Cutting out Fat for Mini Tummy Tuck Instead of Liposuction?

With abdominoplasty, whether a mini or full, my preference is to remove the fat from the central portion by directly cutting it out. Using liposuction on the part that is raised up as a flap may pose some additional risk, but it is commonly used on adjacent areas such as the waist or hips. By thinning the flap with direct removal of the fat, it gives a lot of control to the thickness and creates a surface for sutures called "progressive tension" which means less drainage (your drain can come out in a couple of days at the most) as well as good shaping and less tension along the skin closure, which contributes to good healing with minimal scar.

Dear poca,

Thank you for your inquiry. It's not uncommon for plastic surgeons to remove excess fat during a mini tummy tuck procedure, especially if the amount of fat to be addressed is limited and localized to the lower abdomen.

During a tummy tuck, the surgeon typically resects (removes) excess skin and fat to create a smoother, flatter abdominal contour. In some cases, particularly with a mini tummy tuck, where the focus is primarily on the lower abdominal area below the belly button, directly excising the fat may be a suitable approach.

While liposuction is often used to remove excess fat in other body contouring procedures, such as traditional tummy tucks or body lifts, its use in a mini tummy tuck may be less common due to the smaller treatment area and specific goals of the surgery.

The decision to remove fat directly rather than using liposuction may also depend on factors such as the patient's anatomy, skin laxity, and the surgeon's preferred technique. Additionally, considerations regarding blood supply and tissue viability may influence the surgical approach chosen by the surgeon.

If you have any concerns or questions about your mini tummy tuck procedure, I recommend discussing them with your plastic surgeon, who can provide you with personalized insights based on your specific case and surgical plan.

Best regards,

Dr. Katzen
Plastic Surgeon

I think that resecting the fat, dermolipectomy, if performed in a very limited area, is very reasonable alternative to liposuction when performing tummy tuck.

Both procedures will remove abdominal fat- in the case of the tummy tuck, the skin and fat is removed en-bloc, while a liposuction procedure removes fat discontinuously. Both procedures are effective at improving abdominal contour, but must be applied to the right patient.

I seldom see a good candidate for a "mini tummy tuck".  The surgeon who performed your operation removed fat directly as is always done with a full or partial abdominoplasty.  He might also have employed liposuction to enhance your results.  Ask him.

The way the fat is removed when sculpting the abdomen depends on where it is located.  In a mini tummy tuck, there is usually excess skin located in the lower abdomen.  A smaller incision than a traditional tummy tuck will allow removal of this excess skin as well as any fat in that area.  However, there is usually some excess fat located laterally in the love handle region as well as superiorly in the upper abdomen.  Liposuction is a good option in removing this fat since no further incisions would have to be made.  Most plastic surgeons will combine liposuction with a mini tummy tuck to give the best result.  However, the choice of fat removal is dependent on each patient's individual needs and anatomy.