Rahim Nazerali, MD

Liposuction is a very different procedure from a tummy tuck. It would be best for you to get seen and evaluated by a board certified plastic surgeon to determine what is best for you.

In liposuction, fat is removed from underneath the skin but the skin remains untouched. There is some shrinkage of the skin with the removal of fat as well. Overall, the fat cells in our body does not change but the size of each fat cell does change. Once fat cells are removed, they do not multiply and so they do not return. However, fat cells that are remaining behind can grow over time if there is an excess of fat intake.


Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) is primarily designed to tighten and flatten the abdominal wall, removing excess fat as well as skin. There is a large scar that goes across the lower abdomen as well due to the removal of skin as well as fat. The results of this are as well very long lasting as the fat and skin have been removed. However, significant weight gain and fat intake can once again cause the remaining cells to grow and may affect the long term results.

Thank you for your question. The best way to think about a breast is to break it down to it's components of volume as well as envelope. In general, the breast tissue and fat make up the volume while the envelope is made of skin. Breast augmentation is a procedure that changes the volume of a breast but doesn't necessarily effect the envelope in which the implant or tissue is placed. As such, women who have "ptosis" or a droop to their breasts benefit occasionally from a lift at the same time which helps to change the skin envelope to help make the breast sit in the correct position and have a more aesthetic contour. How much of a lift is dependent upon the skin quality, the droop of the breast and implant or tissue being placed underneath it. You would be wise to sit down with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your particular case. From the pictures, it appears that you will likely need a change in your desired volume as well as the skin envelope to improve the aesthetics of your breast. Keep in mind, a breast lift procedure does create permanent scars and can effect breast feeding as well. If you are concerned about these, you may be able to chose a less invasive option but that may correlate to the aesthetic outcome as well. Best of luck!

Thank you for your question. Fat grafting is currently an imprecise science that does not have objective data to support a particular practice. What we do know is that small fat deposits must be made in a vascular bed for there to be support of the fat to ensure long term viability. As such, a constrictive garment can cause a decrease in blood flow to the area, therefore, most plastic surgeons do not recommend a compression garment. At the same time, comfortable and supportive garments can prevent sheer forces on fat which may inadvertently cause vessel damage. 

Compression garments to the liposuctioned areas are typically recommended to reduce edema and minimize bruising after liposuction.

Every plastic surgeon has their own unique approach to fat grafting basically indicating that we do not know what works or doesn't work. As such, it's always recommended that you best discuss with your specific surgeon their post-operative protocol. Hope this helps!

Thank you for your question. It is hard to answer your question without a physical exam and a consultation. The best way to think about a breast is to break it up into volume as well as envelope. Breast asymmetries often are attributed to both volume discrepancies as well as skin discrepancies. Therefore, treatment by changing the volume alone generally does not treat the discrepancy. Additionally, fat transfer generally occurs from another area of the body (generally abdomen/thighs) to the breast. Hope this help answer your questions!

Reduction mammoplasty is a procedure to breast a more proportional appearance and alleviate physical discomfort caused by large, heavy pendulous breasts. Reduction mammoplasty can correct symptoms from excessively heavy breasts causing an inability to do certain exercise, causing back, shoulder and neck pain, poor posture, and bra-strap shoulder indentations. Sometimes large breasts can rest on the chest wall causing chafing or rashes under the breasts. The reason some refer to reduction mammoplasty as non-cosmetic is because it can commonly be covered by insurance though criteria differ amongst insurance providers. Despite it being non-cosmetic, it is a very similar operation and produces similar scaring to mastopexy. It is always done in an aesthetic fashion. Hope this clarifies the definition!