Does Liposuction to the Upper Abdomen Prior to a Full Tummy Tuck Give a Better Result?

In some cases the tummy tuck will "unfurl" the fat in the upper abdomen and treat this roll as well. However, liposuction is discouraged with the tummy tuck in the areas you mention. Therefore I tend to perform the liposuction at a later date if needed.

Getting the best results with a tummy tuck is a team effort between you and your Plastic Surgeon. Many patients desiring this surgery have the combination of a too thick layer of fat across the abdomen in addition to the laxity of the skin and underlying muscular wall. The first step is to achieve a high level of fitness and to be near your ideal body weight. A starting point is to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than 30 and preferably less than 25 before having surgery. Some patient who reach this goal still have disproportionate amounts of fat on their abdomen and in most cases liposuction will be recommended either before a tummy tuck or during the tummy tuck procedure.

Each Plastic Surgeon will have their own recommendations as to whether the liposuction is best done in separately or as a single procedure. Although it has been shown to be safe to combine Liposuction of the upper abdomen at the time of a tummy tuck, this may increase of risk of complications such as seroma and delayed wound healing. Newer laser liposuction techniques such as SmartLipo are not recommended to be done at the time of a tummy tuck because of the heat delivered into the tissues.

There is no "recipe" that works for all patients so get a couple of opinions from Board Certified Plastic Surgeons to determine what will work best for you. Remember, that getting fit before your surgery will improve your results and lower your risk of complications.

Dr. Mosher