Do I have too much intra-abdominal fat for a tummy tuck? (Photos)

Question

I have always had a belly, my whole life! I don’t feel like Im huge, but I really want a flatter stomach. I have lost 25 lbs, and would like to have a consultation for a tummy tuck but I am afraid I have too much intra abdominal fat... I weigh 160, 5’5, measurement at naval 40”.

Samuel Shatkin, Jr., MD · Answer

Generally, patients should try to reach their ideal weight before any surgery.  If a patient has some intra-abdominal fat, it may reduce the amount of tightening of the muscle layer.  From the photos, it appears as if you would be a candidate for the surgery.  During a consultation, the Plastic Surgeon will assess the muscle weakness and be better able to determine whether one is ready for surgery.  One simple trick to see if the protrusion of the abdominal area is related to loose muscles or from excess intra-abdominal fat is to see how it appears lying on your back.  If the fullness still protrudes, then you are dealing with visceral (intra-abdominal) fat.  If the abdomen is flat or concave when you lie down, then you are dealing more with loose muscles.

Stephen T. Greenberg, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Congratulations on the weight loss.  Looking at your pictures you provided I do agree you have intra abdominal fat and looks like diastasis of the muscle.  Continuing to exercise and diet will help with the intra abdominal fat and having a tummy tuck will tighten the abdominal wall muscles.  This combination will help give a much flatter appearance to the stomach.  Some surgeons will also do some additional liposuction on the flank area which will help contour the mid section as well.  You may choose to do additional liposuction after a tummy tuck to contour the area even more aggressively.  I would suggest seeing a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in person to evaluate you and discuss your options.  Best of luck to you.

Timothy M. Bradley, MD · Answer

Your tummy fat is most likely all on the outside making you a good candidate for liposuction combined with a full tummy tuck (meaning making a new belly button and probably a muscle repair of the abdominal wall). Based on your reported height and weight, your BMI is 26.5. Most women carry their belly fat on the outside making it amenable to liposuction. The only way to be sure is with an in person, hands on consultation with a qualified board certified plastic surgeon. Every once in a while I will come across a female patient who has a belly in which physical examination demonstrates fat on the inside , but this is very rare. I also have had disappointing results early in my career after I had performed aggressive abdominal liposuction and sutured the abdominal wall. After the patient healed the belly was not flat . This was because the patient's BMI was so high that I could not appreciate the amount of inside belly fat until well after the patient healed and a flat abdomen was just not possible. I have modified my BMI limits in order to avoid this situation and I no longer have this type of disappointing outcome after spending a very long day in the operating room going the whole nine yards only to have a less than flat tummy post op. Contrary to what you may have been told regarding combining tummy tuck with abdominal liposuction, there are specific abdominoplasty surgical techniques in which aggressive liposuction can be safely combined with an abdominoplasty by preserving the critical blood supply to the abdominal skin. Many widely used abdominoplasty techniques sacrifice these discrete, highly visible blood vessels in the process of mobilizing the abdominal skin for removal. I use aggressive liposuction of the abdomen to help me mobilize the abdominal skin for its removal instead of surgically separating the skin from the abdominal wall. This provides an exceptional improvement in abdominal contouring and this technique has proven to be extremely safe in my hands for the last 20+ years. Hope this was helpful. Good luck and best wishes

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

Your BMI is 26.5 which is slightly overweight. You may benefit from a tummy tuck. 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.

Matthew C. Camp, MD · Answer

This is difficult based on a photo alone. You can tell how much fat you have above your muscle by pinching your skin. If you can pinch a large roll of fat and skin, this is not intra-abdominal fat. My favorite analogy regarding intra-abdominal fat is a man with a large beer belly. If you touch the belly, it is hard as a rock. There is not soft fat to pinch. Seek the care of a board certified plastic surgeon and you will do well.

Matthew C Camp

Matthew C Camp

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and photographs.  Nothing replaces an in-person examination of your tissues to identify whether you have subcutaneous fat (which can be treated) or visceral fat (which requires diet and exercise) that needs to be addressed prior to surgery.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

A healthy weight for your height would be 149.6 lbs or less. Suggest you lose the additional 10 pounds and seek consultation via Skype or email with a board certified PS who can evaluate you and recommend the best procedure for you to achieve your goals.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Exuberant53141,
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, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

An examination would tell for sure. However, even with a tummy tuck, your abdominal muscles could be tightened to help flatten your abdomen. Based on your photo, you would be a good candidate.

Lourdes Rodriguez, MD · Answer

Hello, thank you for your question and pictures. After evaluating your case you seem to be a great candidate for a full tummy tuck with 360 liposuction and BBL as opcional. With these procedures we can achieve very good results by removing the skin excess on the abdomen and removing the localized fat on flanks and entire back. Make sure to approach to a certified surgeon to help you clear all your doubts. Best wishes!

Do I have too much intra-abdominal fat for a tummy tuck? (Photos)

Answers (14)

More Tummy Tuck Questions

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS

Answers (14)

More Tummy Tuck Questions

I’m two years out from a tummy tuck, can an intense workout including abs undo the muscle repair?

Tummy tuck or alternative: what are my best options for improved appearance? (photo)

Would you be able to get a tummy tuck & lipo if you were born with gastroschisis? (Photo)

300Ib pounds and I’m 5’11. I wanted to know would I be able to get a BBL, tummy tuck, and lipo at one time? (Photo)

Tummy tuck and smoking?

Is the open crotch of a Marena Compression garment a concern for bacterial travel after a tummy tuck surgery?

WE SEND PRETTY EMAILS

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS