Extended tummy tuck vs lower body lift? (Photo)

This is a great question. You are right - lower body lift typically is geared towards massive weight loss patients, however in patients who have a significant amount of skin and fat in the back (back rolls), a lower body lift can work well and be a good option. The drawback to doing a lower body lift instead of a tummy tuck is that there will be a long horizontal scar going across your back and a little more pain and downtime after surgery. The decision to have a scar on your back and a longer recovery should be weighed against having a better contour.
Alternatively, doing an extended tummy tuck with liposuction of your back may achieve the results you desire without adding significant scarring and recovery to your surgery. However, this largely depends on your skin quality and skin elasticity. With good skin quality, your skin will contract down after surgery better than if you have stretch marks and skin without skin elasticity. It is important to see a plastic surgeon who can evaluate you and personalize a plan based on your goals and needs.
Ultimately, this decision is based on your personal preference, weighing the risks and benefits from each procedure, and putting your trust in your plastic surgeon.

Thank you for your question regarding the choice between an extended tummy tuck and a lower body lift. Based on your description and photo, if your hips and buttocks do not bother you (in terms of sagging or excess skin), I would recommend an extended tummy tuck. This procedure focuses on removing excess skin and tightening the abdominal muscles while extending the incision slightly to contour the flanks and lower back.

It is entirely possible to achieve excellent results with an extended tummy tuck without dog ears. In fact, we perform extended tummy tucks routinely and ensure smooth, natural contours by tailoring the procedure to the individual’s body. A lower body lift is generally more appropriate for patients with significant weight loss or those with extensive sagging in the buttocks and hips, which doesn’t seem to be your primary concern based on the information you’ve provided.

If you decide to proceed with the extended tummy tuck, consult with an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who can deliver the results you’re looking for while addressing your specific concerns. Either way, I believe you’re a great candidate for a transformative outcome!

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Hello and thank you for your question. From the pictures you have provided, you have striae (stretchmarks) present throughout your lower and mid abdomen and extending into your flanks. There is a severe amount of excess skin and subcutaneous fat present diffusely throughout your trunk- from your abdomen into your flanks and extending into your back. This is asymmetric in distribution. There are skin folds across your lower abdomen extending to your posterior flanks, and you also have multiple folds asymmetrically present throughout your mid and upper back. Based on all this, you would benefit from an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and 360 liposuction, with staged upper back lift, to best help improve your abdominal/trunk contour.
The difference between a "standard" and "extended" tummy tuck is just how far your incision extends to the side, and this is based on how much excess skin and fat needs to be removed to produce an aesthetic contour. They are essentially the same procedure- the goal is improved body contour at the expense of scars, so this is important to keep in mind throughout the process. In your case, the scar would extend around to your sides.
The reason I said abdominoplasty instead of circumferential belt lipectomy ("lower body lift") is because the excess skin in your back is located more in your mid/upper back, not as much in your lower back.
Liposuction would definitely provide additional benefit for you, particularly to the contour of your flanks and back, and can help improve the notable asymmetries present. Keep in mind that for you, given that you have excess skin on your mid/upper back which is not addressed with the 360 liposuction or the abdominoplasty procedures, and which will most likely become more noticeable and even appear deflated after liposuction, you would most likely need another procedure to address your excess mid/upper back skin at some point in the future in order to further improve your overall trunk contour. This would most likely consist of a staged upper back lift- the incision can be hidden in your bra line. A benefit of staging these procedures, is you can do further revision liposuction at that time, to correct any asymmetries or to provide further improved contour overall.
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