Is there such a thing as a no cut tummy tuck?

Remember when mother said "If it sounds too good to be true..."?

The "Tuck" part of a Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) is where we get the tightening of the supporting tissues below the skin. I call this tissue that attaches our skin to our bodies inside our "body suit," and there is no procedure that will give significant rejuvenation of this tissue without a lift or tuck.

Sure, many times we avoid a Tummy Tuck when both the skin and the deeper tissues are of good or excellent quality. But there is no "No Cut" procedure that can make tissues of inferior quality (for example: loose tissue, thin and stretched skin) magically tighten.

Hopefully this is not an American Board of Plastic Surgery surgeon marketing this technique, at least not without a big disclaimer about how only some patients will be candidates. I'd suggest looking elsewhere for a consultation.

Hope this helps,

Nick Slenkovich, MD FACS

As has been mentioned before in the other physicians' posts, typically an abdominoplasty removes skin, and hence creates some degree of scarring.  Occasionally, if a patient only has abdominal wall/fascia laxity and approach can be made through the bellybutton that tightens the abdominal wall fascia, but doesn't leave a lower abdominal scar.  It does not remove any skin, but can make a nice difference in your abdominal appearance, provided you're the appropriate candidate!  Hope this helps.

 

There's no way to repair muscle laxity without suturing the muscle back together.  Only a surgical procedure can do that.

Most lasers can, at best, only achieve a very mild degree of skin tightening or shrinkage; far less than the skin tightening I can get with a good tummy tuck.

So yes, overall, the no cut tummy tuck is "too good to be true"....  

All tummy tucks will require an incision which will develop into a scar. Usually the scar will fade within a year and if placed properly, will be located quite low and hidden in most underwear and swimwear.

Best wishes,

Dr.Bruno

There are many marketing techniques out there and no regulations about what people can say or do.  In short, if you have loose skin, you need a traditional tummy tuck / abdominoplasty which requires an incision.  If you just have excess fat, but no loose skin, then you may be well served with some type of liposuction procedure.  

 

Good Luck.

You know how that works out, don't you?

There is no external RF (radio frequency), infrared, ultrasonic, or laser procedure (or internal laser, ultrasonic, etc. operation) that can adequately tighten loose skin that requires a tummy tuck. If you don't have loose skin, then these procedures "work" because they are not necessary!

If you do have loose skin, you probably also have loose or stretched muscular fascia, and rectus sheath plication (commonly called "muscle repair") is PART of a properly-performed tummy tuck procedure in the majority of cases. How can THAT be done without an incision? (ANSWER: It can't!)

This is not even "Too good to be true!" This is marketing hogwash to get prospective patients to see these doctors so they can sell you on something else, or take your money for a lipo procedure that leaves you with all the loose skin you started with (plus a little scar tissue that changes things a bit, and not usually in a good way!)

Go see this "surgeon" and then complain to the state medical board if applicable! But please don't waste your money, time, or undergo unnecessary risk for this brand of snake oil!

There is no such thing as a tummy tuck that has no cutting. You just have to accept that there will be a scar, but when appropriately placed it will be hidden in your bikini line.

In short, yes.  Tummy tuck removes loose skin and repairs streched muscles.  This cannot be accomplished without an incision!

"No cut tummy tuck" is being used to marked "laser liposuction" procedures.  A tummy tuck is designed to tighten the abdominal fascia ("muscle repair") and remove excess skin, usually the result of pregnancy or significant weight loss.  Liposuction does not address the underlying fascia, and there is a lot of skepticism regarding how much skin tightening can be achieved without surgically excising the extra skin.

My response to your question/post does not represent formal medical advice or constitute a doctor patient relationship. You need to consult with i.e. personally see a board-certified plastic surgeon in order to receive a formal evaluation and develop a doctor patient relationship.

A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is done for the things you can't accomplish on your own, including removal of excess skin and tightening of a muscle separation called diastasis. It may also include removal of localized fat that is resistant to change with diet and exercise. It would truly be wonderful if skin could be tightened enough without surgery to replace tummy tucks, and advocates of laser lipo would have you believe that it can be done. But the additional skin tightening with laser lipo and other similar technologies doesn't come anywhere close to what is done with abdominoplasty, a lesson many patients have learned at great expense.