Stubborn abdominal fat and loose skin. Am I a candidate for smart Lipo with J plasma? (Photos)

Question

hi I am a 28-year-old female. I have had two children and lost 60 pounds post pregnancy. I weigh 135 pounds and I am 5 foot four. I am dealing with some really stubborn abdomen fact that I cannot get rid of along with a little bit of loose skin. I have a surgeon who says that I can do smart lipo with jplasma. Am I a good candidate for this? I cannot afford the downtime of a tummy tuck, but I do not want to get the liposuction in plasma if it’s going to make things worse or not give results at all.

Joel Patrick Maier, MD · Answer

Firstly, there is no non-invasive skin tightening modality that actually works. Having said that, we have great options to rejuvenate your tummy. There are two very good options for you depending on your anatomy, specifically your muscles. The first question is if you have noticeable diastasis, meaning a bulge in-between your six-pack muscles when you do a sit up or plank type of action. Your muscles look flat in your photo so this is likely not a major issue in decision making. Assuming so, the I would recommend liposuction with skin excision and umbilical transposition. This is a tummy tuck type of skin excision excluding the muscle tightening. This can be done with an oral cocktail for sedation and local tumescent anesthesia, so you never go "under". There are no drains with resumption of activity as tolerated. Also, you get the benefit of liposuction of the abdominal flap in the same setting, so you lose the fatty bulk which is NOT done in a formal abdominoplasty. There is an overall lower complication rate and down time compared to a traditional tummy tuck. This is a great option for many women out there . . . An in-person exam will help determine which option is best for you.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Thank you for your detailed question. Based on the information you’ve shared—being a healthy 28-year-old woman, post-pregnancy, with a 60-pound weight loss and residual abdominal fat with some loose skin—you may be a good candidate for Smart Lipo combined with J-Plasma (Renuvion). This minimally invasive approach can help contour stubborn fat areas and tighten mild to moderate skin laxity without the extensive downtime of a traditional tummy tuck.

Smart Lipo uses laser-assisted liposuction to break down fat cells and stimulate some degree of skin tightening. J-Plasma (Renuvion) uses helium plasma and radiofrequency energy beneath the skin to further enhance skin contraction and firmness.

However, it’s important to manage expectations:

Mild to moderate skin laxity typically responds well.

Significant loose or redundant skin may not retract enough and could potentially look more lax after fat removal.

Skin quality, age, and genetic factors all influence outcomes.

Since downtime is a concern for you, this combination can be a reasonable compromise if you’re not ready for a full abdominoplasty. Be sure your surgeon has experience with both techniques and discuss realistic outcomes in detail to ensure your goals align with what the procedure can achieve.

Marco A. Pelosi III, MD, FACOG, FACS · Answer

The skin is too loose to get a good result with lipo and J plasma alone. The skin will sag and wrinkle. You need a tummy tuck if you want an aesthetic result. I use J plasma frequently in my surgeries, but I wouldn't recommend it for you.

Stubborn abdominal fat and loose skin. Am I a candidate for smart Lipo with J plasma? (Photos)

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Stubborn abdominal fat and loose skin. Am I a candidate for smart Lipo with J plasma? (Photos)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Smart Lipo

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.