Skin/Fat over ribs - what are my options to improve this area? (Photo)

Body contouring procedures have become increasingly popular and can help men and women recontour their body in adulthood. If you have stubborn areas of fatty accumulation that are more resistant to diet and exercise, you may be a candidate for body sculpting liposuction performed at Kare Plastic Surgery in Santa Monica. Liposuction remains one of the most popular procedures in cosmetic surgery and allows patients to slim and toned their waist line, back, arms, and legs using this minimally invasive and highly coveted procedure.

Among the most common areas to have liposuction performed is the waist line and stomach area. This makes liposuction an excellent alternative to a tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck. If you have had fluctuations in weight, you may benefit by recontouring the waistline and abdomen using liposuction. Patient with excessive skin in the lower abdomen from childbirth or from excessive weight loss may not respond well to liposuction because the extra skin will continue to hang. In these patients, and abdominal plasty procedure is preferred.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Thanks for your question. Based on your photos, it looks like you may have a combination of skin laxity (loose skin) and some excess subcutaneous fat (pinchable fat). The crease on your abdomen can be a consequence from both of those things. I believe you would be a great candidate for a combination of liposuction and a tummy tuck. The fat that we obtain with liposuction can definitely be transferred to your breasts. Don't hesitate to contact us and schedule a virtual consultation.

Hi Intelligent273256! That’s a great question. This area between the upper abdomen and lower rib cage is a common concern, especially after pregnancies or weight changes.

What you’re describing sounds like a combination of localized fat and skin laxity, which can persist even at a healthy weight. Treatment options depend on whether the issue is mainly fat, skin, or both:

If it’s mostly fat, liposuction can smooth and contour the area effectively. If there’s loose skin, a tummy tuck may be needed to remove excess tissue and tighten the area.

In many cases, the fat removed from this region can be purified and transferred to the breasts as part of a fat grafting procedure, as long as the amount and quality of the fat are adequate.

A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon will help determine the exact cause of the crease and the best approach for your anatomy and goals.