Hello, and thank you for your question regarding your dissatisfaction with your stomach and whether you should have a tummy tuck or liposuction. Thank you for your history and your pictures. In your pictures, you have excess skin and fat on the upper and lower abdomen. You also have excess skin and fat in the suprailiac crest or love handle region. You also have rectus abdominis muscle weakness, which can be seen on your profile as a distended abdomen. Liposuction will only correct one thing, namely, fat. Since your abdomen is a three-component problem (skin, fat, and muscle), all three areas need to be treated. Since liposuction targets fat, liposuction alone will not yield optimal results. Therefore, most experienced board-certified plastic surgeons would suggest a tummy tuck. There are seven different types of tummy tucks. You should discuss this with your chosen plastic surgeon. Most tummy tucks are placed horizontally, low in the pubic region, and the incision extends over the hips. A tummy tuck is also called an abdominoplasty and takes approximately 3 to 4 hours to complete. You should also consider liposuction of the love handle region to add more curvature to your waistline. Any fat removed during the procedure, whether it’s from the tummy or the love handles, could be injected into the buttocks if you desire even more buttock fullness. Good luck. I hope I’ve helped answer your question regarding your dissatisfaction with your stomach and whether you should consider a tummy tuck or liposuction. Good luck. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen, MD, MBA, FACS, FICS. (Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, RealSelf Hall of Fame, and RealSelf Doctor Advisory Board for Medical Review and Consumer Panel.)
