Liposuction, tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck - which procedure is best for me? (photo)

Hi BA032014,
Thank you for your question regarding the best procedure for tightening your stomach.

Thank you for your history and your picture. In the abdomen, there are three main structures that can be corrected with a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty. First is the rectus abdominal muscle. Usually, with weight gain and weight loss or pregnancy, the rectus muscle is stretched and then collapses. This can lead to a condition called rectus diastasis or RD. Patients with diastasis may need a tummy tuck.

A second reason that patients need a tummy tuck is excess fat of the abdominal wall. Some patients can have just liposuction of the abdomen and achieve good results. Other patients with excess abdominal fat need a formal tummy tuck.

The third reason that people need a tummy tuck is excess skin. If a person has excess skin of the abdomen, this requires removal of that excess skin. During a full tummy tuck, the bellybutton is corrected, and the pubic region is lifted and reduced.

In your statement, you mentioned that you have some diastasis and you did not want a full tummy tuck. You also said you did not want a perfectly flat tummy and that you just wanted some fat gone. If you only want some fat removed, then I would suggest liposuction. However, if you develop a significant amount of excess skin with your 10-pound weight loss, you may need a mini or full tummy tuck.

Most plastic surgeons would agree that your best results would be obtained with either a mini tummy tuck or a full tummy tuck. The mini tummy tuck should include muscle tightening from the incision to just underneath the belly button. The mini tummy tuck will just pull down the skin from the pubic region to the belly button.

If you develop a significant amount of excess skin with your 10-pound weight loss, a full tummy tuck may be required. The only way to correct your diastasis from the xiphoid to the belly button is by undergoing a full tummy tuck.

In conclusion, I would suggest you reassess your body after your weight loss. I hope my answer helps to clarify your question regarding whether you need liposuction, a tummy tuck, or a mini tummy tuck. Good luck.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS

Hello, my name is Dr Burko, and I am a Plastic Surgeon at SY Aesthetics in NYC. Based on your expectations of not wanting a perfectly flat abdomen, I do think that liposuction is an option in your case. Liposuction will only address the excess fat underneath your skin. It will not address your abdominal muscles and it won't flatten and tighten your abdomen.

Hello; from the photo, in the upper and lower abdomen fields; it looks like; you have fat. Nevertheless, your skin quality; unfortunately, it cannot be understood. If your skin quality is sufficient; I recommend for you Vaserlipo and Renuvion J plasma methods. Thus, you will get rid of from your excess fat; it also tightens for your loose skin.