Skin only tummy tuck with local anesthesia? (Photo)

Hello gentle 259841,
Thank you for your question about undergoing a skin-only tummy tuck under local anesthesia, and congratulations on your significant weight loss. Based on your history and photos, it sounds like you're a candidate for abdominoplasty.
Given that muscle plication (tightening of the abdominal muscles) does not appear to be necessary in your case, a skin-only tummy tuck could potentially be performed under local anesthesia. This approach may be less common and can be slightly uncomfortable, but it is technically feasible.
However, it's important to note that most plastic surgeons typically recommend general anesthesia for a tummy tuck. This is due to the duration and extent of the procedure, which, in your case, is expected to take around four hours. General anesthesia ensures patient comfort and immobility during the surgery, which can be crucial for the precision and success of the procedure.
Suppose you choose to proceed under local anesthesia. In that case, it's vital to understand the implications, including the possibility of discomfort during the procedure and the importance of having an experienced surgical team.
The surgery would likely be outpatient, allowing you to return home the same day. Postoperative care is crucial, and you should plan for minimal activity for the next 2 to 3 weeks to ensure proper healing.
I recommend discussing these options thoroughly with a board-certified plastic surgeon. They can provide detailed information on the pros and cons of local versus general anesthesia for your specific case and help you make an informed decision.
Good luck with your decision and your surgery. I hope this information has been helpful to you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Based on your photos, it looks like you would be a candidate for skin removal only if that is what you desire. However, I do not recommed doing the surgery under local anesthesia. The amount of local anesthetic needed to perform the surgery could lead to lidocaine toxicity.

Thank you for your inquiry and congratulations on your weight loss! You have a lot of skin that would need to be removed. This would not be recommended under local anesthesia. We would love to help you reach your goals. Schedule a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon!

Dear Gentle259841,
based on your photos, you look like a good candidate for a TT. Full tummy tuck should tighten your abdominal muscles and remove the excess skin. Flanks liposuction would give you a better shape. I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon because only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thank you for the question. Because the abdomen is a large area, it can be difficult to get the anesthetic effect under local alone. I don't perform local-only abdominal skin removal, but I've seen other surgeons do it, and the patients are usually uncomfortable during the process. Your procedure, under general, would take 2 hours or less and local anesthetic can be placed at the same time for long-acting pain control afterwards.

Hi,
Congratulations on losing the weight. You can certainly get panniculectomy which would remove your skin only. This would need general anesthesia and you will need vertical and horizontal incisions to remove all the excess skin. You will so need new belly button position as well. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Yes, it is possible to have a skin only tummy tuck and it can be done with local tumescent anesthesia and oral sedation. No drains needed and down time is very reasonable. You’ll notice the vertical rims of skin when bending over, and this will likely require a vertical scar (fleur-de-lis) technique to completely tighten the skin. Thanks for the inquiry.

Congratulations on losing the weight and keeping it off. It is common for stubborn fat to be attached to loose skin, which is probably one of the reasons why skin-only tummy tucks are rare. However, they are certainly not impossible to do. However, chances are, the procedure would be performed under general anesthesia.

Congratulations on your impressive weight loss! From the submitted photos the safer way to address the loose abdominal skin is through a tummy tuck under general anesthesia. The surgical area is too large to address under local anesthesia. See a board certified plastic surgeon near you to learn more.

The problem with local anesthesia is that you have a large area that needs to be injected and this may exceed the safe amount of local anesthetic that can be used. The number is 15 mg per kilogram of weight of Lidocaine with epinephrine. It would take a sufficient amount of anesthesia to do your entire abdomen. I recommend you do this under general anesthesia instead.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.