I Have Decided to Get Tummy Tuck; but I Was Told That I Have Visceral Fat? (photo)

Visceral (or inside) fat refers to the normal fat that surrounds the intestines and abdominal content. This can not be reduced with an abdominoplasty- only with weight reduction. Outside fat refers to fat within the skin layer- this can be be reduced with surgery.

Looking at your pictures, you have components of both and I agree with the other experts who feel that you should see an improvement with a tummy tuck. That being said, to get the best possible result, we would like to plicate (or tightenting) the abdominal muscles when possible. The issue of visceral fat has to do with the fact that if a patient has too much inside fat, the surgeon can not effectively plicate the muscles. A good rule of thumb is that when you lay down on your back, if your abdomen flattens, you will do well with a plication. If however your abdomen remains protuberant when flat, there is probably too much visceral fat to do an effective plication.

I encourage you to see a board-certified plastic surgeon who can fully evalaute you and make the best recommendation.

Visceral fat is fat within the abdominal cavity as opposed to the fat that you can feel in your abdominal wall, which is subcutaneous fat.  You would benefit from a new technique called Abdominoplasty with Mesh Reinforcement.  This technique has recently been in Plastic and Reconstructive Journal literature.  The advantage of this technique is the mesh will provide additional support, which will help you lose weight and maintain the reduced weight.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Visceral fat refers to the fat within the abdominal cavity all around your abdominal organs.  This type of fat can NOT be reduce with liposuction or a tummy tuck.  A plastic surgeon can pinch your subcutaeous fat (that fat just behind the skin but outside of the abdominal muscles) to get an idea of its thickness.  This will give some indication of the amount of reduction in overall girth that can be obtained by surgery.  If needed, a CT scan can measure the thickness of the subcutaeous fat and also document the amount of visceral fat.  Then you and your surgeon can discuss how much improvement this surgery may offer you.  However, only diet and exercise can reduce visceral fat, and you should remember that an abundance of visceral fat would still bulge forward after a tummy tuck, detracting from the surgical result.

You should expect significant improvement after your tummy tuck, especially if liposuction is performed at same time to give you better contour. The amount of visceral fat and integrity of your abdominal muscles will also affect your final result. To reduce visceral fat, you have to continue diet and exercise. I recommend patients start diet and exercises even before their tummy tuck surgery and continue once they recovered from surgery. This allows them to maintain the surgical result over time.

Best Wishes,

Stewart Wang, MD FACS, Wang Plastic Surgery

Yes, you have visceral fat.  Everyone does.  And the only way to reduce this fat is through weight loss.  However, you also have excess subcutaneous fat and skin laxity.  You are a candidate for a tummy tuck.  I would highly recommend liposuction of your abdomen and flanks at the same time.  If you don't, you'll look squared of in the hips and will have a persistent bulge in your upper tummy area.  But this has to be done carefully by an experienced plastic surgeon so as not to raise the risk of complications.  Looks like an old scar of your upper abdomen, which can sometimes lead to skin loss just below the scar after a tummy tuck.  The best option is the surgery and also some weight loss afterward to ge the best possible result.  The muscle tightening done at the time of the tummy tuck is helpful too.  I've attached a linke to my website in case you wish to read more.