Am I a good candidate for a TT with Lipo?

Question

I'm a 19yr female who has recently lost about 60lbs. I'm struggling a lot with body image issues which is causing my mental health to plument. I have a pockets of fat on my belly that no matter what I do (exercise/diet) I can't seem to lose. I also have loose skin. I'm someone who exercises and eats healthy on the regular. I can't have kids so I don't have to worry about ruining the TT later in life.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Reviewing uploaded photos of your current physique would be helpful in providing recommendations regarding the fat on your belly and loose skin. If you are healthy with a BMI approximating 30, you would likely be a candidate for TT with lipo to improve your body contours.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

Unfortunately, you have not provided photographs or told us your height and weight. If you are still trying to lose weight then I suggest you begin a low fat diet, core exercises such as sit-ups, planks, pilates and consult with a bariatric surgeon. After this, you can consider abdominoplasty with mesh reinforcement. The mesh creates a more hourglass figure by compressing the abdominal wall resulting in early satiety and helps maintain a reduced weight.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear OliviaLennon,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question.  Unfortunately without knowing your full medical history, seeing photographs, or an in-person examination it is difficult to offer definite advice.  Seek out some consultations in your area to get the best advice.

Ali Gurlek, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question

A tummy tuck can remove loose, excess skin and fat, and tighten weak fascia. A tummy tuck can also remove stretch marks and excess skin in the lower abdomen below the bellybutton. However, a tummy tuck won't correct stretch marks outside of this area.
If you've previously had a C-section, your plastic surgeon might be able to incorporate your existing C-section scar into your tummy tuck scar.
A tummy tuck can also be done in combination with other body contouring cosmetic procedures, such as breast surgery. If you've had fat removed from your abdomen (liposuction), you may decide to have a tummy tuck because liposuction removes tissue just under the skin and fat but not any excess

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

An examination or photographs are needed in order to give a recommendation for you.  A tummy tuck with liposuction added for contouring will remove excess fatty pockets loose skin, and correct any abdominal wall laxity.  I encourage you to visit with a few board certified plastic surgeons near you for a consultation.  Here you can learn more about the procedures and see if you are a good candidate.

David Finkle, MD · Answer

A tummy tuck which is also referred to as an abdominoplasty is a procedure to enhance the appearance of the abdomen. It consists of 3 basic steps:
 1. Skin removal and tightening
 2. Subcutaneous fat removal 
3. Muscle tightening

There are many different types of tummy tucks which are customized to each individual. The placement of the scar is very low on the abdomen, transverse and can include removal of a previous C-Section scar. The recovery is very similar to a C-Section or Hysterectomy recovery. The first week lifting is limited to 15 lbs. maximum and the patients usually walk slowly and bend over. The second week the weight limitation is increased to 30 pounds and more normal walking. After the second week many patients return to work if it is more sedentary, active work jobs and heavy lifting, pulling or straining are still difficult for another 2 weeks. Most women need help with small children for the first week.
 There has been a breakthrough in the technology of post op pain relief for tummy tucks. A new medication is now being used that will provide for 3-4 days of post op pain relief, speeding up the recovery process! It is called Exparel. Vigorous physical activity and contact sports are limited for 4-6 weeks. Everyone's recovery is different, and everyone's tummy tuck is different, the recovery time will vary from individual to individual. Wound healing problems can occur after a tummy tuck, most are small and heal on their own. However, if there is a large area that opens up, prolonged healing time will occur and there would be the possibly of a revision procedure. This is a wonderful operation that will make the tummy flat FOREVER, WITHOUT SIT-UPS!! But, you have to be willing to trade the appearance for the scar, which is long, but well placed, and hidden in all clothing and bathing suits. Your weight should be stable and finished with child bearing before undergoing this procedure.

Please consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who specializes in body contouring procedures to assure the best possible result.

Good Luck!

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

If you want us to assess the candidacy for a cosmetic surgical procedure you’ll need to post proper pictures.

Have someone else take the pictures or use the timer on your camera. Pictures should be taken from about 8 feet away. Pictures should be of you standing in a neutral position showing your front, sides and back wearing undergarments from your neck to your knees.

For young women who may want to have children in the future and have significant skin laxity a skin only tummy tuck may be an option. Women who have not had previous pregnancies typically do not need muscle tightening and should not have that part of a tummy tuck if they plan on having children in the future.

Anyone considering children in the near future or has a fairly high certainty of wanting children in the future may want to consider having a tummy tuck after they’re done having kids.

Liposuction it’s not impacted by pregnancy and does not impact pregnancy.

To get an accurate assessment I suggest having multiple in person consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons. The following are some general recommendations for patient seeking cosmetic surgery.
1. I recommend patients avoid traveling long distances for elective surgical procedures. There are of course instances where there is a lack of local talent and traveling to some degree is inevitable. If traveling for the procedure patients should be ready to travel to have the consultation, post operative appointments and follow up should there be issues or complications.
Patients sometimes do not appreciate the importance of in person consultations, that complications do happen or the number of people who have issues with their results or need revisions.

2. Schedule multiple consultations with different providers in your area who seem to have a good reputation for the procedure you’re interested in. Starting with at least five consultations seems like a reasonable number to me.

3. Whenever possible schedule in person consultations.  
4. During in person consultations ask each plastic surgeon to show all of their before and after pictures for the procedure you’re interested in.

The goal is not to see the best results of their career but to get an idea of what average results look like and get some type of confirmation of how many of these procedures that provider has performed.

Ask to see results that were not as good as the doctor would’ve hoped for and talk about the differences in outcomes.

Honest and experienced providers should have no problems presenting this type of information.

A highly experienced plastic surgeon should have hundreds of before and after pictures for the procedure you’re interested in. At a minimum at least 20+.

5. Read all the reviews on various physician review websites paying close attention and avoiding providers with any significant number of justified negative reviews.  Providers with an abundance of reviews often have aggressive marketing campaigns.

The plastic surgeons I respect most all have the single variable of not having justified negative reviews on their online profiles. 
In my opinion justified negative reviews are far more telling than an abundance of positive reviews.

6. Avoid scheduling for surgery or making a deposit on the day of the consultation.  Give yourself some time to think about the decision and make sure you finished all scheduled consultations before committing to having surgery that will permanently and irreversibly change your body.

When in doubt slow down and schedule more consultations.

Choosing the right plastic surgeon is the single most important variable to having a positive experience.

7. Don’t go chasing after technology or names of certain equipment. Instead focus all your efforts on finding the most experienced and talented board-certified plastic surgeon.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

Am I a good candidate for a TT with Lipo?

Answers (8)

More Tummy Tuck Questions

Would Blue Cross Blue Shield cover my tummy tuck while getting a breast reduction?

Should I still wear compression garments if my surgeon uses tubular bandage after tummy tuck?

Can someone explain more about hormone therapy for before and after tummy tuck, liposuction, etc.?

Does prednisolone and enbrel inhibit wound healing and should I stop them before a tummy tuck?

Would a tummy tuck flatten my belly and the rolls beneath my breasts? (Photos)

Is there a difference between the terms muscle repair and internal corset?

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS