Am I a candidate for a Tummy tuck, liposuction, or both? (photos)

Question

Hi; 32 year old female with 2 kids. Am I a candidate for a tummy tuck, lipo, or both?

Leila Kasrai, MD, FRCSC · Answer

Because there appears to be significant loose skin above your belly button, a full tummy tuck would be recommended. Liposuction alone would only make this loose skin more prominent.

Finny George, MD · Answer

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. You are a candidate for both procedures which will together remove the excess skin and improve shape.

Donald Groves, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. From the pictures you have provided, you have some striae (stretchmarks) present throughout your lower abdomen, a moderate amount of excess subcutaneous fat and skin throughout your lower to mid abdomen, with excess skin particularly notable above your umbilicus (belly button). There is some flank adiposity (excess skin/fat), and minimal upper abdomen adiposity. Based on all this, you would benefit from a traditional abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) with liposuction of your flanks to best help improve your abdominal/trunk contour. 
Regarding the transverse lower abdominal scar, it should be well hidden within your bikini or underwear, and if you adhere to proper scar care and sun avoidance after surgery, it should eventually heal to be minimally noticeable.
Liposuction is a great adjunct which could definitely provide some additional benefit, particularly to the contour and symmetry of your flanks, and would be done at the same time as your tummy tuck procedure for the best possible single operation results. 
With all that said, it is always difficult to provide tentative surgical recommendations, as there is only so much information to be gained from any photos and descriptions provided. I recommend for you to come see me or another plastic surgeon for a formal consultation to thoroughly discuss your surgical goals, undergo a formal examination, evaluate all your options (surgical and nonsurgical), and decide on the best procedure(s) for your specific case. I hope this helps!
Best wishes,
Dr. Donald Groves
Plastic Surgeon

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear hollycarbone91,
based on your photos, you look like a good candidate for a TT. Full tummy tuck should tighten your abdominal muscles and remove the excess skin. Flanks liposuction would give you a better shape. I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon because only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Laurie A. Casas, MD, FACS · Answer

Great question! I ask patients to sit down with back straight and show me the lower abdominal area. If there is a flap of skin and fat you can pinch then I typically recommend a tummy tuck with lipo 360 to be sure you get a great waistline when the skin is removed and the skin is re-draped along the incision placement that you choose. I hope this helps in combination with the video and description from my website.  Good luck!

Brandon Richland, MD · Answer

Dear hollycarbone91,
Great question! This can be a tricky answer, so please take this as general advice without me seeing you for an in person consultation. You would be a candidate for 3 procedures.1. Liposuction + renuvion2. Morpheus 83. tummy tuck + liposuction
A tummy tuck would give you the best result given the skin excess around and above the umbilicus. However if you wished to avoid the scar, you could also get a good result with liposuction + renuvion as one procedure, and then morpheus8 after to help treat the loose skin. I always add liposuction to my tummy tucks as well. I recommend seeing a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in tummy tucks and body contouring and has access to advanced treatment modalities for a consult.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

If you are not planning future pregnancies, I recommend abdominoplasty with mesh reinforcement. The mesh creates a more hourglass figure by compressing the abdominal wall resulting in early satiety and helps maintain a reduced weight.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Albert Ko, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and photos. From your photos, it looks like you are a candidate for a tummy tuck. This will allow for your skin to re-drape nicely and lay flat, especially the skin above your bellybutton. It is best to have an in-person consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your questions and goals. Best of luck!

Harry T. Haramis, MD, FACS · Answer

You are a candidate for either, it depends upon your end goal:

If you want the flattest, tightest abdomen with no loose skin above your belly button, then a tummy tuck would be best option.

If you don’t want the bigger surgery with its scar, recovery and you wouldn’t mind keeping a little wrinkling above your belly button, then liposuction . Vaser ultrasound or Smart Lipo laser will help with skin tightening.

An exam and consultation with a plastic surgeon who performs these procedures is recommended to confirm you are a candidate as well as further discuss your best options and expectations.

Cedric Hunter, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and thanks for sharing. I would recommend a full tummy tuck. You have some extra skin above your belly button and some roundness of the lower abdomen likely with abdominal muscle separation. I would recommend muscle repair to flatten the abdomen, the tummy tuck will remove the excess skin and remove the wrinkled skin above the belly button. Liposuction only will likely worsen the loose skin and will not address the muscle separation. I hope that helps. You can get a great result with your shape. Good luck!

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