Tummy Tuck or Vaser - which would be the best option? (Photo)

Question

I have done a few consultations, two in person and 4 others by photo. I have received various recommendations. One doctor I saw in person said SAFELipo. The other in person said tummy tuck with Lipo360. The others by photo were either VASER lips or tummy tuck. How do i determine my best option?

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

You do not appear to have enough skin for a full tummy tuck. If you did a full tummy tuck then the scar would be riding very high and be highly visible. You may have enough skin for a mini tummy tuck, which is the central area. The other problem you have is the contour irregularities of the abdominal wall. This can be corrected by tightening the skin using the mini tummy tuck or using a liposuction cannula or Vaser.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Tyler Frew, MD · Answer

Hi there,
Mixed opinions are really common with this question, and the good news is there's a simple way to sort it out. The deciding factor is usually your skin and your muscles, not the fat. If you have loose skin or a pooch below the belly button, a tummy tuck with liposuction will almost always give you the better, longer-lasting result.
Here's how I'd think about it:
- Liposuction (VASER, SAFELipo, or traditional) removes fat. It works best when your skin is still snappy and your muscles are tight. The technology matters much less than the surgeon using it.- Energy devices can tighten skin a little, but they can't remove true excess skin. If the skin hangs or creases, lipo alone can leave it looser.- If your abdominal muscles separated during pregnancy, only a tummy tuck repairs that. Lipo does nothing for it.- A tummy tuck with Lipo 360 removes skin, tightens the muscles, and sculpts the waist and back at the same time. The trade-off is a longer scar and a longer recovery, usually around 2 weeks off work and 6 weeks before heavy exercise.- Let's be honest: some people who choose lipo to avoid a scar end up having a tummy tuck later anyway.
A good way to decide is to ask each surgeon two questions: "How is my skin quality below the belly button?" and "Do I have muscle separation?" Their answers should explain their recommendation.
To me you look like a liposuction only candidate, SAFE or VASER and often times both techniques are used at once 
All the best!

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

Unfortunately, a tummy tuck is not an easy surgery to perform for the purpose of smoothing a belly after liposuction. These irregularities can be associated with significant subcutaneous scaring that could limit the ability of the skin to be pulled smooth. Your issues are not really skin related, either excess or loose, so the better surgery is a revision liposuction and possibly fat grafting. Which one you choose might make a difference. There have been two schools in liposuction for many years: Vaser versus SAFElipo. Both born in the early 2000's, their approach is very different. Vaser is simply a brand of ultrasonic liposuction that was made popular by a Columbian surgeon, Alfredo Hoyos, who conceptualized 'hi def' liposuction and is very good at self promotion. He single handedly raised the company that makes Vaser from the dead, making it one of the most popular devices purchased by body surgeons. He stands today ever more prominent in the body sculpting world. SAFElipo is not a machine, its a technique and was conceptualized by a plastic surgeon, Simeon Wall, Jr,  who's plastic surgeon father feed him cases of revision liposuction patient's from the father's past. These cases were loaded with poor results with contour defects and scar tissue. This technique was born out of fixing these issues. I have used Vaser in the past, but I am a SAFElipo surgeon, and can tell you that just having a Vaser doesn't mean you can fix these complex issues. Surgeons who bothered to learn SAFElipo techniques are more likely capable of fixing problem like yours.

Frank Agullo, MD · Answer

Based on your picture, liposuction (whether it is called VASER or SAFELipo) would not be recommended since liposuction removes fat, and your belly issue is not fat related. You look very lean and your abdominals look quite defined. Removing some of the little bit of fat that is left would leave you with even more loose skin than you currently have. Your picture shows crinkled skin around and below the belly button, which would likely get worse with liposuction.

In my hands this is a full tummy tuck with a low lying scar and liposuction of your flanks (the areas on either side of your tummy) in order to contour your waistline. This will create a scar that goes across your hips, however it would leave your tummy much smoother and tighter. Mini tummy tucks are usually performed for patients whose skin laxity (looseness) is limited to just below the belly button. Since your skin laxity seems to be more widespread (around your belly button as well) a mini would probably not provide you with satisfactory results.

A couple of things you can do to determine if you are a good candidate for a full tummy tuck: pinch-test your belly while standing up, which will give you an indication of how much loose skin you have above your belly button, and next, bend over at the waist and observe how much skin hangs. Have your plastic surgeon evaluate you in person for diastasis recti abdominis, which is when your abdominal muscles separate (common in women who have been pregnant). This would be repaired at the same time as the tummy tuck.

#StayBeautiful,
@RealDrWorldWide

Richard R. Orr, MD · Answer

This question applies to not only your situation but many areas of plastic surgery.  Plastic Surgery is actually quite an art form.  Most plastic surgeons do things differently, based on what they have done over the years, their training, and what has worked best for them.  Unfortunately, some also base their decision of what is their best profit margin!
To answer your question, start with a surgeon board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  Talk to other patients.  LOOK at reviews!  Meet the doctor! Look at similar photos.  Get an idea of how many he/she does.  Then go with your gut!!  Go with experience!  If you can, talk to the personnel who work in the various surgery centers as to who is best.

Looking at you, I don't see much loose skin.  I wouldn't see a tummy tuck unless you are hiding some loose skin down low.  I would lean more toward the liposuction procedures.
Good luck!

Tummy Tuck or Vaser - which would be the best option? (Photo)

Answers (5)

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