70 pound weight loss, Do I need a tummy tuck with my liposuction? (Photos)

Based off your photos (without physical exam) - I would recommend liposuction with skin tightening procedure. Work on your core muscles to really strengthen them to bring in the beer belly look and continue to keep off the weight that you've lost (great job), and continue to shed more if desired. Build more muscle with high protein diets and weight lifting to really enhance your liposuction results. The more toned you are before surgery the better the results after surgery.

Dear Helpful365953,


it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. 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

Thank you for your query. I agree with your surgeon that a tummy tuck will be helpful, in addition to liposuction, for best contouring of your abdomen. However, scarring is an issue and I would recommend just having a Vaser liposuction first along with a non-surgical radiofrequency skin tightening procedure. You should then wait for several months for skin retraction and see if you would want further skin tightening with a tummy tuck which would , of course, result in a long scar. All the best!

It’s difficult to assess the quality of your skin in these photos. However, if the surgeon you met with said you have skin elasticity issues, as evident in the “overhang”, then a tummy tuck would be more suitable for you. Liposuction may remove excess fat, however it would not tighten loose skin.

From your side view, the abdomen protrudes anteriorly. One reason for this is extra-abdominal fat, which apparently you do not have according to your physician and the other reason is intra-abdominal fat and a weak abdominal wall. If the abdominal wall is weak after losing 70 lbs. then I recommend doing core exercises such as sit-ups, planks and pilates to create a more flat abdomen. Currently, your BMI is 29.5 so you are over weight but not obese. Great job on the 70 lbs. weight loss but you may want to increase your abdominal wall tone before undergoing surgery. I do not believe you have enough skin to do an effective tummy tuck. The scar would be high riding and highly visible. Liposuction of the flanks and additional areas can help with the additional weight.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Hello and thank you for your question. It is hard to give you a definite answer with the photos only. An in-person consultation would be truer to what needs to be done. Based off the photos I would suggest having liposuction done to the flanks and abdomen, now the tummy tuck part is what I would need to see to determine. If there is loose skin and an overhang like you mentioned, then the answer would be your probability do need a tummy tuck. I hope this helps and I wish you the best.

Hard to advise based only on photos, but the weight you lost was fat weight. If losing fat resulted in overhang, what will happen if more fat is removed by liposuction? Seems logical that removing unwanted fat without tightening skin may worsen the problem. However, a tummy tuck does leave a permanent scar and sometimes skin shrinks and tightens nicely after lipo, depending on its natural elasticity and how aggressive the liposuction is (how much fat is removed).

If you really do not want tummy tuck, don't do it, go ahead and have lipo alone. Wear good skin compression garments after lipo for a while. Be aware though that after a year or longer you may (or may not) want loose skin removed in a second procedure.

Based on these photos, my recommendation would include conservative liposuction of flanks and abdomen followed with abdominoplasty. Liposuction of breasts to treat breast fulness (gynecomastia) is something to be considered as well. Good luck.

Lipo with bodytite/quantum/morpheus will give you the results you are looking for without the stress, scars, and downtime of a tummy tuck. You have fat that needs to be removed and probably not enough loose skin for a tummy tuck. A lot of docs who aren't good at the micro liposuction with the new skin tightening bodytite,quantum, and morpheus just do tucks when they aren't the best option.

Hello dear. After losing 70 pounds, you have excess skin that doesn't retract properly, and liposuction can't effectively eliminate irregularities or asymmetries due to a lack of fat. Abdominoplasty is the most appropriate option. Abdominoplasty will offer you a more defined and natural body contour. You can contact us at 829-554-6062 for all our recommendations regarding the surgery.