I just went for a consultation and the doctor told me that a tummy tuck wouldn't help the "rounded" appearance of my tummy, even with a tummy tuck. Another plastic surgeon told me that he could give me "an iron flat" abdomen with liposuction, muscle repair and tummy tuck. I am not sure what to believe. If he is right, why did the other surgeon tell me he could get an iron flat result?
Answer: How does a plastic surgeon determine if fat is above or below the abdominal muscle? Great question! I can understand how these two recommendations could leave you confused. Me too! They are completely opposite and only one of them is right! There are simple tests to get some clues as to who is giving you the real truth and who is telling you what you want to hear. First, when you are resting, on your back, is your stomach basically flat, or do you have a rounded belly that is still bulging? If you are basically flat, then muscle separation or weakness is the likely problem and a tummy tuck with muscle repair will help.( Remember though that your surgeon can only stitch the muscles back together. He cannot make them contract! You have to do that by sucking it in. Only with good posture and resting muscle tone can your tummy stay flat.) If you find your belly remains rounded, try sitting up, thereby tightening those " abs". if you can pinch a thick fatty layer that moves on top of the muscle, then liposuction and tummy tuck surgery will help. If you cannot pinch it and move it, then that fat is very likely internal fat around the organs. It cannot be improved by anything other than good old sensible diet and exercise leading to weight loss, Prior to tummy tuck surgery. You can still have that flat stomach, it will just take more work; but if you do it, your sense of accomplishment and self empowerment will far surpass even your wildest expectations! I see it every day. So go for it.....and start today!
Helpful 9 people found this helpful
Answer: How does a plastic surgeon determine if fat is above or below the abdominal muscle? Great question! I can understand how these two recommendations could leave you confused. Me too! They are completely opposite and only one of them is right! There are simple tests to get some clues as to who is giving you the real truth and who is telling you what you want to hear. First, when you are resting, on your back, is your stomach basically flat, or do you have a rounded belly that is still bulging? If you are basically flat, then muscle separation or weakness is the likely problem and a tummy tuck with muscle repair will help.( Remember though that your surgeon can only stitch the muscles back together. He cannot make them contract! You have to do that by sucking it in. Only with good posture and resting muscle tone can your tummy stay flat.) If you find your belly remains rounded, try sitting up, thereby tightening those " abs". if you can pinch a thick fatty layer that moves on top of the muscle, then liposuction and tummy tuck surgery will help. If you cannot pinch it and move it, then that fat is very likely internal fat around the organs. It cannot be improved by anything other than good old sensible diet and exercise leading to weight loss, Prior to tummy tuck surgery. You can still have that flat stomach, it will just take more work; but if you do it, your sense of accomplishment and self empowerment will far surpass even your wildest expectations! I see it every day. So go for it.....and start today!
Helpful 9 people found this helpful
Answer: Removable fat Generally, tummy tuck and liposuction can remove "pinchable" fat. This means that the fat is located underneath the skin rather than surrounding your internal organs (visceral). If you can grab your fat, then it can be removed. Muscle repair is necessary when the abdominal muscles have separated. This can be checked by lying flat on your back and doing a crunch. If you can fit more than a couple fingers in between the natural vertical ridge down your stomach near your belly button, then you may have separated ab muscles (diastasis recti).
Helpful
Answer: Removable fat Generally, tummy tuck and liposuction can remove "pinchable" fat. This means that the fat is located underneath the skin rather than surrounding your internal organs (visceral). If you can grab your fat, then it can be removed. Muscle repair is necessary when the abdominal muscles have separated. This can be checked by lying flat on your back and doing a crunch. If you can fit more than a couple fingers in between the natural vertical ridge down your stomach near your belly button, then you may have separated ab muscles (diastasis recti).
Helpful
May 22, 2014
Answer: SubQ or internal fat Here's a test you can do: lie down, and do an abdominal crunch, tensing up the rectus muscles.Now pinch your abdomen, lifting the fat that's above the contracted muscle. This is the layer that could potentially be treated with liposuction ("subcutaneous fat). Everything else is "internal" fat, which can not be treated with lipo.So, if you have a "beer belly" type shape, with lots of internal fat, but little subcutaneous fat, you're not going to able to get the flattening you want. Only diet and exercise works for internal fat.All the best,
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
May 22, 2014
Answer: SubQ or internal fat Here's a test you can do: lie down, and do an abdominal crunch, tensing up the rectus muscles.Now pinch your abdomen, lifting the fat that's above the contracted muscle. This is the layer that could potentially be treated with liposuction ("subcutaneous fat). Everything else is "internal" fat, which can not be treated with lipo.So, if you have a "beer belly" type shape, with lots of internal fat, but little subcutaneous fat, you're not going to able to get the flattening you want. Only diet and exercise works for internal fat.All the best,
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
May 21, 2014
Answer: How does a plastic surgeon determine whether there is fat above or below the abdominal muscle? Hi and thanks for your question. Understand that abdominal protrusion can be caused by external fat ( that which lies from the abdominal muscles and the skin and visceral fat ( that which surronds the intestine and other organs). A tummy tuck is meant to address the issue with the external fat. Liposuction also addresses this area.Visceral fat, however, is not amenable to either of these two cosmetic surgical procedures. Visceral fat is usually treated with weight reduction surgical or otherwise.We can usually tell the distribution of this fat by a simple pinch test of the fat. This ca give pretty good idea of how much fat is visceral and how much is external. I would strongly caution against expecting an "iron flat stomach". It's simply not realistic. After 29 years of performing tummy tucks, my approach is always to tell patients that they will look flatter than before but not completely flat. It is very important that the expectations of the patinet be in line with the surgeon's evaluation. It is counter productive to tell, a patient that they will be completely flat because it may raise the patient's expectations to a level simply not possible by surgery.I wish you the best in your journey and hope that these words have been helpful.
Helpful
May 21, 2014
Answer: How does a plastic surgeon determine whether there is fat above or below the abdominal muscle? Hi and thanks for your question. Understand that abdominal protrusion can be caused by external fat ( that which lies from the abdominal muscles and the skin and visceral fat ( that which surronds the intestine and other organs). A tummy tuck is meant to address the issue with the external fat. Liposuction also addresses this area.Visceral fat, however, is not amenable to either of these two cosmetic surgical procedures. Visceral fat is usually treated with weight reduction surgical or otherwise.We can usually tell the distribution of this fat by a simple pinch test of the fat. This ca give pretty good idea of how much fat is visceral and how much is external. I would strongly caution against expecting an "iron flat stomach". It's simply not realistic. After 29 years of performing tummy tucks, my approach is always to tell patients that they will look flatter than before but not completely flat. It is very important that the expectations of the patinet be in line with the surgeon's evaluation. It is counter productive to tell, a patient that they will be completely flat because it may raise the patient's expectations to a level simply not possible by surgery.I wish you the best in your journey and hope that these words have been helpful.
Helpful
May 18, 2014
Answer: How does a plastic surgeon determine whether there is fat above or below the abdominal muscle? If your belly protrudes and you have little subcutaneous fat (which you can pinch between your fingers), the protrusion is due to abdominal wall laxity or visceral fat.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA
Helpful
May 18, 2014
Answer: How does a plastic surgeon determine whether there is fat above or below the abdominal muscle? If your belly protrudes and you have little subcutaneous fat (which you can pinch between your fingers), the protrusion is due to abdominal wall laxity or visceral fat.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA
Helpful
