Can I achieve a flat stomach and rounder hips with liposuction? Currently 165 lbs (photos)

Question

For as long as I could remember my stomach has looked like this. This is what It's look like 132lb and now 165lb. Could it get flat with Lopo?

Elizabeth Kiwanuka, MD, PhD · Answer

The aesthetics of the core are based on four layers: skin, superficial fat, core muscles, and visceral fat. Visceral fat is also known as 'hidden' fat, and it is stored deep inside the belly around our organs. 
Liposuction helps to sculpt the core by decreasing the amount of superficial fat. However, all the layers must be considered to get a flat belly. The skin can be improved with nonsurgical skin tightening or with surgical removal. The superficial fat can be liposuctioned. The muscles can be strengthened by exercise, but if rectus diastasis is present, then surgery might be needed. The visceral fat can be reduced by making positive lifestyle changes.

Semih Yildiz, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

Liposuction can improve abdominal and waist contour, but it does not always create a completely flat stomach. In the visible photos, there appears to be lower abdominal fullness and waist/hip contour that may improve with liposuction, but photos cannot show how much is pinchable fat versus internal abdominal fat, muscle laxity, or loose skin.

If most of the fullness is subcutaneous fat and your skin has good elasticity, liposuction of the abdomen, flanks, and waist may give a smoother, flatter look. If there is significant loose skin, stretch-related skin changes, or abdominal muscle separation, a tummy tuck may be needed for a truly flatter result. Liposuction alone also does not make hips rounder; it can make the waist smaller, which may make the hips look more defined, but adding roundness usually requires fat transfer such as a BBL if you are a safe candidate. An in-person exam with a board-certified plastic surgeon is the best way to decide whether lipo alone, lipo plus fat transfer, weight optimization first, or a tummy tuck would match your goal.

Sean Yuan, MD, FACS · Answer

The condition of your stomach is related to your exaggerated lordosis, which results in a more pronounced projection of the buttocks, but also protrusion of your stomach. Even after liposuction, achieving a completely flat abdomen may not be possible. The shape of your hips are good alrady. If you desire even wider hips, you have the option of undergoing a fat transfer procedure to those areas.
Sean Yuan, MD

Stephen T. Greenberg, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Liposuction can help reduce you down a few inches along with a low carb diet and exercise.  You look to have some intra abdominal fat which is fat deep down under the abdominal wall muscles.  This is fat that can only be reduced with a low carb diet and exercise.  Flank areas are great areas to bring down with liposuction and of course coming across the belly to flatten it a bit more.  I would suggest speaking with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss your options.  Best of luck to you.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding if you can achieve a flat stomach and rounder hips with liposuction. If your stomach currently looks like this, you may be happy with liposuction results. However, your abdomen looks distended, which could be due to muscle weakness. The best option to fix the distended muscle is with a tummy tuck. I suggest you first get liposuction of the abdomen with fat transfer to your hips. After about 4 months of recovery, you can get stage 2: a tummy tuck. I hope this helps to answer your question regarding if you can achieve a flat stomach with liposuction.

Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery, and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

Dallas Buchanan, MD · Answer

Thank you for your pictures and questions. My short answer is no, you cannot likely achieve a flat stomach with liposuction alone. The shape and roundness of the abdominal wall is not determined by fat under the skin but rather fat inside the abdomen or the strength of the abdominal wall muscles and stretching. The only way to treat intra-abdominal fat is total body weight loss. You might be a reasonable candidate for liposuction but if you expect it to make your abdomen flat, you will be disappointed. 
Hope this helps!
Dallas Buchanan, MD
VIVIFY plastic surgery
Tampa, FL

Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello @Ke1203, thank ou for your question. The best way to go is a Tummy tuck, and it can be combine with liposculture for the best results. Because ea Tummy tuck would achieve tighten up your abdominal muscles with minimal scarring using our ASPA Technique , while lipoesculture molds the body extracting excess fat in the body contour. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez, MD FACS. American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science Member (IFATS), American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery member (SCCP).

Miguel Mota, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for posting. You will certainly get smaller with lipo and adding fat to you hips will make them rounder. This means that liposuction will make you flatter but not necessarily FLAT. Liposuction only treats excess fat that is above the muscle. Energy assisted liposuction like Liposuction with Vaser for example, will help with skin contraction. So the only issue that can be treated with liposuction is excess abdominal fat that is above the muscle wall. If energy assisted liposuction is performed we can achieve some degree of skin contraction.

The issue is that a patients tummy’s projection is dependent on the following factors: 
1. Fat and internal organs bellow the abdominal wall (bellow your abdominal muscles). Best treated with weight loss.
2. Muscle laxity or muscle separation, sometimes both. This happens because of pregnancy, gaining weight and or lack of exercise. Best treated with a tummy tuck with muscle repair.
3. Excess or lax skin. Best treated with a tummy tuck though some patients can get results with energy assisted liposuction.
4. Excess fat above the muscle. Best treated with Liposction.

I believe you would still benefit from liposuction even if your do not achieve complete flatness. But most patients that have excess skin and especially muscle separation will need a Tummy tuck in order to make them flat.

Best of luck,
Dr. Miguel Mota

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Ke1203,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

An exam is needed to know for sure, but the contour seen in the photos could either be from visceral/internal fat or muscle wall laxity.  If it is visceral fat the way to address it is weight loss.  It cannot be corrected with a tummy tuck or liposuction.  If it is muscle wall laxity, the improvement is through a tummy tuck.  The result would be the flatter, tighter tummy you are wanting.  See a board certified plastic surgeon near you to learn more.

Can I achieve a flat stomach and rounder hips with liposuction? Currently 165 lbs (photos)

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