Lipoabdominoplasty Vs Regular Abdominoplasty for Post Pregnancy Body?

Question

Does it make a difference? I've had 3 kids and definitely need some help in my stomach area, but I'm not sure what procedure I would need to get my pre-baby figure back.

Stanley Okoro, MD · Answer

Lipoabdominoplasty is really the combination of well performed liposuction and abdominoplasty. It is an advanced tummy tuck technique that safely 
combines extensive liposuction with tummy tuck procedures in a way that 
achieves results far superior than those achievable by either procedure 
alone.

It offers a greatly improved abdominal appearance due to the 
aggressive liposuction and muscle tightening (if necessary), a shorter, less noticeable
 scar for many patients. There is less chance of "dog ear". In Atlanta, this is called the ATLTUCK. Lipoabdominoplasty is often combined with liposuction of hips and back. This combination provides an ideal cosmetic surgery 
solution after weight loss, pregnancy, or aging. Experience
 and training matters a lot during Lipoabdominoplasty. Non Plastic surgeons (cosmetic surgeons) 
tend to charge less than Plastic Surgeon. Below are other criteria to 
use when selecting a Plastic surgeon.Questions to ask (Answering NO is a big red flag)1) Are you a plastic surgeon? (Do you know difference between cosmetic surgeon & plastic surgeon)2) Are you board certified in Plastic Surgery?3) Will the procedure be performed at a fully accredited procedure room or ambulatory surgery center4) Do you have hospital privilege to perform liposuction and tummy tuck? Which Hospital?5) Do you offer complication insurance (it does happen, it better to be safe)The
 most important decision is to do your homework well. Any doctor can 
offer abdominoplasty. Its your duty to know who is doing your procedure. Good 
luck.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding the differences between lipoabdominoplasty and regular abdominoplasty after pregnancy. It’s hard to give you a specific recommendation without seeing photos or knowing more about your weight loss history, but based on what you've shared, a tummy tuck with liposuction of the flanks sounds like it could be a good option for restoring your pre-pregnancy figure.

Lipoabdominoplasty combines the benefits of a tummy tuck (removing excess skin and tightening the abdominal muscles) with liposuction to contour the flanks and remove stubborn fat. This can help achieve a more defined waist and smoother transitions between your abdomen and sides.

Regular abdominoplasty focuses primarily on removing excess skin and tightening the abdominal muscles, without addressing fat deposits in the surrounding areas. While this can still deliver excellent results, adding liposuction may enhance the overall contour, especially if you have excess fat in your flanks or love handles.

To give you the best recommendation, I encourage you to resubmit this question with photos and include details about your weight loss history. This will help determine whether lipoabdominoplasty or a regular tummy tuck would best meet your needs.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Ercan Karacaoglu, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

Every case is specific and the main goal of the surgeon is to act in accordance with the wish and expectations of the patient. is difficult to predict the necessary steps and the result without personal examination of the patient, but I often suggest my patients to have both procedures in one go, as liposuction by itself can not give the result of Tummy Tuck.In some cases good or satisfactory results after liposuction can be predicted. That means that the skin has good elasticity, which will help it to shrink down to the new size after liposuction. In this case we decide on liposuction alone, leaving the Tummy Tuck as a second option.But in many cases we have not much to expect. Generally it happens when the skin has already lost its retracting abilities, or in case the size before liposuction is big. The bigger was the size before, the less is the ability of the skin to shrink.Thus, the excess skin will spoil the final result of liposuction, so we try to discuss it with our patient beforehand and to learn his or her expectations.Every case is specific and the main goal of the surgeon is to act in accordance with the wish and expectations of the patient.I hope this helps

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Slim Liposuction is not an alternative but rather addresses a different problem than a TT. Liposuction is less invasive and quicker to recover from than a Tummy Tuck (abdominoplasty). This is because liposuction only involves removing fat from beneath your skin. Your body will cause the overlying skin to contract only to the degree it is capable, often leaving redundant skin which can be unsightly. In other words, you need good elasticity to get a good result.A Tummy Tuck involves removing redundant skin and tightening the underlying muscles. Sometimes liposuction is combined as needed with a Tummy Tuck for the best possible result. Your photos suggest that you probably are a candidate for a Tummy Tuck. The question is whether the shape of your abdomen is affected by an excess of fat, skin, muscle separation or laxity, or some combination thereof. This can only be determined by examination, so go ahead and consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Some of my patients elect to have liposuction first, and then opt for a Tummy Tuck if the results are not satisfying. See a board certified plastic surgeon to help guide you through the decision making process.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

Lipoabdominoplasty is good to get excess fat that can't be reached with regular excision techniques. It is great to give your body a better contour. After three children, a tummy tuck may be the right one for you however you should see a PS for an assessment.

