Which type of liposuction would be best for shrinking my mid section? (photo)

Dear tangielee,

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

In your case there are many different ways to address your concerns. My suggestion would be to perform liposuction with skin tightening using renuvion or vaser. I think both modalities work great and will certainly help your skin retract after the procedure. Depending on who you talk to many could suggest doing a mini or full tuck with the liposuction, in your case i probably wouldn’t unless your goals were to significantly improve skin laxity or any muscular laxity. I always tell patients to really pay attention and ask themselves ‘is the surgeon listening to me’ IE are they giving you suggestions within the context of what you’re looking for or are they just telling you what they think you should have without listening to you? Whatever you decide on be sure to ask for recent before and after pictures that are not the stock images from the website.

For shrinking your midsection, the type of liposuction best suited to your needs depends on factors like your body type, the amount of fat to be removed, and your desired results. Keep in mind that liposuction is not a weight loss solution. While it can effectively remove stubborn fat in specific areas, it is designed for body contouring rather than overall weight reduction. The procedure should be seen as a way to enhance body shape, not as a substitute for a healthy diet and exercise.
Traditional Suction-Assisted Liposuction (SAL) is the most common method, where a cannula is used to suction out fat, while Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL) adds vibration to make fat removal quicker and less traumatic, especially for larger areas.
Ultrasonic-Assisted Liposuction (UAL) and VASER Liposuction use ultrasound to liquefy fat before removal, which is effective for dense fat and may help with skin tightening. Laser-Assisted Liposuction melts fat with a laser, which may also tighten the skin.
For larger areas like the midsection, general anesthesia is typically recommended for comfort and safety, although some procedures may be done with local anesthesia with sedation for smaller areas.
Recovery time for desk jobs is typically 5-7 days, and activity restrictions for 3-4 weeks, but this can vary depending on the extent of the procedure and individual healing (for example, you may have bruising/swelling for up to 3 months).
Skill and experience of your plastic surgeon are important factors in achieving the best results.
Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHSHarvard, Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Trained Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonNew York, New York