Did having my gallbladder removed ruin my stomach? (Photos)

Question

I'm 38 years old 5'4". Had liposuction done in November of 2020 (upper/lower abs flanks) April of 2021 in had to have surgery gallbladder removed. I feel like my stomach is the same size as it was after my second daughter was born. I believe I'm all healed from the surgery. I have had 4 surgeries my ab area in a year and a half. C-section Dec 2019, Tubal ligation, May 2020, Lipo November 2020, Gallbladder removed April 2021.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Glorious626292,
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

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Having a laparoscopic cholecystectomy is not going to change liposuction results other than the standard sequelae of having the gallbladder surgery. This is basically the small scars on your abdomen from the instruments used to take out your gallbladder.

Based on your pictures I don’t think you were a particularly good candidate for Liposuction in the first place. The primary problem is muscle separation a.k.a. diastases recti and excess visceral fat together with skin laxity. Subcutaneous fat is a distant fourth on the list of variables causing your abdomen to look the way it did/does.  The lack of results from liposuction is simply a reflection of not having treated the primary problem.

The best procedure for you is weight loss followed by a full tummy tuck.

To break this down into each individual variable it goes like this.

There are four variables that help determine what someone’s abdomen looks like. The first one is skin or skin laxity. Skin laxity of the abdomen is best treated with a mini or full tummy tuck depending on if it involves a full abdomen or just a lower abdomen. Skin laxity makes patients lesser candidates for Liposuction and contribute significantly to contour.

The second variable is subcutaneous fat. Subcutaneous fat is not changed by having previous pregnancies. It’s the fat layer between your muscle and your skin and this is what’s removed during Liposuction.

The ideal candidate for Liposuction have excess subcutaneous fat as the only problem for not looking perfect.

The third variable is muscle separation or diastasis recti caused by previous pregnancies. The correct treatment for this is a full tummy tuck with muscle tightening.

Lastly is the presence of excess visceral fat or intra-abdominal fat. Those who have access visceral fat have an abdomen that bulges. Bulging of the abdomen can also be caused by muscle separation. To differentiate between muscle separation and visceral fat you simply need to take one hand and press your abdomen until it’s flat or sucking your muscles and hold it until it’s flat. If this is difficult to do or requires a lot of pressure than visceral fat is the problem or at least part of the problem.

The correct treatment should be based on what the primary problem is. Skin laxity and muscle separation or treated with a tummy tuck. Subcutaneous fat is treated with liposuction. Excess visceral fat can only be treated through weight loss.

That’s a fairly thorough breakdown of abdominal aesthetics and and assessment of your abdomen.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

Did having my gallbladder removed ruin my stomach? (Photos)

Answers (2)

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