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

Lipo or tummy tuck or both?

For ladies who have never had children, or for those fortunate women who have not developed an abdominal bulge after childbirth, lipo is just the ticket.  Often local anesthesia or IV sedation are possible.

Lipo removes fat.  It doesn't tighten the deep layer (fascia).  Lipo doesn't fix hernias.  Lipo doesn't remove extra skin.

There are many types of short incision tummy tucks for ladies who have had children, maybe have some fat but also have a loose deep layer.

The question you should ask yourself is not how can I get a pretty good result, but how can I get the best result.

Generally patients who have a lot of extra weight they just can't shake should have lipo first.  Aggressive lipo with a tummy tuck is not a good combination and has a higher complication rate for the patient.

Thank you for your question. It is hard to provided with a valid medical opinion without photos.  I would suggest to be treated by board certificated plastic surgeon with experience in this procedure, to get the best desired results.
Kind Regards,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

Liposuction may be performed before or after an abdominoplasty. Some plastic surgeons do both together but it is important to asks about the surgical risks of doing these two procedures at the same time. You need an examination to determine if you are a candidate for either the abdominoplasty, liposuction or both.

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.

The problem with just doing a tummy tuck is that it doesn't address the fullness of the upper abdomen.  You will almost always need to liposuction the upper abdomen, either prior to, during or later.  Ideally you would want your surgeon to do it at the same time as the tummy tuck to get it all done at once.