How do Some Women Have a Hourglass Shape after TT/Lipo but Others Don't?

When surgeons perform liposuction and tummy tucks they are limited by the patient's anatomy. If your bone and muscle structure allows for an hourglass figure, then you can expect that as a result. For those that want the hourglass figure but don't have that anatomical shape naturally, the surgeon can sculpt in ways to enhance certain contours, or even sometimes use fat grafting to give a curvier result.

It is typically based on your natural shape before surgery. If you have a natural hourglass shape, then a tummy tuck can enhance this and make it easier to see. If you don’t, some sculpting can be performed along with bringing together separated abdominal muscles, but this can only do so much.

Dear PorchiaD,
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

Thank you for sharing your question. Ultimately the final shape is dependent on the patient's underlying muscle and bony anatomy - pelvic height, width, distance to rib cage, etc. Hope this helps.

The final shape is due mostly to the patients anatomy vs the surgeons ability. Any good liposuction surgeon may achieve an hourglass shape on a patient provided that the ribs, muscles and hip bones are a proper orientation.
Some patients who gained significant weight bring in photos of themselves decades ago at much lower weight. The chest and abdominal/pelvic cavities can change greatly with large or extended weight gains and thus, their old shape is unobtainable. A physical exam answers this questions pre-operatively.
Best wishes.
Dr. Taranow