Which would you recommend; Radio frequency treatments for loose abdominal skin or Tummy tuck? (photos)

Hi Hands and Feet,I think that you would be better served with a mini-tummy tuck and some liposuction , rather than the radiofrequency treatments. Unfortunately, I do not think that the radiofrequenncy treatments last for a long period of time and most people are disappointed that they have spent a lot of money for a very temporary result.A mini-tummy tuck with some lipo can give a longer lasting result, even though there are more scars involved.The abdominal muscles can be tightened and an overall smoother look to the abdomen can be achieved in the right hands.Hope this helps.Best,Cr. Rodgers

RF will give you some improvement as long as you are well hydrated prior to the treatments. The only real downside to RF is lack of effectiveness. Skin tightening from RF may take 4 to 6 months after the treatments have ended and you will need to repeat the treatments every 6 months to maintain optimal results.

Given that you have minimal skin laxity with very little excess fat, I believe you would be a great candidate for noninvasive abdominal contouring. I prefer RF treatments with the Venus Legacy but any multipolar RF machine should be able to provide you with skin tightening given you undergo the full treatment course. Good luck!

We have seen great success in treating stretch marks with radio frequency in our office.  I would recommend trying that, if you don't see improvement then you may consider a mini tummy tuck. 

There
are no realistic comparable alternatives to a tummy tuck in a patient with significant laxity which you do not appear to have. A modified or mini tummy tuck with liposuction of selective areas will produce a more permanent and better result than any non-surgical tightening device.Patients with minimal
laxity of skin may, however, get a mild benefit from skin tightening procedures
like Exilis, a radiofrequency technology that is non-invasive. It may require
more than 1 treatment session and you need to be very realistic about your
expectations. Non-invasive treatments will not tighten significant laxity,
remove stretch marks, or repair separated abdominal wall muscular that can
result from pregnancy.

Keep in mind that following the advice from a surgeon on this or any other
website who proposes to tell you what to do based on two dimensional photos
without examining you, physically feeling the tissue, assessing your desired
outcome, taking a full medical history, and discussing the pros and cons of
each operative procedure would not be in your best interest. I would suggest
you find a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
(ASAPS) that you trust and are comfortable with. You should discuss your
concerns with that surgeon in person.

Robert Singer, MD FACS

La Jolla, California