Why Do I Have So Much Extra Skin Below my Breasts and Above my Stomach? (photo)

   Liposuction cannot improve loose skin and is used to remove fat.  The loose skin can be improved with tummy tuck or reverse tummy tuck depending upon your needs.

Liposuction removes fat.  It does not tighten skin significantly, even with the newer forms of liposuction.

Tummy tuck tightens the skin.

I'm sorry that you were misinformed.

I tell all my patients that there is a huge difference between a tummy tuck and liposuction. Abdominal liposuction will not get rid of excess skin and can, in fact, make the skin problem worse. It is difficult to evaluate your results without pre and post op pictures and a good exam, but it seems that if you want to eliminate the excess skin only a tummy tuck will do.  Go somewhere else and get a second opinion.  Good luck.

It is very important for patients to realize prior to having liposuction that the goal of liposuction is removal of extra fat, not removal of extra skin.  There are a variety of liposuction techniques on the market today that promise skin tightening but when this does happen it is mild and a secondary benefit.  If you want large amounts of loose skin removed, you are far better off having a tummy tuck than you are having liposuction.  I recommend that you discuss these goals with your plastic surgeon as a tummy tuck would do wonders for your loose skin.  Good luck.

You have a good question and raise a good issue. The skin directly over your lower ribs is not usually helped by a tummy tuck. The further away from the scar, the less of an effect. This is especially true for women who have larger breasts that weigh down the skin f your lower ribcage. If it continues to bother you, an upper tummy lift could help. The skin is lifted with the scar being placed beneath the breasts, like in a breast reduction, or breast lift.