30 years old, no kids - Am I suitable for a mini TT, a full TT or liposuction alone? (photos)

Question

I would like a flatter tummy. I gained and lost 50 lbs in a period of 3 years, and have never had kids. I am 30 years old. Will liposuction alone give me good results? I don't want a completely flat, unnaturally snatched result. I just want an improvement.

Yily De Los Santos, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and pictures. I would recommend you Liposuction for betters results. 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

Dhaval M. Patel, MD · Answer

Thank you for your questions and photos. Liposuction will remove excess fat from unwanted areas with some skin retraction. Your expectations and health will dictate the best procedure(s) for you. I suggest a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to go over the options that best address your goals. Best of luck!

Dhaval Patel MD
Double Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Chicago
South Barrington
Oakbrook
Orland Park

Dhaval Patel MD 
Double Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Chicago 
South Barrington 
Oakbrook 
Orland Park

Bryan Armijo, MD · Answer

The results of liposuction is based on the quality and elasticity of the skin which would be better assessed at an in person consultation. Based on your provided photo I believe you would be a great candidate for liposuction of the abdomen and flanks. The desired results should be discussed in an in-person consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Ideal candidates for liposuction are at or near their ideal weight and will have good skin elasticity. The procedure is intended to remove stubborn pockets of fat that don’t respond to regular exercise, so the skin needs to be able to smooth back into place after the procedure is complete. Liposuction breaks down and removes the fat that lies just underneath the skin. It is usually performed on areas that are notoriously resistant to diet and exercise such as the back of the upper arms, the outer thighs, the buttocks, and the stomach. Many varieties of liposuction are available including ultrasonic, smart lipo, laser, etc. The results depend very little on the method used and very much on the board certified plastic surgeon selected.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

At this time, I would recommend liposuction.  Liposuction can safely remove 10 lbs during one session of liposuction and can be repeated if necessary.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear guccibloom,
it depends on your skin laxity for which I would need to examine you. In general, liposuction does not help with skin laxity and a tummy tuck is the best option in this scenario. A mini tummy tuck can work great for laxity below the umbilicus but generally does not improve the area above the belly button.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

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and photograph.  Most likely you will be able to pursue liposuction alone to provide a contour improvement.  Hope this helps.

Gilbert Lee, MD · Answer

Thank you for your questions and photo. Ideally a tummy tuck with liposuction of the flanks (love handles) will give you the best result. Liposuction alone will remove excess fat and sculpt your body down to a beautiful shape but you will have extra loose skin that you wont like. The tummy tuck will remove the excess tissue and skin to give you the best result. I recommend scheduling a consultation with a board certified Plastic Surgeon. In our office we offer 3D imaging to give our patients an accurate idea of what their final result will look like. Good luck!

Robert Singer, MD · Answer

There are a variety of procedures that can produce a good cosmetic result in the appropriate patient: non-surgical fat contouring with radio-frequency technology like Vanquish, liposuction, full tummy tuck or a mini tummy tuck. Each produce different degrees of improvement.

Keep in mind that following the advice from a surgeon on this or any other website who proposes to tell you what to do based on a limited  photo without examining you, physically feeling the tissue, assessing your desired outcome, taking a full medical history, and discussing the pros and cons of each operative procedure would not be in your best interest. I would suggest you find a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) that you trust and are comfortable with. You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person.

Robert Singer, MD FACS

La Jolla, California

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

From your described goals you can consider liposuction.  This will remove excess fat in front of the abdominal wall as well as contour the hips but will not remove any skin.  You can consider adding J Plasma for skin tightening as well.  It is best if you are considering children in the future to wait until you have completed your family before considering a tummy tuck.  It is important to note that liposuction is not a weight loss tool, but instead is a contouring procedure.