Is liposuction suitable for me? (photos)

Question

I am 24 years old and do not have kids yet, Would I be able to undergo Lipo? if not would a Tummy tuck affect future pregnancies?

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding whether liposuction is suitable for you. In my opinion, just on pictures and not based on physical examination, I think you would be a good candidate for liposuction. Liposuction is optimal for patients with targeted areas of fat that need removal. I believe based on your age and the appearance of your body in the pictures, that your skin would snap back. With liposuction, there is always a risk of skin wrinkling but I don't think this would happen to you. Therefore, in my opinion, I think you would get a better result with liposuction as opposed to a tummy tuck. Tummy tucks may get stretched out with pregnancies depending on many factors, which include your genetics, amount of stretch, amount of weight gained with the pregnancy, size of the baby, twins, age of the patient, etc. There are too many variables to predict whether the pregnancy would severely impact your tummy tuck. Nonetheless, in your case, I would still suggest liposuction over a tummy tuck based on your pictures and concerns regarding future pregnancy. Thank you for your question regarding whether liposuction would be suitable for you, I would suggest specifically you have liposuction in the abdomen and love handles or superior iliac crest. Often, people call this 360 lipo. Please seek an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon.

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, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

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, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and ​member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

Leila Kasrai, MD, FRCSC · Answer

If you have firm skin then liposuction would be sufficient. However, if you have elasticity issues and/or stretch marks, that could mean that a tummy tuck is more suitable for you. Having a tummy tuck shouldn’t affect your ability to have children, although the results may be negatively impacted.

Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello @Gorgeous83937 thank you for your question and showing your pictures. From my experience of 21 years, the best way to go is combining treatments. Liposuction alone won't get rid of loose skin and diastasis in the abdominal area. Besides each procedure serves a different purpose, a tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and strengthens the abdominal muscles, in which there is abdominal lipolysis, abdominal diastasis repair, skin removal with umbilical reconstruction. On the other hand liposculture we take out fat from all parts of the body to make it more harmonious. So if you just have lipo without the Tummy tuck you are not going to like the results because the skin and the abdomen would look kind of weird. In your second question is best to wait to have children because if you have children after a tummy tuck procedure, the results are going to be lost. Is important to be clear with your specialist in the results that you seek and consult with several board certified surgeons before making a decision. Best wishes!

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

You need a formal evaluation by an expert in body shaping and contouring to determine what is best. The best in body contouring not only removes fat with energy devices like VASER ultrasound but also internally heats the skin with radiofrequency devices such as Renuvion (J-Plasma), InMode BodyTite, and ThermiRF to heat the undersurface of the skin and tighten it at the same time as fat removal. Overall, you need a full assessment, but simple liposuction alone will not tighten skin and needs a combination of various methods -- fat removal, skin tightening, defining, fat grafting, skin removal -- to get the best in body contouring and body sculpting. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer.

Emmanuel Mallol Cotes, MD · Answer

Thanks for the question. I recommend you waist and back Liposculpture, getting better curves especially in the waist, improving your body contour.

Kind regards

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

Liposuction can be performed and can safely remove 10 lbs during one session.  If you underwent a tummy tuck then the results would be effective after pregnancy and more than likely need to be redone.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Gorgeous83937,
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 a surgery, I would suggest you to 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

Yily De Los Santos, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and pictures. you are a good candidate for a liposuction. If you're willing to travel, Surgeons in the Dominican Republic have experience and very high standard of excellence when it comes to plastic surgery. I'm positive you can get what you're looking for

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

YES! but not a TT since you are young and without pregnancies. Liposuction 360 is a great option. Seek virtual or in person consultations with boarded Plastic Surgeons.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

In regards to the front of the abdomen there are four variables that contribute to shape and contour. If someone doesn’t like the way their belly looks it is always because of one or more of these four variables.

The variables are abdominal skin laxity, excess subcutaneous fat, muscle separation from previous pregnancies call the diastasis recti and lastly excess intra-abdominal or visceral fat.

In your case I’m guessing you have mild skin laxity, significant subcutaneous fat and moderate amounts of visceral fat.

Skin laxity is best treated with a tummy tuck which primarily treats skin laxity and muscle separation from previous pregnancies. Subcutaneous fat is treated with Liposuction or weight loss and visceral fat can only be treated with weight loss.

On your back and flanks you appear to have moderate skin laxity and this will not be addressed by Liposuction.

As mentioned above a tummy tuck primarily treats abdominal skin laxity and muscle separation from previous pregnancies call diastasis recti. Women who have not had previous pregnancies typically do not need muscle tightening as part of a tummy tuck and can have what I often call a skin only tummy tuck.  This procedure is basically a full tummy tuck without muscle tightening.

The only thing that causes true muscle separation on the abdominal wall is term pregnancies.

Some plastic surgeons may argue that muscle tightening is indicated in most patients whether they’ve had previous pregnancies or not because it brings in the muscle while and waist.  This may be the case for some patients but women who are contemplating possibly having children in the future and are willing to undergo a tummy tuck should probably consider skipping muscle tightening as part of the procedure.

Amor textbook or conservative approach is to simply tell women they should not have a tummy tuck until they’re fairly certain they’re not going to have future pregnancies.

The decision of having a tummy tack or not with potential future pregnancies is a fairly complex decision that should be done in person in conjunction with an experienced plastic surgeon during a thorough in person consultation.

In your case Liposuction is probably your best option though visceral fat will not be addressed and skin laxity can limit results to some degree.

Most likely the combination of liposuction and weight loss will get you looking better in a reasonable way without undergoing an excessive procedure.

The full tummy tuck has its time and place but it is a more appropriate procedure for women who had significant pregnancy related changes that can only be addressed with that procedure.

Delivering consistent high-quality Liposuction results is more difficult than most people think. The decision of which provider has a big impact on Liposuction results.

For that reason I recommend all patients have multiple in person consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons who have a proven track record for delivering quality Liposuction results.

Look for providers who have a collection of before and after pictures that reads like a telephone book and minimal to no justified negative reviews on various physician review websites.