Would having Argon plasma & 360 lipo give me the same results as a tummy tuck? (Photo)

Question

The skin on my stomach is tight and firm. However my stomach is pop after having 2 children.

Randal Haworth, MD, FACS · Answer

Abdominoplasty, also referred to as a tummy tuck, entails the removal of excess fat and skin while strengthening weakened muscles to achieve a more toned, sleek abdominal contour.

It is most suitable for men and women who are generally fit, yet troubled by stubborn abdominal fat or sagging skin that cannot be addressed with diet or exercise alone.

To put it simply, liposuction aims to eliminate excess fat, Argon Plasma Coagulation (APC) may assist in reinitiating weight loss while the tummy tuck targets sagging skin and fat, resulting in a flatter and smoother abdominal area.

I recommend to consult with a skilled board certified plastic surgeon.

I hope this helps,
Best of Luck !

Randal Haworth

Mark H. Tseng, MD · Answer

Hi goldenchild80,
Argon plasma and 360 liposuction can be effective in reducing excess fat and tightening loose skin in the abdomen area, but they may not provide the same results as a tummy tuck.
A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure that involves removing excess skin and fat from the abdomen and tightening the abdominal muscles. The procedure can also improve the appearance of stretch marks and create a smoother, firmer abdominal profile.
In contrast, Argon plasma and 360 liposuction are both minimally invasive procedures that primarily focus on reducing excess fat and tightening loose skin. While these procedures can be effective in addressing mild to moderate abdominal laxity and excess fat, they may not provide the same level of improvement as a tummy tuck, particularly in cases of significant skin excess or muscle separation.
It's important to consult with qualified plastic surgeon to determine which procedure or combination of procedures would be best suited to your individual needs and goals. The surgeon can assess your anatomy, skin quality, and overall health to recommend the most appropriate treatment plan to achieve the results you desire.
Best regards, Dr. Mark Tseng

Giuseppe Fiore, MD · Answer

Hi, thank you for your question and photos. In my clinical practice and in similar cases, I always recommend two surgical options.

The first option is abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and Vaser liposuction on your flanks and lower back. This option is for patients who want a flat abdomen and accept the extensive scar on the lower abdomen.

The second option is a less invasive approach: Vaser liposuction combined with Renuvion/J plasma or Bodytite on the upper and lower abdomen, flanks, and back area. The second option is ideal for patients who want to achieve body contouring and improve the waistline with less extensive scars; however, this procedure does not remove excess skin.

The combination of Renuvion with Vaser liposuction can increase the likelihood of skin tightening, and my preferred method involves circumferential body Vaser liposuction (360-degree approach) and Renuvion/J plasma, which is an excellent option for women or men who want to improve their body contour and silhouette with fewer scars and avoid a tummy tuck. Renuvion only requires one session and is typically performed under general anesthesia or sedation in a hospital setting. Bodytite requires one session in combination with Morpheus 8 (three sessions four weeks apart).

Before undergoing Vaser liposuction, it's essential to have a preoperative assessment to determine if you are a suitable candidate. Factors such as a BMI less than 30-32, overall health, and medications you are taking will be evaluated. It's important to note that liposuction is not a weight loss procedure and should not be used as a substitute for a healthy diet and regular exercise. Additionally, while Vaser Liposuction can effectively remove unwanted fat, it may not address loose skin or stretch marks. Therefore, it's important to have realistic expectations and understand the limitations of the procedure.

Anuj Purbey, MBBS · Answer

The combination of Argon plasma and 360 liposuction can enhance body contouring and address certain concerns, but it's essential to understand that it may not replicate all the outcomes of a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). Here are some considerations:
Argon Plasma: Argon plasma technology is often used for skin tightening and can help improve skin elasticity. It may address mild sagging or looseness but may not fully replicate the muscle tightening achieved with a tummy tuck.
360 Liposuction: This procedure can remove excess fat from various areas around the torso, providing a more sculpted appearance. It primarily focuses on fat reduction and contouring.
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty): A tummy tuck involves removing excess skin, tightening the abdominal muscles, and addressing issues like stretched skin and muscle separation, which may not be fully addressed by non-surgical or liposuction procedures.
While Argon plasma and liposuction can offer improvements, especially in terms of skin tightening and fat reduction, a tummy tuck provides more extensive correction for issues related to skin laxity and muscle separation. The choice between these procedures depends on your specific concerns, goals, and the extent of correction needed.
I recommend consulting with a qualified surgeon to discuss your individual case, desired outcomes, and the most suitable approach for achieving your goals. They can provide personalized advice based on a thorough assessment of your anatomy and expectations.

Navjot Singh, MD, FACG · Answer

Thank you for your question. It's great that you have tight and firm skin, as it can enhance the results of many procedures. However, Argon plasma (like Renuvion J-Plasma) and 360 lipo primarily address skin tightening and fat removal, respectively. If your primary concern is a "popped" or protruding stomach, often caused by diastasis recti (separation of abdominal muscles) after childbirth, these methods alone may not provide the same level of correction as a tummy tuck, which directly addresses the muscle tightening. While Renuvion J-Plasma can significantly improve skin quality, results might not be as perfect or comprehensive as a tummy tuck. It's essential to consult with a cosmetic surgeon for a personalized assessment.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Liposuction only removes subcutaneous fat. It doesn’t matter what the name is associated with Liposuction or what equipment is used for procedure is a fat producing procedure. Liposuction, regardless, secondary treatment is done with it whether it be laser, radio, frequency, or heat will not create significant skin tightening, and certainly nothing in comparison to what a tummy tuck can accomplish.
There are four variables that determine what someone’s abdomen looks like. The choice of procedure should be based on having a clear understanding about the underlying problem is. In other words, if somebody doesn’t like the way, their belly looks it is always because of one or more of four different tissue variables. Each of these tissue variables has its own way of being treated so understanding which tissue variable is causing the problem, helps dictate what the best treatment is.
The four variables that determine what someone’s abdomen, looks like our abdominal skin laxity typically due to previous pregnancies or weight loss, excess, subcutaneous, fat, muscle separation from previous pregnancies, for excess visceral or intra-abdominal fat.
Pregnancies cost to advertise changes. Pregnancies can cause skin, laxity and muscle separation. Women who have pregnancy related changes need to have procedures that address those two tissue variables. A tummy tuck specifically treats abdominal skin laxity, and muscle separation.
To assess how much skin laxity is contributing tried pulling your skin tight and see if it improves your abdominal contour. To assess the thickness of your subcutaneous fat layer, you can take your finger tip and gently press your skin until you feel the underlying muscle wall. this does not require much pressure at all. I’m guessing your subcutaneous fat layer. It’s about an inch thick.
A tight flat abdominal wall should create a B line between your sternum and your pubic bone. Based on your pictures you abdominal wall is bulging. Both muscle separation and excess visceral fat can cause muscle bulging. If your abdominal wall was always tight and flat pre-pregnancy, and you’ve not gained significant weight since your first pregnancy, then the bulging of your domino wall is most likely mostly related to muscle separation. It is important to differentiate and make sure you don’t also have visceral fat because individuals who have access visceral fat, will have limited results from a tummy tuck, unless the address to access visceral fat first. 
One easy way to differentiate if abdominal bulging is due to muscle, separation or excess visceral fat is to see if your abdomen goes completely flat when you lay on your back. If it does, then the problem is most likely all related to muscle separation. If you still bulge while laying on your back, then visceral fat is probably contributing and should be addressed through weight loss.
Liposuction can remove 50 to 75% of your subcutaneous fat layer. This means it’ll bring in your abdomen by 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. That is not enough to gift you a flat abdomen. It is however going to give you some improvements and the parts of your body with Liposuction it will work better I’m going to be in your waist, love handles back. Most likely it is your abdomen that is bothering you the most and that is most likely all related to previous pregnancies. Again, pregnancy related changes come down to muscle, separation and skin laxity both which are best treated with a full tummy tuck.
Lots of people don’t want to have a full tummy tuck and I don’t blame them. There’s nothing wrong with choosing Liposuction but don’t expect Liposuction to get you a tight flat abdomen. If you want a tight flat abdomen, you will need to have a full tummy tuck. Additionally, if you have excess visceral, fat weight loss needs to be included or you will still have some bulging after.
To get a more accurate assessment and better understanding of treatment options I recommend you have multiple in person consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons. Don’t be sold on technology or names of fancy equipment.
There is very little difference between different modalities of Liposuction. The only variable that matters when it comes to quality results is who does the procedure. Plastic surgeons have the tools they need to do their job right. Whether outcomes come out as quality outcomes or not is more related to the skill of the surgeon.
In the end, there are only two variables, that really matter when it comes to quality plastic surgery outcomes. The first one is patient candidacy, and the second is the skill of the surgeon. Focus all your efforts on these two variables. Don’t spend time trying to figure out what form of Liposuction works better. You will only get confused by people who are self promoting, purposely creating confusion in the marketplace.
In regards to candidacy, you are an OK candidate for Liposuction, and an excellent candidate for a tummy tuck. In other words, Liposuction will give you a modest improvement while a tummy tuck will give you an excellent outcome. You’re a much better candidate for a tummy tuck than you are for Liposuction.
The reason for this is subcutaneous fat, is not the primary variable, causing your abdomen to look the way it does. The problem is related to muscle, separation and some degree to skim laxity. Subcutaneous fat is contributing to some degree and like I mentioned, earlier, visceral fat may or may not be a contributing variable as well.
I suggest you start by having five in person, consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons. During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection before and after pictures of the previous patients who have similar body characteristics to your own. You can do this for both Liposuction, and tummy tucks. Bring pictures of your own body to use in comparison. When looking at before, and after pictures, make sure you recognize patients in the before pictures as also having bulging abdominal walls with similar amounts of subcutaneous, fat, and similar amounts of skin laxity. There’s no point in seeing results from patients who had different kinds of disease or had a different body types compared to yours. 
Being shown a handful of preselected images, representing the best results of a providers career is insufficient to get a clear understanding of an average results look like or how many of each procedure anyone surgeon has actually done. You should ask providers to show you examples of excellent outcomes, average outcomes, and outcomes that did not turn out as they had hoped. Providers may be apprehensive to show you anything but their best results. You need to be a little insistent make sure that they show you enough before and after pictures. For reference an experienced surgeon that should have no difficulty showing you at least 50 sets of before and after pictures of common procedures, like abdominal liposuction for a full tummy tuck. Delivering consistent quality liposuction results is more difficult than most people believe. Of the two procedures, there’s more variation in outcome based on the provider you choose when it comes to Liposuction. Anybody, considering Liposuction it should be far more selective than they ever thought necessary.Bing board-certified in plastic surgery with years of experience and overall good reputation does not mean that somebody has mastered Liposuction. Doing Liposuction well on a consistent basis including the ability to make accurate assessment and Deliver predictabl results is far more difficult than most people believe. The number of plastic surgeons are truly excellent at Liposuction is relatively small. 
There is, of course, variation in outcomes with tummy tuck results as well. When judging tummy tuck results look very carefully, and who gets the most natural looking belly buttons, with a very low sets car that follows an atomic contours, naturally unevenly on both sides.
Decision you make now will have an impact every day for the rest of your life. Now is the time to be selective and spend sufficient time and effort. I’m fighting the best providers and choosing the correct procedure.
Do not rush through this stage of the process.
Take your time and have lots of consultations.
When, in doubt, simply slow down and schedule another consultation.
Most plastic surgeons will probably tell you you need a full tummy tuck. There’s nothing wrong with choosing Liposuction, but don’t expect Liposuction to give you a result comparable to what a tummy tuck can.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

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