What exactly is a two stage tummy tuck with lipo? Is this 2 separate surgeries?

The option of performing a full liposuction procedure of your abdomen, hips, and back followed at a later date, usually more than 6 months later, by a tummy tuck is given to some patients who have a lot of fat in those areas as well as a lot of loose skin and muscle weakness. Some liposuction can be done during a tummy tuck but it can't be done as aggressively as when it's done as a separate procedure. I hope this helps!Thomas Taylor, MD, FACS

Thank you for your question. You are right, they are two separate surgeries. Some patients are not great candidates for a tummy tuck with liposuction in a one stage procedure. It often ends up with less than desirable results and with a very long scar. I personally, like to do the liposuction and sculpting first. This allows me to remove all the fat from the abdominal wall without compromising the blood supply. Often, I find that in these patients I need to fat graft the buttocks for shaping. The abdominoplasty is  done 4-6 months later as the second stage with possible further lipo sculpting. This will end up with the best body shape and much shorter abdominoplasty scar. Some surgeons do this in reverse, to me it doesn't make sense. To do an abdominoplasty with limited liposuction and do a second liposuction later, can lead to more loose skin which needs to be addressed by a third surgery.See a board certified plastic surgeon experienced in advanced body sculpting techniques for an in person consultation/evaluation. Good luck.