Lower abdomen not flat after tummy tuck with lipo, botched? (Photo)

Dear Celebrated813366,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what is wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hello Celebrated813366. Thank you for your question regarding the appearance of your lower abdomen following a Brazilian tummy tuck with liposuction to your flanks and upper abdomen.

Thank you for sharing your history and the photos. It's understandable to feel concerned when the results do not meet your expectations. However, it's important to consider a few factors when evaluating the outcome of a tummy tuck, especially only 5 months post-surgery.

Based on the information you provided, it sounds like your surgeon has ruled out any complications and attributes the remaining fullness to residual skin and fat. While it might seem frustrating, achieving a perfectly flat lower abdomen is sometimes challenging, particularly if there is visceral fat (fat behind the muscle) that liposuction cannot address.

Your surgeon's advice to lose a bit more weight is aimed at reducing this type of fat, which can indeed help flatten your abdomen further. However, if you feel that losing more weight would make you appear too skinny elsewhere, this is a valid concern and worth discussing further with your surgeon.

Here are a few points to consider:

Patience and Healing: Five months is still relatively early in the recovery phase, and your body may continue to change slightly as it heals completely.
Revision Considerations: If the issue persists and is primarily due to excess skin or superficial fat, a revision might be considered. However, as your surgeon mentioned, further liposuction could lead to additional loose skin, which might require more extensive corrective surgery.
Non-Surgical Options: Exploring non-surgical options to tighten the skin or further reduce fat (such as radiofrequency treatments, ultrasound therapy, or cryolipolysis) might be alternatives if minor improvements are needed without further surgery.
It's crucial to maintain open communication with your surgeon and perhaps seek a second opinion if you continue to feel unsatisfied. Another professional might provide a different perspective or reassure you about the steps to take next.

Overall, while the term "botched" is strong, it seems from your description and your surgeon's feedback that the surgery was technically successful without complications, but perhaps not fully aligned with your expectations for cosmetic results. Further dialogue with your surgeon will be key in deciding how to proceed to achieve a result you're happy with.

Good luck, and I hope you find a satisfactory resolution soon.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS
Plastic Surgeon

Your one photo with your arms raised is really not sufficient to determine what the problem is. Please submit full views of your abdomen from the front and both sides with arms down. Have someone else take your photos. Or go visit with another plastic surgeon.

More information is needed to determine if your results could be improved. From the limited photo it appears you may find improvement with further liposuction if there is excess subcutaneous fat. You will want to wait a little longer before considering revision surgery to allow healing to complete.