Age 31, BMI 30, no children, I really don't want a tummy tuck, is it the only way? (Photos)

Hello !

It looks like you could also benefit from BodyTite liposuction.
This technology uses radiofrequency energy, which will tighten up skin and dissolve fat. It will help to improve skin laxity.

Of course, an “in person” exam is necessary.

I hope this helps,
best of luck !

Hello and thank you for your question. From the pictures you have provided, you have striae (stretchmarks) present throughout your lower abdomen, anterior thighs, and buttocks. There is a moderate/severe amount of excess skin and subcutaneous fat present diffusely throughout your trunk- from your abdomen into your flanks and extending into your back. This is asymmetric in distribution. There are skin folds across your lower abdomen extending to your flanks, and you also have at least a fold present to your right mid back. Based on all this, you would most benefit from an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and 360 liposuction to best help improve your abdominal/trunk contour.
In general, the presence of stretchmarks indicates the presence of skin which has lost the ability to fully stretch and recoil properly. This skin therefore usually does not fully contract with just liposuction alone (without resecting any of the excess skin)- that tends to produce a very deflated appearance and ultimately requires another procedure to resect the excess skin and tighten the overall contour. This is why, in addition to liposuction, you would definitely benefit from an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) to best help improve your abdominal/trunk contour.
With all that said, it is always difficult to provide tentative surgical recommendations, as there is only so much information to be gained from any photos and descriptions provided. I recommend for you to come see me or another plastic surgeon for a formal consultation to thoroughly discuss your surgical goals, undergo a formal examination, evaluate all your options (surgical and nonsurgical), and decide on the best procedure(s) for your specific case. I hope this helps!
Best wishes,
Dr. Donald Groves
Plastic Surgeon

Hello and thank you for your question
It appears, based on the photos, that you would benefit from a full tummy tuck. Schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options. Best wishes!

Dear kelz629,
based on your photos, you look like a good candidate for a TT. Full tummy tuck should tighten your abdominal muscles and remove the excess skin. Flanks liposuction would give you a better shape. I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon because only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Based on your pictures, you may either have a staged procedure for an optimal outcome or a single TT procedure The first procedure will consists of a tummy tuck with or without muscle plication that may be accompanied by liposuction to your flanks, upper back, and bra rolls. This will allow for the most comprehensive removal of fat and skin and provide you a more “hourglass silhoutte”. If you wish to further enhance your results, you can have liposuction of your entire abdomen 3-6 months later or once you have healed from your TT.
It is recommended that you be within 5-10 lbs of your goal weight prior to undergoing surgery. A healthy BMI is between 15-24 with the maximum recommended being around 30. The higher the BMI the higher the chance of complications. Being closer to your desired goal weight may decrease the likelihood of having to undergo a staged procedure for optimal outcomes.
A virtual or in person consultation with a tummytuck specialist will provide you an accurate recommendation and pricing.
Best,Brandon Richland, MD

Hello @kelz629, thank you for your question. The answer is yes, a tummy tuck with muscle plication is the recommended route to take for reducing excess skin and lipolysis. This procedure can provide you with a significant reduction in stomach size. It's important to note that liposuction alone is not typically recommended. This is because it does not address the inner abdominal wall which may be weakened by years of stretching, nor does it remove excess skin. A tummy tuck will help to reduce fat and tighten stretched tissues while also removing any excess skin. To answer your second question, if you only have liposuction the skin will look like sagging. The best course of action is to consult one or several board certified plastic surgeon for more information and options tailored specifically to your needs. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS. American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science” Member (IFATS), American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery member (SCCP)

A tummy tuck procedure is never "necessary" but may be a recommended elective procedure. In your particular case, after liposuction you should expect skin laxity even with skin tightening. However, it all has to do with expectations. One of the major benefits of a tummy tuck isn't just the skin removal but the tightening of the muscles as well. Staged liposuction w/ skin tightening is also an option for you and certainly helps (although you should anticipate some laxity even with the tightening and you may require more than one session of liposuction). The maximum recommended liposuction in a single session is 4-5L depending on state to state. Make sure to discuss all surgical options with your plastic surgeon during your consultation.

It appears that you have excess skin and fat in the abdominal area. I suggest staging liposuction with a BBL or fat transfer, followed by a tummy tuck two to three months later. This will provide you with optimal shape. As you have stretch marks, your skin may not naturally bounce back after the liposuction, so the tummy tuck is essential to get the best results possible. Although you expressed that you don't want an athletic stomach or hourglass figure, these procedures may be able to achieve a slight hourglass appearance for you. If you don't want two separate procedures, consider a tummy tuck with liposuction of the flanks. It's not safe to do liposuction of the entire abdomen during a tummy tuck because that could risk the blood supply to the incision. Thank you for your question and I hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Dr. Katzen

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. Based on the photos, the best choice for you is a tummy tuck. If you are ok with potentially having excess skin after surgery, then you can consider liposuction alone. Less fat removal can mean less skin laxity but the trade off is a less desired result.

I would suggest starting with the liposuction and remove as much fat as possible. Minimally invasive skin tightening treatments like Renuvion can be added to help tighten the skin. You may actually do fairly well, or need only a mini tuck instead of a full once healed.