Frustrated w/ my flanks/love handles and belly. - Lipo or Tummy Tuck? (Photos)

Question

Male, 34, 5'10, 180, NYC. Frustrated w/ my flanks/love handles and belly. Was a lot heavier in my youth so have a lot of faded stretch marks. If I focus on diet pretty intensely, I can get down another 5-10 pounds, but haven't been able to get lower than that and body shape stays similar. I had gynecomastia surgery at 18 and was happy with the results, but based on that and a childhood hernia surgery, I've found that I tend to scar and it takes a long time for my scars to fade, so have concerns about a tummy tuck (plus recovery time). Less concerned about cost within reason. Hoping for thoughts on: 1) Whether good results could be achieved with lipo (vs tummy tuck)? 2) If lipo, is there a particular form I should consider? 3) If there are other complementary options that I should consider concurrently? 4) Looking to do this in the late fall/early winter. Is it advisable to try to lose that additional 5-10 pounds over the next couple months before the surgery? Thank you!

Jerimiah Mason, MD · Answer

You may be able to get good results from liposuction if you combine it with a skin tightening device such as Renuvion.  The other option would be a mini tummy tuck, though that does come with a scar, but at least it is shorter.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Body contouring procedures have become increasingly popular and can help men and women recontour their body in adulthood. If you have stubborn areas of fatty accumulation that are more resistant to diet and exercise, you may be a candidate for body sculpting liposuction performed at Kare Plastic Surgery in Santa Monica. Liposuction remains one of the most popular procedures in cosmetic surgery and allows patients to slim and toned their waist line, back, arms, and legs using this minimally invasive and highly coveted procedure.

Among the most common areas to have liposuction performed is the waist line and stomach area. This makes liposuction an excellent alternative to a tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck. If you have had fluctuations in weight, you may benefit by recontouring the waistline and abdomen using liposuction. Patient with excessive skin in the lower abdomen from childbirth or from excessive weight loss may not respond well to liposuction because the extra skin will continue to hang. In these patients, and abdominal plasty procedure is preferred.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Martin Benjamin, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello! I do not find that a tummy tuck would be necessary if you have the right tools to do the liposuction right. You would be a great candidate for Male Lipo 360 w/ vaser ultrasound and skin tightening (renuvion j plasma) to target the love handle fat and abdominal pouch and then tighten that skin all the way around. No need for a long scar if you do not have hanging pannus abdominal skin! Good luck!

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Dnemoy,

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

David Hansen, MD · Answer

You are an excellent candidate for the micro liposuction under local with the addition of Quantum/Morpheus for optimal skin tightening.  Tummy tucks are a thing of the past since the new lipos with the skin tightening treatments have all but replaced tucks.

Warren Schutte, MD · Answer

Congratulations on your current physique. If you plan to lose more weight, I always recommend not consulting with a plastic surgeon until you have reached your goals and remained weight stable. After reviewing photos, it is difficult to see your overall skin quality. An in-person consultation to assess skin quality will allow you to see if liposuction can be performed alone, or if an abdominoplasty is advised. Due to the lower abdomen skin fold, It appear you may be a better candidate for a lipoabdominoplasty where you can address excess abdominal/flank fat and excess skin to lower abdomen.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

Liposuction will remove the fat but your anterior abdomen has excess skin. Liposuction will not correct that. Since you have lost a lot of weight, you will need to have the excess skin removed surgically and may benefit from a tummy tuck.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Michelle Zweifler, MD · Answer

Liposuction removes the extra pinchable fat, then the body needs to gradually contract the skin.  Adding devices like Renuvion (radiofrequently and helium plasma) intraoperatively may help the skin contract.   Postop garments, lymphatic massage and Sofwave nonsurgical skin tightening also help.  Skin contracting after liposuction depends on one’s skin quality, this is discussed during consultation with examination.  
While a tummy tuck, the extra skin and fatty tissue are removed with a trade-off of a permanent scar.  This

Jaeil Lee, MD · Answer

Based on the photos, your main concern appears to be localized fat in the abdomen and flanks rather than significant skin laxity. In such cases, liposuction alone can often provide meaningful contour improvement without the longer scars and recovery associated with a tummy tuck. Final candidacy and technique should be determined after an in-person examination. Modest weight loss before surgery may help optimize results, but it is not mandatory.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Liposuction alone will remove excess fat but it will not address the skin laxity.  You can consider a mini tummy tuck which would remove it.  You can combine it with liposuction to optimize results.  Another option would be BodyTite which can combine liposuction with skin tightening.  An exam would be needed to determine if you are a good candidate depending on skin laxity.

Frustrated w/ my flanks/love handles and belly. - Lipo or Tummy Tuck? (Photos)

Answers (10)

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