Mini Tummy Tuck or Lipo? (Photo)

Question

No kids, no plans on having kids. Main concern is wanting a vertical or more "open" belly button and the small pooch at the bottom gone. I weight train and bike multiple times a week, and whether I'm 20lbs less or 20lbs more than these pics, my belly button and pooch always look like this.

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

It is difficult to discern whether you have a relative skin excess, something that your horizontal belly button suggests. If that is the case, it will be difficult to get an open appearance after deflation by liposuction, and the outcome is dependent on your skin elasticity. It is best you get in person consultations.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear zailod,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Based on your photos, it looks like you would benefit from liposuction. 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, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

From your photos you appear to be a great candidate for a tummy tuck with liposuction for contouring.  This will remove excess fat and skin as well as correct any abdominal wall laxity.  The result will be a flatter, tighter abdomen.  The liposuction can enhance your curves.  The next step is to visit with a board certified plastic surgeon near you to learn more.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Liposuction will remove the excess fat, but the tummy tuck will tighten the weaken muscle and remove the excess skin. I would suggest meeting with a board certified plastic surgeon and discussing all your options

Leo McCafferty, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  It is difficult to answer your question based on photographs alone but I do think I would start with liposuction.  While liposuction wont tighten your skin, it will take care of your small 'pooch' and will do so without any significant scarring.  Furthermore it would not burn a bridge for a mini tummy tuck in the future.  However, this is just based on your photographs and I would encourage you to see a board certified plastic surgeon for a hands-on examination.  This is the best way to determine the best option for you.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Thanks for posting photos. I recommend a combination of extended mini TT with mid/upper abdominal lipo. Fees $8,000. Best t virtual consult with...

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

A mini tummy tuck may be appropriate especially if you want to have more vertical opening of your belly button. Alternatively you may want to consider just liposuction of your torso. Liposuction may cause a slight dropping of the skin of the upper abdomen creating a potential very slight “sad looking belly button”. 
The difference in potential outcome of a liposuction versus a mini tummy tuck is based on if contour is created more by skin laxity or fat distribution. if putting the skin under gentle tension significantly improves the contour then that speaks more in favor of a skin procedure. if the subcutaneous fat layer of your lower abdomen is disproportionately thicker than other areas and Liposuction will give a better results.
Delivering consistent quality liposuction results is more difficult than most people believe. results from this procedure are permanent and irreversible.
If interested I recommend seeking out the most talented and experienced provider in your community by having multiple in person consultations. during consultations ask each provider to show their entire collection of before and after pictures asking especially to see as many before and after pictures as possible of patients with similar body characteristics to your own. simply seeing a handful of pre-selected pictures is insufficient to get clear understanding of what average results look like in the hands of each provider.
I typically recommend treating the entire torso as a single anatomic unit when doing liposuction in order to leave people with a natural even thin fat distribution.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Mini Tummy Tuck or Lipo? (Photo)

Answers (7)

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