Abdominal Lipo before Tummy Tuck?

Question

I know there’s some controversy over combining Lipo with tummy tuck simultaneously. Would it be a good idea to have Lipo on my stomach with my bbl, mini arm lift, thigh lift, and have my tummy tuck in a separate procedure?

Nick Slenkovich, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question -- I get this every time I perform a Tummy Tuck on Snapchat -- "I heard that it's not safe to do lipo with TT." Not true. For experienced surgeons with proper technique, combining liposuction with Tummy Tuck  is a powerful contouring tool that safely allows us to achieve far better results in patients that are healthy and non-obese.
My belief is that a Tummy Tuck is not a Tummy Tuck is not a Tummy Tuck. In my practice I routinely perform 360 degree liposuction of the trunk with a Tummy Tuck procedure and often use the fat from lipo (I call it "liquid gold") for for transferring to the buttock area. This helps achieve a sexy, youthful figure much more than can be achieved with Tummy Tuck alone -- and who doesn’t want a sexier, more youthful figure? I also further thin the abdominal-tummy area with Tummy Tuck by sharply cutting out the deep fat layer.
Followers of my Snapchat (at DenverBodyDoc) are very familiar with Lipo 360 and BBL, with or without Tummy Tuck and I regularly perform this in patients from a BMI in the low 20s up to a BMI of 30:
 Lipo 360 is the concept of performing lipo of the entire trunk from the area that bulges at your armpit above the bra, to the bra-roll and back to significantly shaping in the waistline and abdominal-tummy area and the mons pubis or FUPA area -- in short I work to achieve a lean-appearance with thin, even layers all around. Some patients will benefit from lipo of a smaller area, but these are very lean patients that already have thin layers elsewhere.BBL or Brazilian Butt Lift uses fat from liposuction to shape the buttock area. I use it as an "addition" tool to extend my ability to provide contour more than can be achieve with the "subtraction" of liposuction alone. Many patients will benefit from even a small amount of fat transfer for providing a more youthful filling of the buttock area, where others desire more increase in size and shape.To achieve dramatic results with combined procedures, it is important that your surgeon have extensive experience with the preparation, execution and post-op care in their practice. With this appropriate care and technique, the safety of these procedures has long been well established and is widely published in the plastic surgery literature. 
Please take a look at photos of my patients at the weblink below. Many more patient examples and photos are shown on our Instagram and Facebook accounts as well @ DenverBodyDoc.
Hope this helps,

Luis M. Rios Jr., MD · Answer

Wow, that's a lot of procedures to consider for one time.I think you are on the right track. I would save the tummy tuck for another day. Don't forget, you will need the full use of your arms and legs to help you after the tummy tuck. If you combined all those procedures at once, you will find it difficult to get out of bed and take care of yourself.A thigh lift, arm lift and Lipo/BBL is plenty for one surgery. Be careful and safe.

Ankur Mehta, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. This is a very good question and shows that you have been well informed! Liposuction and tummy tuck combined is a much more complicated surgery than just tummy tuck alone. In order to perform liposuction tummy tuck the plastic surgeon should have a very good understanding of the anatomy and blood supply to the trunk area. To date....100% of all the tummy tucks I do are combined with liposuction. Most of my patients will undergo liposuction of the flanks (lower back), bra region, hips and abdomen along with the tummy tuck. If someone states they do lipo-abdominoplasty make sure they are actually liposuctioning the abdomen and not just the hips. I do lipo tummy tuck together because I believe the results are FAR superior to tummy tuck alone. I also very frequently perform 360 lipo, tummy tuck and BBL all in the same operation. Now....if you chose to have liposuction of the abdomen and are ok with having some loose skin until you can go back and have the tummy tuck done at a later date, that is a VERY acceptable way to go about it. I have attached a link to a patient of mine who underwent 360 lipo, tummy tuck and BBL. I hope this helps and please make sure your are being evaluated by a board certified plastic surgeon!Ankur Mehta MDBoard Certified by The American Board of Plastic SurgeryS

Olga Bachilo, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. Sounds like you are having a lot of procedures, so separating them out is a good idea to minimize the length of your anesthesia. Lipo with bbl, mini arm lift, thigh lift already is a lot of surgery and may last 6-8 hrs, so I think separating your tummy tuck for second stage is a good idea. Also during recovery from BBL you will need to spend more time on your tummy, while with tummy tuck you will be on your back, so from recovery stand point it's also better to have these two at different times. Good luck.
Sincerely,
Olga Bachilo, MD

Tania Medina de Garcia, MD · Answer

Hello dear!!
Thanks for the question and provided information as well. 
It is hard to evaluate without pictures, but i would say you are good candidate for liposuction with a traditional tummy tuck. This combination has become very common. It is safe to combine both procedures. 
 I recommend to book a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss the best options for your goals. 
Good luck :)

Abdominal Lipo before Tummy Tuck?

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Answer: Combining procedures

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