Congratulations on the massive weight loss and thank you for sharing your question and your photos. Based on your photographs, you have a massive amount of skin redundancy and laxity of the abdominal torso in both the vertical and circumferential dimensions. A tummy tuck procedure, even an extended one, pulls the redundant skin downward, but does nothing for the circumferential dimension. Avoiding the vertical scars of an FDL, the skin will be pulled downward, but you'll still have skin redundancy in the circumferential dimension, meaning around your abdominal torso. I understand that your goal is to avoid having the vertical scars of a FDL, but if you're trying to achieve a flat tight abdomen, a FDL is exactly what you need. I am not aware of any surgical technique to excise the redundant skin in the circumferential dimension without leaving a vertical scar.

Answered by Dr. ChaudhariJuly 18, 2024

Tummy Tuck

Q Very hard nodules under incision line 8 months post-op. How can I get rid of them?

I've seen this quite frequently after tummy tuck procedures during the course of my career and it is a relatively common occurrence that can have multiple explanations. While it is certainly possible that these could represent localized areas of fat necrosis, another likely explanation is excessive scar tissue formation around the sutures used in the deepest layer of your surgery that are usually placed to hold the tension of your skin closure. I don't know the details of your surgical procedure, but perhaps large sutures were placed in that deep layer. Some people form more scar tissue than others, so there's no way of knowing or predicting when this is going to happen, or to whom. Most of the time, these knots of scar tissue soften over time and get smaller, especially with massaging. However, if they persist beyond a year, or are bothersome, they can be surgically excised through small incisions. Good luck.

Answered by Dr. ChaudhariJuly 18, 2024

Tummy Tuck

Q Will apron belly go away with fat loss and will I need a tummy tuck? (Photo)

Hello there, thank you for sharing your question and your photos. Based on your photos, you don't seem to have a significant amount of skin redundancy or laxity. However, it's difficult to say what things will look like after you lose another 10 kg. You appear to have certain depressions and folds, and a somewhat uneven appearance to the abdominal contour. All of these issues could be significantly improved with a tummy tuck procedure, however, some of these issues may resolve themselves after your planned weight loss. At this point, I'd recommend continuing your weight loss journey and being properly evaluated by a board-certified plastic surgeon once you have achieved your weight loss goal.

Answered by Dr. ChaudhariJuly 18, 2024

Semaglutide

Q How does Ozempic dosage work for weight loss?

Ozempic is FDA approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus, whereas Wegovy is FDA approved for chronic weight management as an adjunct to diet and exercise in patients with BMI > 30, or in patients with BMI > 27 and at least 1 weight-associated comorbidity such as hypertension or dyslipidemia. Usual Wegovy dosing for weight loss follows a monthly titration interval, beginning at 0.25mg weekly, then 0.5mg weekly, 1mg weekly, 1.7mg weekly, and a maximum of 2.4mg weekly as tolerated.

Answered by Dr. ChangJuly 3, 2024

Semaglutide

Q Who is good candidate for Ozempic for weight loss?

Ozempic is FDA approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus, whereas Wegovy is FDA approved for chronic weight management as an adjunct to diet and exercise in patients with BMI > 30, or in patients with BMI > 27 and at least 1 weight-associated comorbidity such as hypertension or dyslipidemia. Thus if you meet these criteria and are trying to lose weight, you may be a good candidate for Wegovy.

Answered by Dr. ChangJuly 3, 2024