Lipoabdominoplasty: Suitability & Costs

Lipoabdominoplasty is an advanced tummy tuck technique that safely combines extensive liposuction with tummy tuck. It achieves results far superior than those achievable by either procedure alone. I have been performing lipoabdominoplasty procedure for the last 5 years. Patients love their sculpted tummies.  It offers a greatly improved abdominal appearance due to the aggressive liposuction and muscle tightening and more security for riskier patients such as smokers or post weight loss patients. This is a technique advised for more experienced plastic surgeons as it requires combining liposuction and tummy tuck. The number of plastic surgeons employing lipoabdominoplasty in the United State is growing. It sounds like you are a great candidate for this procedure, however, this can only be determined after a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon


 

Hello, and thank you for your question regarding whether lipoabdominoplasty would be a good fit for you, as well as your request for cost estimates in the Orlando and Tampa, Florida areas.

Based on your description — a "pouch" and some fat rolls, but tight abdominal muscles — you sound like an excellent candidate for lipoabdominoplasty. Lipoabdominoplasty is a modern evolution of the traditional tummy tuck where liposuction is combined with skin removal and tightening. It allows for better sculpting of the waist, upper abdomen, and flanks compared to a standard tummy tuck alone. It also preserves more blood supply to the tissues, which can mean fewer complications, better healing, and a more natural, contoured result.

Since you haven't been pregnant and don't feel much muscle laxity, it's possible you may not need a full muscle plication, which makes lipoabdominoplasty even more ideal. However, this would need to be confirmed during a physical consultation. Sometimes a very mild muscle separation is present even if it’s not obvious from the outside.

As for cost, in the Orlando and Tampa areas, you can expect lipoabdominoplasty pricing to range approximately between $10,000 to $18,000, depending on:

The surgeon’s experience and board-certifications

Whether the surgery is performed in a hospital, surgical center, or private facility

The amount of liposuction needed (minimal vs. extensive contouring)

Anesthesia fees, facility fees, and compression garments included or not

Geographic location and practice reputation

Always be cautious of prices that seem "too good to be true." A true lipoabdominoplasty by an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon is worth the investment for your safety and best results. Also, not all surgeons perform lipoabdominoplasty — some only offer traditional tummy tucks with minimal or no liposuction — so make sure you specifically ask about their technique during consultations.

Thank you again for reaching out. You’re asking all the right questions — and with the right surgeon, lipoabdominoplasty can be truly transformative.

Wishing you the very best on your journey to feeling even more confident and comfortable in your body!

Sincerely,
Dr. J. Timothy Katzen, MD, MBA, FASMBS, FICS
(Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons; Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery; Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, and RealSelf Hall of Fame)

Before moving forward, make sure you consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in lipoabdominoplasty, review detailed before-and-after photos, and check verified patient reviews. Surgeon experience with both liposuction and tummy tucks is essential for the best outcome.

Thank you for your question. To provide a valid medical opinion I will need to see pictures of you body from different angles. I would suggest to be treated by board certified plastic surgeon with experience in this procedure, to get the best desired results.
Respectfully,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

The benefits of choosing a lipoabdominoplasty over a traditional abdominoplasty are vast and varied and include:*Better shaping of the abdomen: combining liposuction with a tummy tuck can achieve a more uniform contour of the treated area.*Less postoperative complications: precise surgical technique allows for the preservation of at least 80% of the abdominal wall’s blood supply due to fewer blood vessels affected, and the majority of lymphatic vessels are also preserved. *Reduced chance of postoperative numbness: less trauma to the targeted area and less disruption in blood supply mean that the risk of numbness is reduced. *Smaller scar: while abdominoplasty alone tends to require a large incision, the length of the scar can often be shortened to some degree by applying liposuction. Liposuction only requires an incision just large enough for a cannula, typically just a few millimetres in length. Through this incision the removal of fat is possible without more extensive incisions, minimizing scarring.*Minimal bruising, pain and swelling with an overall quicker recovery time. 

The best procedure for you is the Bikini Tummy Tuck. The harmonious combination of a full tummy tuck and liposculpture of the waist and back areas. Areas of emphasis are the incision placement (fits under a bikini), a natural looking belly button, and superior liposuction.

Although the liposuction will be of tremendous benefit, your result will ultimately be determined by the quality of your skin. IF the skin is lax, you may be left with redundant skin. However, this may be a reasonable option prior to childbirth and then consider a full tummy tuck following completion of pregnancy.

Hi there- I have found the lipoabdominoplasty technique to be an excellent option for selected patients who have good (but not great) skin tone and excess fatty tissue. The outcomes we have achieved cannot be denied- the procedure works and is safe. As far as whether this is the best option for you in particular, it is difficult to say and would depend in large part on your exact goals for appearance, your examination (and particularly an examination of your skin), and your preference for postoperative experience. I prefer to perform this procedure with the VASER, as I believe there is less trauma to the blood supply (an important consideration), and that the outcome is better. In my practice, the costs will vary a bit based on how long the procedure will take, but range between $5500 and $8000 inclusive (surgeon's fee, anesthesia fee, facility fee, VASER rental fee, garments, etc).

Tummy tucks are an extremely popular effective way to contour the abdomen. In our practice, we perform liposuction with every tummy tuck. Liposuction is an essential technique that we used to access fat and areas of the abdomen that we would not be able to do with a tummy tuck alone. Your best bet is to be evaluated by a board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate the different layers of your tissue and determine what combination of procedures will help you meet your goals. It sounds as if you would benefit from tummy tuck of the abdominal wall and for resection of tissue in your central lower abdomen.

To learn more about tummy tucks, see photos, and help you decide which one is best for you, please visit us at the link below:

If you have signficant skin laxity you may be better off with a tummy tuck. If your skin quality is good you may be a candidate for liposuction.

Hello,
You can speak in generalizations online. Without examining you however, a specific recommendation is not really all that meaningful. Some women who have not had children still benefit from a muscular repair. A full muscular repair is one of the defining characteristics of a full tummy tuck as opposed to "lesser" tummy tucks.
Also be careful of your terminology. Some surgeons consider a lipoabdominoplasty as a different operation than others. This can make comparing "apples to apples" more difficult.