks must be addressed by one of three techniques: dermatolipectomy, mini-tummy tuck, or full tummy tuck. Your plastic surgeon will know which procedure, or combination of procedures, will give you the results you're after. see video

If you have a significant amount of excess skin, only excision (tummy tuck) will solve the problem.

Laser assisted liposuction might tighten the skin a little. However, if the amount of excess skin significant, only excision will give you a good result. Unfortunately there will be a scar across the lower abdomen. You'll have to decide if it's acceptable or not.

SmartLipo can shrink the skin better than traditional liposuction.

SmartLipo can shrink the skin better than traditional liposuction. If your skin doesn't shrink sufficiently after liposuction then you can be left with "flabby skin" which is also not desirable. If you have a consultation with a plastic surgeon that performs both tummy tucks and SmartLipo then he or she can give you a very credibel opinion on which would be better for you.

Will I Need a Tummy Tuck After Liposuction?

If you have excess loose skin and your abdomen is bulging out, you may see significant improvement with a tummy tuck surgery. A Tummy Tuck will remove the extra skin rolls and tighten your loose abdominal muscles.

Do you need a tummy tuck after having liposuction?

The answer is "no" if all you have to treat is extra fat on the abdomen. Liposuction should take care of that just fine. However, if you have loose, stretched skin (stretch marks) and/or loose muscles from prior pregnancy, you cannot expect liposuction to give you great results. You might get "okay" results from just liposuction, but you'd get the best results from a tummy tuck. Be sure you talk to your plastic surgeon about your goals, and she will... more

Carmen Kavali, MD

11 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck after liposuction

If you are a good candidate for liposuction, you should not need a tummy tuck afterwards. Good candidates for liposuction only have excess fat. The overlying skin should still have its elastic properties and the underlying muscle tone should be good. A tummy tuck is necessary when there is excess skin that will not shrink to the new abdominal contour after liposuction. Also, the abdominal muscles can be tightened with a tummy tuck. Often, liposuction and a... more

Liposuction vs tummy tuck

Almost all the patients undergoing liposuction should not require a tummy tuck afterwords. It is imperative that your surgeon examine you properly to determine if you are a good candidate for liposuction, as need for a tummy tuck after a liposuction should never be a surprise. Make sure you choose a well trained and experienced surgeon that can guide you to the proper surgical choice.

Liposuction and tummy tuck

Liposuction removes only excess fat. A tummy tuck removes the fat, tightens the underlying muscles, and removes the excess skin while tightening the remaining skin. If you need a tummy tuck, then that is the procedure you should seek. If your skin and muscles are fine, then liposuction alone will be fine. An experienced surgeon can recommend what is best for you after an examination.

Skin often retracts after liposuction

Unless you have a LOT of extra skin, excessively loose skin, or want a very tight appearance, you probably won't need a tummy tuck after liposuction. Even people who think they will have a lot of loose skin are often satisfied with their result after liposuction. If you are just looking to get rid of the bulges, liposuction alone is often satisfactory. If you are aiming to look great in a bikini, you may need to consider a tummy tuck.

Liposuction and tummy tuck combination - Combining liposuction and tummy tuck

A tummy tuck procedure is designed to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen. Liposuction will remove subcutaneous fat and may reduce minor skin excess with tissue retraction. You should not need a tummy tuck after liposuction surgery if you underwent the initial procedure with the correct indictations.

A tummy tuck may be required to remove excess skin after abdominal liposuction

After abdominal liposuction, the skin may not tighten a lot and the excess skin may need to be removed with a tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck. However, depending on the circumstance, the abdominal skin can really tighten nicely after liposuction without needing a tummy tuck.

Tummy tuck versus liposuction for abdominal contouring

Liposuction is a popular and effective way to contour the body. Tummy tucks are a popular way to contour the abdomen in patients that have extra fat and extra or loose skin and may have loose abdominal muscles as well. A non-pleasing result may occur if liposuction is performed on a patient who has a great deal of extra skin because this can lead to excessive wrinkling in the abdomen after just a liposuction. To find out if you would best be served by liposuction, a tummy tuck, or both, your... more

Liposuction can loosen abdominal skin

If you have stretch marks, folks of loose skin and your abdominal tissues just look 'lax' - having liposuction will likely worsen these issues. You would be better off with a tummy tuck, which treats abdominal skin laxity, abdominal wall laxity and excess fat.

Needing a Tummy Tuck AFTER Liposuction

To really answer this question, I would need to examine you. Failing that several photographs may serve as a distant second choice. But in the absence of any visual cues, I can only give you some generalities. Liposuction - removes localized fat and may uncover developed musculature hereto hidden by the fat. It will NOT shrink skin. It cannot bring separated 6 pack muscles together. It cannot correct stretch mark damaged skin. Tummy tuck - WILL remove the lower tummy loose and damaged skin,... more

Examination needed for answer

The question is what is wrong and what are you willing to do to correct it. If your issue is fat and fat only and your skin and muscular tension look good, then liposuction alone will likely be helpful. Otherwise lean toward a tummy tuck. See a surgeon who does both so you are not steered away from the better alternative. Best Regards.

Tummy tuck after liposuction

Liposuction is a good procedure for patients with good skin tone and local areas of fatty excess. If on the other hand you have loose skin and/or alot fo subcutaneous fat, you may need a tummy tuck. Liposuction does not tighten the underlying abdominal muscles either.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck and Liposuction

If your skin is lax and lost its elasticity, you will need a Tummy Tuck. If your skin is is tight and has not lost its elasticity and you have excess fat localized in the abdomen then you do not need a Tummy Tuck.

Difference between Tummy Tuck and Liposuction

Liposuction is done when you have fat deposits right under the skin that need to be removed whereas a tummy tuck is necessary when you have loose skin and and a stretched stomach muscle. In the case of a stretched stomach muscle, sit-ups can't give you the six pack you always wanted, and a tummy tuck may be necessary. Also, it is common to combine both procedures. see video

Skin after Lipo

If you have nice elastic skin that is not loose lipo alone may be right for you. If you have a lot of stretch marks, inelastic skin that is loose then tummy tuck may be a better option. Tummy tuck is often combined with liposuction. Consultation with a plastic surgeon well skilled in lipo is your first step.