I had a tummy tuck in 2020 and lost 10 lbs. What would you recommend for this roll on my hips? (Photo)

Hello MLK043 in Brooklyn, New York, and thank you for your question regarding your hip rolls and tummy tuck results.

Thank you for sharing your history and photos. While it is difficult to assess the presence of dog ears on your hips from the pictures, if you do have them, they can be easily corrected with a simple revision procedure in the office under local anesthesia.

Your primary concern seems to be the roll of fat on your hips. This issue is typically best addressed with liposuction of the hips. Liposuction can effectively remove excess fat, and the harvested fat can also be used for autologous fat transfer (AFT) if desired. This allows the fat to be injected into areas such as the buttocks, breasts, hands, or face for added contouring and volume enhancement.

As for your abdominal muscles, based on your photos and the flat appearance of your abdomen, it is unlikely that you need rectus abdominis muscle repair. Your abdominal profile appears well-contoured, and your overall tummy tuck results are excellent.

It’s important to note that the hips are typically not included in a standard tummy tuck. Addressing this area with liposuction would provide a more harmonious contour and resolve the concerns you’re experiencing.

I hope this helps clarify your options and provides reassurance about the next steps. Good luck!

Sincerely,
J. Timothy Katzen, MD

Congratulations on a nice tummy tuck result. It is common to perform liposuction of the waist and hips (love handles) with a tummy tuck to complete rejuvenation of the midsection. Liposuction is done with local anesthesia with minimal downtime and risk. I would not hesitate to proceed. Thank you.

Dear mlk043,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Based on your photos, it looks like liposuction would help improve this area. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. 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

Hello; even if abdominal muscle repair is performed; sometimes, bulging can be seen; especially, in the lower abdomen. Because, in some patients, abdominal muscles and fascia; they can be very thin and can be teared in an easy way. In this case, after repairing for the abdominal muscles; which is called prolene mesh; by placing a material; stability can be realized.

An examination is needed to see if liposuction in that area would be helpful. The dog ears can easily be trimmed in the office under local anesthesia. Go back to your surgeon and discuss your concerns.

It appears from the photos that you would benefit from liposuction to further sculpt your curves. If there is excess skin in the form of dog ears those can be addressed as well. See a board certified plastic surgeon near you to learn more.