Brent Moelleken, MD · Answer

This is actually an easy question to answer, if the patient is looking for the best result.
Liposuction removes fat.  It does not remove extra skin.  It does not tighten the fascia.  So if there is a problem with the fascia, it should be tightened.  This requires a tummy tuck.  If there is loose skin, this requires a tummy tuck.
Modern tummy tucks come in many shapes and sizes and can be designed to treat patients with mild, moderate or severe problems of the fat, skin and fascia.  Most modern tummy tucks also incorporate liposuction to some extent.
Just don't fall for liposuction alone fixing the fascia or the loose skin.  It only removes fat.
A board certified plastic surgeon with an interest in abdominoplasty procedures can guide you through these issues.  The anatomy is actually amazingly easy to understand if it is correctly pointed out.

Vladimir Grigoryants, MD · Answer

Lipoabdominoplasty is a much better procedure if there is fat excess in addition to skin excess. This advanced procedure combines abdominal/flank liposuction and tummy tuck techniques allowing to achieve much better results than the conventional tummy tuck in many patients. I switched to this procedure over two years ago. I like the results I get with lipoabdominoplasty much more than with a conventional tummy tuck.

Karen M. Horton, MD · Answer

If you are a mother who has completed her childbearing, congratutions both on your wonderful family you have created and to entering the next stage of motherhood!

	Many women find their abdomens have permanent changes following pregnancy, including stretch marks, loss of abdominal tone, excess skin and extra fat deposits that have accumulated since having babies.

	Most mothers do not have complete recovery of their bodies after children.

	Moms often seek rejuvenation of their tummy areas once they have finished having kids.

	A "mommy makeover" surgical procedure should only be considered at least 6 months after the birth of your last child so that your body has the chance to recover as much as possible and to enable you to achieve as much as you can on your own, with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

	Two main Plastic Surgery procedures apply to the post-pregnancy tummy:

	Liposuction will remove excess fat in areas that are stubborn to weight loss, such as the abdomen, flanks, pubic area, and thighs. Liposuction will not address excess skin or stretch marks, and will not help to tighten abdominal tone.

	An abdominoplasty or "tummy tuck" addresses both the inside and the outside of the abdominal wall, in a three-dimensional manner:

	Tummy tuck surgery not only removes excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen (including some stretch marks), it tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall through "rectus plication" which "corsets" the fascia overlying your abdominal muscles together in the midline and truly decreases the diameter of your waist from the inside!

	Depending on your particular situation, either liposuction or a tummy tuck, or both, may be recommended to achieve your specific goals.

	Be sure to consult with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon with specific experience in these types of surgeries to learn more and to evaluate all of your options.

Carlin Vickery, MD (retired) · Answer

Following 3 pregnancies, it is likely that you have both stretched out lax skin as well as stretched out abdominal wall fascia. The fascia is the tough fiber like covering of the abdominal muscles which like a Spanx garnet, keep the muscles in place and offer core support. A regular abdominalplasty will not only remove and reposition the lax skin, but also will tighten the lax fascia returning the muscles to their pre-pregnancy position. Most women require this tightening to return core muscle strength. A much smaller group of women can have selective liposuction together with a more limited resection of lax, lower abdominal wall skin. You will need to be examined by a qualified plastic surgeon to know for sure which procedure is best for you.

David B. Reath, MD (retired) · Answer

Contouring the abdomen of women who have had children has always been a favorite operation of mine. While I have always been pleased with the results of a traditional (e.g. standard, regular) abdominoplasty, about three years ago I switched to primarily doing lipoabdominoplasties, and have never been happier with the results. I am able to achieve results with this operation that are simply not possible with a traditional abdominoplasty. Surgeons who are performing this operation understand how different this is from the regular abdominoplasty.
This operation was developed by group of Brazilian and French plastic surgeons. I saw them demonstrate this technique at the Baker Gordon meeting in Miami, but they also speak at other meetings in this country. I have included a link with more information below.
I truly believe that for most women, this is a better operation. And, there is no doubt in my mind that I can achieve results with the lipoabdominoplasty which are simply not possible with a traditional abdominoplasty.

Let me explain the difference. In a traditional abdominoplasty, the primary goal is skin removal and muscle repair or repositioning. Some surgeons will incorporate some liposuction in the flanks or sides of the abdomen, but this does not equal a lipoabdominoplasty. In the traditional operation, all the skin of the abdominal wall is lifted up off the muscles, and this changes the blood flow to the skin. It is not safe to liposuction the skin that is lifted up because this can cause severe problems with healing. The lifting up of the skin is necessary in order to move it and stretch it downward in order to remove the excess skin of the lower abdomen.
 
The approach of the lipoabdominoplasty is very different. First, liposuction of the entire abdominal wall is performed, so that the fat layer can be thinned out beneath all the skin of the abdomen. This liposuction loosens the skin in such a way that all the skin of the abdomen does not need to be lifted up in order to remove the excess skin. Then, a very narrow segment of the skin in the midline of the abdomen is lifted up to expose the muscles that need to be repaired. But almost all of the skin that is left behind has not been lifted up. Instead, the fat beneath it has been thinned out with liposuction.
 
The result of this is a much improved contour of the abdomen through the liposuction. And, because a better blood supply has been preserved to the skin, there is a lower incidence of healing problems.

Lipoabdominoplasty Vs Regular Abdominoplasty for Post Pregnancy Body?

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