Do I need a tummy tuck? Or will J-Plasma & 360 lipo do the trick? (Photos)

Question

I’m 5’9 no kids lost 40 pound and have always had a lower belly problem. I don’t want to get a new belly button and would like to know a professional opinion, do you think I’m could get away without loose skin with just j plasma?

Wayne I. Yamahata, MD · Answer

Your photos suggest that a tummy tuck would provide the far superior outcome. It appears that your stomach muscles are separated and would require a repair to achieve the desirable changes.

Saad Alsubaie, MD, FACS, FRCSC · Answer

Unfortunately it hard to know for sure without a clinical exam to evaluate the skin laxity of the abdomen. I would say considering that you never had childbirth or pregnancy, the abdominal muscle might not need repair which makes you in theory a candidate for liposuction / skin tightening only . Still however the skin needs to be evaluated to decide if an tummy tuck needed vs liposuction only.

Stephen T. Greenberg, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Looking at the photos I would recommend a tummy tuck for the best results.  Liposuction is a great option it will help reduce you down some inches and you will get some skin retraction but it will not help tighten up the abdominal wall muscles that might have given out with weight gain and weight loss.  Tummy tuck procedure will tighten the abdominal wall muscles and remove the extra skin ultimately giving you the flattest belly one could have.  I would recommend speaking to a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in person to evaluate you and discuss your options.  Best of luck to you.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding if you will need a tummy tuck or if Jay plasma and 360 Lipo will do the trick. Looking at your photos, I see you have a distended lower abdomen. Because of that, and the amount of excess fat you have on your love handles, you may be unhappy with the excess skin after your liposuction. Even J plasma will likely not be able to snap your stomach back. A tummy tuck would help the distention of your lower abdomen and get rid of that bulge permanently. Liposuction alone will likely not get rid of that bulge. You could consider getting 360 Lipo and J plasma, and if you are unsatisfied with your results, proceed to stage 2: tummy tuck.

If you have any more questions regarding a tummy tuck, lower body lift, 360 circumferential lower body lift, belt lipectomy, belt abdominoplasty, or belt dermolipectomy please contact my office. Since the body lift is a big procedure, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing the lower body lift. Do your research. Make sure they have performed at least 100 tummy tuck or circumferential lower body lift surgeries and have the before and after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before and after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf. If you cannot find an experienced, tummy tuck or lower body lift surgeon in your neighborhood, consider traveling out of state if you must. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic 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 and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

Dallas Buchanan, MD · Answer

Thank you for your pictures and questions. Based on your photos, I think one of your major issues is diastasis (stretching) of the muscles of the abdominal wall. The only way this can be repaired is with a tummy tuck and surgical repair. No amount of liposuction or other energy device can achieve this and will leave you with an improved contour but no chance of a completely flat abdomen.
Hope this helps!
Dallas Buchanan, MD
VIVIFY plastic surgery
Tampa, FL

Sean Arredondo, MD · Answer

Hello! That’s a great question and it can be difficult to predict. But the option that’s best for you depends on your personal goals.
Lipo with j-plasma can have great results, it can shrink down skin, help contour the sides, and even give more definition to the underlying muscles. How much the skin will retract is hard to predict. Often this depends on the quality of the skin. With some patients who have lost weight there is far too much skin, but in those with mild skin excess this can be a great option. The downtime is also much less significant with lipo alone. 
An abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, will have a more dramatic result. It will give you a much flatter stomach and we can tighten the abdominal muscles. After having a significant weight loss, there may be some looseness of the abdominal wall, so this can address that. Since it is a more involved surgery, the recovery from an tummy tuck is a little bit longer, 6 weeks of lifting restrictions. 
An in-person consult is always the best way to get more information. Please let me know if I can answer any more questions!

Finny George, MD · Answer

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. Given your lower abdominal stretch marks and bulging tissue, a tummy tuck will provide you with the ideal tightness. Liposuction can be added to remove the excess fat.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and photographs. Nothing replaces an in-person examination but based on the degree of stretch marks and presence of lower abdominal fullness I would expect you to need a skin resection procedure of some kind to get the best results. Lipo 360 with or without J-plasma will thin your waist and abdomen but will likely leave you with loose skin.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear michipooo,
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, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Cagil Meric Erenoglu, MD · Answer

Hi, michipooo! Thank you for your question and photos.
J-plasma will help with the skin excess, but your problem here more likely looks like a loosening of your lower abdominal muscles. So it would be a wiser option to do a 360 lipo and a mini tummy-tuck, where the muscle can be repaired and the belly button stays on the same point. (shape changes slightly)

Do I need a tummy tuck? Or will J-Plasma & 360 lipo do the trick? (Photos)

Answers (19)

More Tummy Tuck Questions

Low and reused belly button. Is it normal to have a belly button so low? (Photo)

9 months after TT with muscle plication. Is this indicative of laxity/separation of obliques? (Photo)

What could have caused my tummy tuck incision to heal this way and can this be revised? 1 year post op (photos)

Pregnancy after tummy tuck upper abdominal bloating - is this normal?

Should I go for an extended tummy tuck or fleur-de-lis? Bariatric surgery done 13 years ago (photos)

Tummy, Love Handles, Inner Thighs - What would be the best treatment options to improve these areas? (Photos)

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS