Would it be a bad idea to get lipo before tummy tuck?

Question

I know that some say it is not a good idea to get lipo at the same time as a tummy tuck. Would it be bad to get lipo a couple months before a tummy tuck? I noticed that when you get it after it changes the appearance of the belly button.

Dallas Buchanan, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Not only do I not think it is a "bad" idea, I think it is a very good idea. With the state limitations on liposuction in Florida, I often find it helpful to concentrate on lipo and contouring in an initial surgery and the proceed with the tummy tuck as a staged operation 3-6 months later. Hope this helps!Dallas R. Buchanan, MD, FACSOwner & Board-Certified Plastic SurgeonVIVIFY plastic surgery

Stephen T. Greenberg, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Yes you can get liposuction before having a tummy tuck procedure done.  I would recommend speaking with your surgeon of choice and following their recommendation.  Best of luck to you.

Finny George, MD · Answer

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. Liposuction can be done safely before a tummy tuck. In fact, it is the preferred method for many patients. Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to review your options. I hope this helps. Best of luck!

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

you can do tuck + liposuction in one procedure but if you stage the liposuction and tummy tuck you will be able to remove more fat.  
You need a formal evaluation by an expert in body shaping and contouring to determine what is best.  Traditional liposuction awake and smart liposuction are old methods and do very poorly for tightening skin or significant skin tightening or contouring.  Small problem areas can be improved slightly by these methods.  The best in body contouring not only removes fat with energy devices like VASER ultrasound but also internally heat the skin with radio-frequency devices such as J PLASMA/RENUVION, InMode BodyTite, ThermiRF to heat the under surface of the skin and tighten it at the same time as fat removal. These combinations are called 4D HIDEF VASER contouring and can only be done by a well . trained body contouring specialist. At the same time fat should be harvested, PRP and stem cells added and injected into muscles or indentations/cellulite to get body shaping and contouring.  This is known as a Brazilian butt lift when you inject the fat to the buttock for contouring and lifting, but fat can also be used in areas such as the chest/breast, arms/shoulders, calves and face.  Cellulite should also be treated with cellfina, sculptra, subcision and/or fillers such as bellafill, renuva synthetic fat, or sculptra.  If skin is very loose before surgery then it will need to be removed such as lower abdominal skin (tummy tuck/abdominoplasty), breast skin (breast lift), arm skin (brachioplasty).  Overall you need a full assessment, but simple liposuction alone will not tighten skin and needs a combination of various methods -- fat removal, skin tightening, defining, fat grafting, skin removal -- to get the best in body contouring and body sculpting.  Dr. Emer.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

Liposuction of torso (abdomen, flanks and lower back) can be done before or after abdominoplasty. In some patients that do not need significant amount of fat tissue removed, liposuction of up to 1 litter of fat can be done as a part of abdominoplasty. In person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon would give you a chance to clarify these issues. Good luck.

Gregory Lakin, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. It is possible to get liposuction before, during, or after your tummy tuck. Part of the decision process depends on your goals and body shape. I recommend you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your goals and examine you, or do virtual consultation with photographs. Also take a look at your surgeon’s before and after photos to get a better idea of the type of results you can expect to get. Good luck!

Jason Pozner, MD · Answer

In Florida we have specific lipo limits for office surgery (1L fat combined with another surgery or 4L just lipo). With these safety limits we do a lot of staged lipo then tummy tucks. Its especially good for someone on the heavy side to debulk first then do a tummy tuck a few months later

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

It is hard to answer the question specifically for your case without photos or a consultation. Typically, when you are getting a tummy tuck there is not much point to liposuction of the abdominal region before. The tummy tuck will be doing the same job as liposuction except excess skin is also removed and the abdominal muscle is tightened during a tummy tuck procedure. Liposuction of the flanks, back, and thighs are common procedures to do with a tummy tuck. A Skype or FaceTime consultation with a VASER specialist will help you get an accurate recommendation and pricing.
Respectfully, 
Arian Mowlavi MD, FACS
Realself 100 Hall of Fame Inductee

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

We can’t make an assessment or give you specific recommendations because you didn’t post pictures.For those who are overweight the best option always is weight loss followed by a tummy tuck.When that’s not an option and fat needs to be addressed in conjunction with a tummy tuck it’s best done at the same time taking safety measures into consideration.Plastic surgeons will give you different opinions if it’s better to do Liposuction before or after a tummy tuck. Personally if I had to choose my preference is for patients to have a tummy tuck with virgin tissues without the scar tissue that Liposuction leaves behind and remove the fat with Liposuction after the tummy tuck if needed.The worst combination or option is to do Liposuction a few months before the tummy tuck.This will leave the patient with scar tissue that lacks pliability and will hinder the surgeon from delivering the best tummy tuck resultsIf someone is going to stage these procedures and do Liposuction first you should wait at least six months to allow square tissue to at least mature.It’s possible to make pro and con arguments for various combinations but I think most plastic surgeons will agree that Liposuction 1-2 months prior to a tummy tuck is the worst case scenario.If you have a scheduled procedure then talk to your plastic surgeon.Best, Mats Hagstrom MD

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