Can surgery help with a high waist/short torso situation? (Photo)

Question

I'm 112 pounds and 5 foot 7 but no matter what I do I have a really thick waist (between 26-27 inches). it's not so much fat, more like my hip bones come up pretty high and my rib cage comes down low, so all my organs are smushed in my belly. i'd love to have a narrow waist - is there anything surgical I can do?

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Hello.
Great question. Thank you for your picture. Based on your image, it appears you may benefit from liposuction and perhaps some skin tightening. Please visit a board certified plastic surgeon for a detailed surgical plan to achieve your desired results.

Dhaval M. Patel, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question & photo. Your expectations and health will dictate the best procedure(s) for you. I suggest a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to go over the options that best address your goals.  Best of luck!
Dr Dhaval Patel
Double Board Certified
Plastic Surgeon
Chicago
Hoffman Estates 
Oakbrook 
Orland Park

Emmanuel Mallol Cotes, MD · Answer

Thanks for the question. 
In this regard, I recommend you waist and back Liposculpture, getting better curves especially in the waist, improving your body contour.
Respectfully,
Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question, you need a formal evaluation by an expert in body shaping and contouring to determine what is best. Traditional liposuction awake and smart liposuction are old methods that do very poorly for tightening skin or or contouring. Small problem areas can be improved slightly by these methods. The best in body contouring not only removes fat with energy devices like VASER ultrasound but also internally heats the skin with radiofrequency devices such as Renuvion (J-Plasma), InMode BodyTite, and ThermiRF to heat the undersurface of the skin and tighten it at the same time as fat removal. These combinations are called 4D HI-DEF VASER Liposuction and can only be done by a well-trained body contouring specialist. At the same time, fat should be harvested and purified, with PRP and stem cells added, and then injected into muscles, indentations and cellulite to get body shaping and contouring. Overall, you need a full assessment, but simple liposuction alone will not tighten skin and needs a combination of various methods -- fat removal, skin tightening, defining, fat grafting, skin removal -- to get the best in body contouring and body sculpting. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer.

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. Based on your photographs, you are a great candidate for waistline contouring liposuction of your abdomen, flanks, and lower back.  This can greatly improve your overall shape with a smaller waist.  Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results. 
 
 Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.  FACS

Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

David Hansen, MD · Answer

Liposuction of the abdomen and sides would bring your waist line in some and be so worth it. In 2 days you are back to work and in 1 week you can be at the gym again.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Thriving6251,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Based on your photos, it looks like you would benefit from a liposuction. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to 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

Alex Campbell, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. You could do some liposuction to refine your figure and get rid of the stubborn fat on your abdomen. That said, the shape of your body and waist are is defined by your genetics and there's only little that can be done to change it.Liposuction is a very powerful technique in the right hands, and can have dramatic results in a variety of areas and a in a variety of patients. You definitely have to choose your surgeon correctly and make sure that he/she has the training and experience to meet your goals with absolute safety.  A key quality indicator is Board Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  Don’t settle for less than a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with specialized expertise in this procedure.

Daniel Zeichner, MD · Answer

Hi and welcome to our forum!
Your musculature and skeletal framework limit what liposuction can achieve. Using weight and height information, your BMI (body mass index equals weight in
kg / square of height in meters) is 17.54, considered underweight. One photograph at a distance does not provide enough information to determine a proper gameplan.  I cannot tell from the photo if there are localized repositories of fat present in the flanks or if there is underlying bone. 
Visit a board certified plastic surgeon for in-person evaluation and discussion. 
Best wishes...

Johnson C. Lee, MD · Answer

Thank you for your photos. Depending on how much fat you have on your flanks and sides, you may still be able to narrow down your waist a bit further. This will require an in-office examination to evaluate your anatomy. Unfortunately, bone and muscle cannot be moved to create a more narrow waist. Hope this helps!Johnson C. Lee, MD
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

Can surgery help with a high waist/short torso situation? (Photo)

Answers (12)