I'm 23 yrs old, 5'6, and 230 lbs. Large Volume Lipo? (photo)

Hello Red, thank you for your inquire and photos.   My recommendation will be: 1) Extended Full Tummy Tuck and 2)  Lipo (flanks, back and upper hips areas)  to enhance your body contour,  IF you feel comfortable with your actual weight and like you said, " just rid myself of a saggy tummy  " where I think Liposuction only will not give you a good result.   .  But if eventually you decide to loss weight first,    The ideal procedure, on the other hand, to really have a life-lasting result is,  having a bariatric procedure (gastric sleeve p.e.).   Best.  Dr. Vega

Large volume liposuction refers to removal of fat above a given volume, usually several thousand cc. Patients who harbor this much fat usually have significant contour problems after liposuction. Nevertheless, many of them are very happy with the results.

  If the hanging tissue is what is bothering you then a tummy tuck or an apronectomy may be your best choice.  The liposuction will reduce the fat in the apron, but the skin will hang even more.  Find the plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of liposuction and tummy tuck procedures each year.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Definitely, maximize your efforts of weight loss prior to liposuction.  Your BMI (Body Mass Index) is too high.  There are certain risks with liposuction, specifically clots in the leg (Deep Vein Thrombosis) that can be potentially fatal.  Risks such as these and others increase with a higher BMI.  Additionally, since you have had a child, if the skin does not shrink appropriately after  liposuction, then you will need additional procedures to deal with the skin i.e. Tummy Tuck.  Be patient, keep working at it, you are young.  Good luck

Dear Red - as others have suggested, lipo and tummy tuck would improve your appearance, but if your overall size and weight are your main concern, why not look into bariatric surgery first?  Then the body re - contouring would be, in my opinion more worthwhile.

Liposuction will not correct the apron--it may actually make it worse by removing the underlying structure the skin will hang all the more. 

A tummy tuck with extension around toward the back is the proper fix. The risks for this are somewhat higher because of your weight. A simpler procedure just removing the excess skin (panniculectomy or apronectomy) may be a better choice.

Consult with a plastic surgeon; for advice.RealSelf has listings of surgeons in your area. You should consider cross referencing the listings from the The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (plasticsurgery dot org). A listing in the ASPS website assures you that your surgeon is not only board certified,  but also is a member in good standing of the major plastic surgery organization in the U. S. Thank you for your question, best wishes.

First, is whether the procedure is safe for you and second, whether it is appropriate and likely to achieve the results you want.  Large volume lipo is generally considered to be over 5000 cc of fat (though that should probably not be an absolute but should take into account differences in body habitus preoperatively).  You may achieve a noticeable reduction in contour with this procedure.  There is a limit to what can be done and you would need to receive a medical clearance and then undergo one or more procedures to remove enough fat.  For weight loss in general, lipo is not the appropriate treatment (diet and exercise should be used primarily).  However, you may then have some hanging skin and you might, after one or more lipo procedures, need a procedure that removes excess skin, such as a panniculectomy or even a tummy tuck. 

For all of these issues you should be seen in person by a board-certified plastic surgeon.

I hope that this helps and good luck,

Dr. E

When considering liposuction, schedule an exam /consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.  This can be a dangerous procedure for patients that are not close to their ideal body weight.  I am not a big fan of large volume liposuction.  It would be to your benefit to lose some of the weight prior to the surgery.

Large volume liposuction can help your issues. Discuss this with your surgeon. Cosnult a board certified plastic surgeon who is used to this procedure. You may need a few weeks to recover. Thomas Narsete, M.D.

Your question is a good one and congratulations on the weight you have lost. But remember you are asking for a cosmetic surgical procedure on an otherwise healthy person. When we do surgery we want to deliver a quality result with minimum risk. That is not where you are yet. First of all. large volume liposuction at best can remove 5000cc of fat. That equates to only 11 pounds. And the more you suck out the higher the risk to the point of possible life threatening issues. That is why no board certified plastic surgeon will go much beyond 5000cc. I my practice we limit the amount removed to 3000 cc. Once again, this is surgery to make you look and feel good with minimal risk. Secondly, most surgeons will limit cosmetic procedures to patients under a BMI of 35. Risks go up considerably above that. At 5'6" that equates to a weight of about 210, and even then the best results in abdominoplasty come with a BMI less than 30. So were you my patient, we would follow you along until you get to the weight where we can get the best result with the least risk. That is definitely not large volume liposuction. It would involve a full and circumferential abdominoplasty and lower body lift and you would love the results. The liposuction mentioned will, at high risk, leave you with looser and saggier skin. That is my opinion and recommendation to the many patients I see each year with your anatomy.