I want a tummy tuck with 360 liposuction and BBL. If I get lipo should I get a drain even if it's a drainless technique? (photo)

You’re currently a bit too obese to be a good candidate for the procedures you’re interested in.

Based on your pictures you have significant excess visceral fat.

Even with aggressive muscle tightening your abdomen will still bulge especially your upper abdomen which will most likely bulge significantly more than your lower abdomen.

With significant weight loss you’ll be a much better candidate for the desired procedures.

Muscle separation from previous pregnancies is not a medical condition. It is something that happens from normal pregnancy.

I am surprised your insurance company is willing to pay for repair of diastasis since it is generally not considered a medical condition but simply pregnancy related changes.

Surgeons cannot accept insurance and charge you for the same procedure. They can however accept insurance for one procedure and charge you more for a different procedure that’s not covered by insurance.

Insurance reimbursement tends to be pennies on the dollar so I’m not surprised most plastic surgeons you are corresponding with are not interested in taking your medical coverage.

To get a tummy tuck authorized is usually a significant amount of work on behalf of the surgeon because most request for authorization or initially denied. These often go to manual review requiring multiple letters and telephone calls.

Typically the only medical condition that is covered is an untreatable skin rash and for that only a panniculectomy(skin amputation Not including repositioning of the belly button) is covered.

At least that has been my experience.

If you move forward with the procedures at your current weight expect your upper abdomen to bulge significantly especially compared to your lower abdomen.

The surgeon may also be limited in regards to the type of results they can do from Liposuction while still maintaining safety limits.

Personally I would do these as two separate procedures considering each one of the procedures is on the extensive side.

Even doing Liposuction would probably be split as two procedures if I was doing this because I think you would benefit from removing well over 5 L of fat.

To get the best liposuction results at your current weight you probably need closer to 10 L of fat removed.

Taken the safety maximum of Liposuction then add an extensive full tummy tuck and fat transfer is pushing physiological boundaries a bit not to mention the amount of hours in the operating room if this procedure is going to be done with attention to detail.

In regards to a drain it is not like telling your Uber driver to not follow GPS.

If the surgeon believes you need a drain then they will put in a drain.

If their preference is to use a drain less technique then by definition a drain is not used.

To me not putting in a drain in the tummy tuck your size would be a mistake but that’s just my opinion.

Typically drains are not needed for Liposuction but they are for tummy tucks.

If the drain is not placed then you risk developing a seroma which is not the most fun thing to deal with after surgery.

These are all things to discuss during consultations.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD