I don't want a tummy tuck. Is a tummy tuck REALLY my only option? (Photo)

Question

I had a consultation last week & I originally wanted Coolsculpting & breast implants. After I saw the Dr, he recommended a tummy tuck. I am well aware of the extra skin under my belly button I have had 2 kids. I actually was little offended that this was I the only option presented to me since I ONLY have stretch marks under my belly button. i don't care about my extra skin, I dont want a new belly button, I don't want my muscles messed with, I dont want a scar and I cant do that much down time.

Gary Lawton, MD, FACS · Answer

If you do not want a tummy tuck then you should definitely not have one.  Tumescent liposuction could be used to give you an excellent result.  Cool sculpting will not give you the results you are looking for, but will cost you a substantial amount, be painful and inconvenient, and ultimately disappointing.  If you had a bad experience with the plastic surgeon, find another one.

Alejandro Nogueira, MD · Answer

Don't admit a tummy tuck, you are not a case for it, do the breast implants so happily wished and if you wish to slim down your tummy a liposucion... or just nothing and center on the breast implants.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Liposuction may be reasonable to give you a smaller waist and make you look better in clothes.  I
would search for the board certified plastic surgeon who you feel is
most likely to give you the best results and who performs hundreds of
these procedures each year. I would look at patient reviews as well as
before and after photos on that surgeon's website.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Thomas Trevisani, MD · Answer

Based on your photos- you appear to be a good candidate for abdominoplasty with liposuction of flanks.  Liposuction alone will not remove your excess skin, and will not tighten your muscles. In fact, you will prob end up with more loose skin after liposuction alone.

Ram Kalus, MD, FACS · Answer

Remember that you are together with your plastic surgeon in charge of your care. We can advise you as to what we think is the best treatment option to achieve the result you are hoping for, beauty are the ultimate decider if this is what you want or not. From the photo, it looks as though any of the liposuction options might result in an improvement for you, with minimal scars no larger than your pinky fingernail. Skin tightening is variable and depends on many factors. There are also some non-invasive technologies such as radio frequency that have shown some modest improvements, although those are rarely dramatic or permanent. Coolscultping needs to be carefully evaluated. Some patients report that it hurts, and it is not suitable for all patients, depending on how much of the roll the device can actually grasp between the jaws. If you were not satisfied with your initial consultation, I recommend that you seek a second opinion from a board certified plastic surgeon experienced in surgical as well as noninvasive options. Best of luck to you.

Edwin C. Pound, III, MD · Answer

Obviously, your doctor had the opportunity to examine you in person and I am only going by a picture, however, I would think that you might get a lot of improvement if you just do liposuction, especially if you add in SlimLipo or SmartLipo for better skin tightening.  This would not tighten up your stomach muscles or remove stretch marks but it might give you a flatter stomach without the long scar.

Ravi Somayazula, DO · Answer

Based on the pictures you have provided and your goals and expectations, I believe that you will have a very nice result with liposuction alone.I agree that cool sculpting will likely be as costly as liposuction without the optimal results liposuction can provide. If in 6 months you decide the excess skin is bothersome to you, you always have the option of having either a mini tuck or a full tummy tuck. Although, based on your comments I believe you will be satisfied with liposuction alone. I recommend seeing a board certified plastic surgeon with before and after photos and looking at patient reviews regarding that surgeon. Good LuckRegards,Dr. Ravi Somayazula

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Than consider multiple CoolSculpting session for the next 18 months but you may not achieve what surgery does. Might consider liposuction but the excess skin issue is of concern.

Gaurav Bharti, MD, FACS · Answer

Deciding on what surgical or non surgical intervention that will give you the best results to improve your abdomen totally depends on your overall goals, expectations, and willingness to have longer recover and or scars.  You are a candidate for multiple interventions.  The first thing that you need to make sure to do is to have have a clean healthy diet and aggressive exercise program before surgery and after surgery.  The next options is something like cool sculpt and liposuction only.  Both of these have limited effects on skin tightening and will not relieve bulge of the lower abdomen after kids.  The most aggressive treatment will be a tummy tuck which will involve removal of fat, skin, and tightening of the abdominal wall.  All of these options will make you look better and you should pick the one that you are most comfortable with.  Good luck!

Jason M. Petrungaro, MD, FACS · Answer

When you consult with a Plastic Surgeon, it is our job to guide you towards the procedure that will be best for you.  Everything must be taken into account, including your overall goals, what you are willing to have done, how much time you have to recover, and what you can afford in terms of surgeon's fees.Your surgeon obviously told you what he thought was best, but looking at your picture you are certainly a candidate for liposuction of the abdomen and flanks.  I agree with my colleagues that this will definitely slim down your belly and get rid of the fat below your skin, but you need to understand that you may end up with more loose skin.  Think of the skin of your belly and flanks as a bag filled with water.  The bag is plump and firm, but if you suck out all the water, the bag will look deflated.  Depending on your age there is a good chance that the skin will shrink back down to minimize the deflated look, but again, you should be ready to accept some loose skin.  Liposuction will not remove the stretch marks below your belly button.If you try the liposuction and it doesn't look good for you, it is possible to still get a tummy tuck in the right situation if your surgeon feels it is safe.  I would recommend consulting with another Plastic Surgeon to get another opinion.  Best of luck!

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