I need a full tummy tuck, would Laser Lipo do instead? (photos)

Yes, Lipo with the addition of a laser or vaser to induce skin tightening will help tremendously.  you potentially could have a certain degree of loose skin but if your main objective is fitting more comfortably into clothing this could be less of an issue.   You can also, always opt for a tummy tuck after the lipo if the laxity in your skin does bother you.  I find many times patients are happy with where they are and do not end up seeking further procedures.   See an expert!

Liposuction- I prefer Vaser ultrasound over Smart Lipo laser in these cases- will significantly reduce tummy fat without the down time of a tummy tuck.It is not a substitute for weight loss but will help jump start the process by removing stubborn fat and tightening the skin. Tummy will be flatter to a degree.An exam and consultation with a plastic surgeon who performs these procedures is recommended to confirm you are a candidate as well as discuss your options and expectations.

Laser liposuction is good for removing stubborn areas of fat, but lacks skin tightening. For best results, I recommend a hi definition procedure like VASER liposuction, which can be performed at the same time as a tummy tuck, depending on skin laxity. I use VASER HI DEF with ThermRF and fat grafting to get the most fat removal, skin tightening, contour and definition. This combination will give you the most toned result. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a hi definition physique expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Losing some weight followed by a tummy tuck will give you the best results. However, if your goal is to improve your appearance and reduce the size of your stomach to feel better in your clothes, SmartLipo will do that, but you can have some loose skin after the procedure. The recovery after SmartLipo is much quicker and less uncomfortable, since it is a minimal invasive procedure. Plus, most physician perform SmartLipo under local anesthesia, meaning you avoid being put to sleep, which is another advantage compared to a tummy tuck. Make sure you consult with an experienced board-certified physician who can assess you and explain both procedures and expected outcomes with you. Good luck!

Thank you for your question and posting your pictures. Let me begin by saying that any form of fat destruction is not the answer for weight loss. If you came in to my office, I would explore whether undergoing a procedure would motivate you to adopt the healthy lifestyle choices to lose and control your weight. If so, then I would recommend a combination of Tickle Lipo with BodyTite or J-Plasma. The Tickle Lipo would reduce the amount of fat in the abdomen significantly and the BodyTite or J-Plasma would give some further fat reduction and significant skin tightening. Following any fat reduction procedure, lifestyle changes are critical. If you do not adopt them you can see an increase in visceral fat - the fat that surrounds your organs. This is the fat that causes high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and even death.I hope this was helpful - Dr. Moore.

You really need first to lose20 pounds. Than if your lower abdominal skin have the best result would be a Full TT. But fr now a 4 liter lipo under general anesthesia would help somewhat as you stated. 

Thank you for sharing your photos.  I see many patients with problems similar to yours and frequently lack of down time is a major issue with them. A lot of them understand that they will still have to watch their diet and exercise on a regular basis since these procedures are not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle, but they just need a good jump start to provide motivation to follow that lifestyle and lose additional fat. I tell my patients that if they want perfection, they should do the tummy tuck since this will do the best in making the skin tight since the excess skin will be surgically removed. But if someone is looking to make their tummy smaller, get some skin tightening but is willing to put up with some leftover loose skin, LaserLipo can work quite well and certainly has minimal down time compared to major surgery. Interestingly, I tell these patients that they can always have a tummy tuck later if they want to remove the skin when it is better timing for them or if the skin bothers them, but after 10 years of performing LaserLipo, no one has yet done the tummy tuck since they were all quite happy that their tummies were so much smaller. I would suggest that you see a physician who is very experienced in body contouring and skin tightening procedures in the abdominal area.  Best of luck!  Mary Beth Mudd

it appears that you would benefit from a laser lipo procedure if good equipment is used and performed by a qualified, well experienced physician. you will likely have some skin laxity following the removal of fat. The laser will cause some skin tightening but there may be some loose skin. this can be tightened or removed later. the cost should be significantly less than a tummy tuck and the recovery much easier.
ps- there are many physicians that do not charge for consultations and most will apply the consultation fee to the procedure.

it is important to know that there are many excellent things plastic surgeons can offer to help you look even better. however, none of them are a substitute for losing weight and decreasing your total body fat. i would strongly recommend that you consider our Paleo Meal Replacement or at least follow a diet that is paleo like in nature.Smartlipo will reduce the fat in the areas treated but it cannot get rid of all of it.A tummy tuck will give you a much more dramatic change but you should try and lose weight first.i don't charge for my cosmetic consults but this will vary from region to region of the country.good luckdavid berman md