I want a smaller stomach but not a tummy tuck yet. What is best for me?

While not a substitute for weight loss, body contouring can help. Removing excess skin (tummy tuck) would give the flattest stomach- however, without pregnancies I understand not wanting to have one.Vaser ultrasound 360 liposuction can remove excess fat, tighten skin and contour your belly and waist without being as invasive. In my experience, this can jumpstart continued weight loss.An exam and consultation with a plastic surgeon who performs these procedures is recommended to confirm you are a candidate as well as discuss your options and expectations. 

You have loose sagging skin and stretch marks sitting on top of layer of fat. Removing the fat by diet or lipo won't make the sagging skin or stretch marks go away. In fact, they will look worse and you will be severely disappointed. Losing weight will give you a better tummy tuck result. Lipo of the sides and back will improve the contours of your waistline, but you will still need a tummy tuck. Having kids or not doesn't make a difference except that your muscles might not require tightening, but that requires an exam to figure out.

Based on your photos, I would suggest 360 liposuction (liposuction of your abdomen, back and flanks) combined with a full tummy tuck. This will treat all the excess tissue of your torso. Good luck!

Thanks for your question!  I understand not wanting a tummy tuck yet considering you haven't had children.  That being said, that would be the best surgery for you.  If you are adamant about not having a tummy tuck, liposuction would absolutely reduce the volume BUT you need to have realistic expectations.  Your skin laxity/hanging skin would NOT get better with liposuction alone.  Be sure to consult with a qualified plastic surgeon to get an optimal outcome.  Good luck!

Thank you for your question and photos. While I can’t make a complete assessment from photos, it appears you might be a good candidate for liposuction. In my office, we use Awake Lipo, which can be performed using local anesthesia. Because the procedure is less invasive than other forms of liposuction, recovery can also be shorter and more comfortable. Keep in mind that body contouring procedures like liposuction are not designed for weight loss and patients see the best results when they have achieved a healthy, stable weight first. I recommend you schedule an in-person consultation with a board-certified dermatologist who can help you determine whether liposuction is the right choice for you. 

Dear fedmac,
based on your photos, it looks like you have extra skin and fat on your abdomen, so a tummy tuck surgery will be the best option. If you want to avoid tummy tuck due to future pregnancies, then you might get some improvement with 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

Thank you for your question. Without a proper consultation it is difficult to make a recommendation, however you appear to be a candidate for a tummy tuck. If you are planning on having children in the future, it is best to wait until after your pregnancies to consider this procedure. My best recommendation would be to start a proper diet and exercise regimen. I advise consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon for further individualized advice.  Best of luck to you

Smart Lipo is good for stubborn areas of fat, but lacks body contouring and shaping. For best results, I recommend a hi-definition procedure like VASER liposuction, which can be performed at the same time as a tummy tuck, if there is skin laxity. I use VASER HI-DEF with ThermiRF, Renuvion (J Plasma), InMode BodyTite, and fat grafting to get the most fat removal, skin tightening, contour and definition. This combination will give you the most toned result. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a hi-definition physique expert. Best, Dr. Emer

While liposuction is an excellent choice for carving out curves, it can only address a small amount of excess fat and may actually increase the appearance of loose skin since it reduces volume. So, you may not be able to achieve the look you are going for. Although liposuction procedures like Smartlipo do provide some skin tightening effects, it will not be enough to address significant sagging. Liposuction would certainly reduce the volume of your stomach, but you will need to have realistic expectations. You can also schedule a consultation with another board-certified provider to get a second opinion.
 

The most common and usually most effective way of flattening and contouring the stomach is indeed an abdominoplasty. Some surgeons would also do muscle repair as an adjunct to the tummy tuck itself to further flatten the stomach. However, surgeries like Liposuction have also shown good potential in contouring the stomach without tummy tuck. The best course of action would be to schedule an appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon for an in person examination and a detailed discussion of your surgical options.