Will I have sagging skin after liposuction if I don't get a tummy tuck? (photos)

Question

I would like to get a BBL with lipo. I’ve had 3 kids and I’m not sure I’m done yet. So I’m not ready for the tummy tuck. If I get a lipo from my stomach which doesn’t have extreme loose skin from pregnancy’s, will my stomach have saggy skin?

Yily De Los Santos, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and pictures. I would recommend you a tummy tuck with 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

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Slantz805,
based on your photos, you look like a good candidate for a TT. Full tummy tuck should tighten your abdominal muscles and remove the excess skin. Flanks liposuction would give you a better shape. I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon because 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

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

From your photos it appears you have abdominal wall laxity, likely from previous pregnancies.  While you may not have loose skin after liposuction, I'm not sure you'll be happy with your abdominal contour.  I encourage you to visit with a board certified plastic surgeon near you to discuss your goals for surgery.  It may be better to wait until after you've finished having children and then get a tummy tuck.

Douglas Taranow, DO, FACOS · Answer

It appears that you have both some excess fat, a bit of stretch marks and maybe just a bit of loose skin.  I feel you're not a candidate for an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) until after you are finished having children.  Liposuction alone with partially flatten the front of your lower belly (it seems you may have a little outward curvature of your muscles from pregnancy and internal fat), but not completely flatten you.  If this is acceptable, go for it.  Youi will look better and your sides and lower back will be substantially improved.
A physical exam would answer all questions more effectively.
Best wishes.
Dr. Taranow

Nancy de Kleer, MD, FRCSC (Plast) · Answer

I agree you don't have extreme loose skin from your pregnancies.  Liposuction will not give you saggy skin because your skin is very good after 3 pregnancies, although the skin will possibly be a bit looser than what it is now, but still within acceptable limits.  
However, that doesn't mean liposuction is a good choice for you.  My concern is that the lower abdominal bulge that you have may be in part from a rectus diastasis and weakness of the abdominal wall, which is repaired with a tummy tuck.   Which means you may not be happy with liposuction alone. 
I recommend you see a plastic surgeon in consultation because a physical exam is necessary to provide you with more information about how much of the bulge is fat under the skin and how much is from a diastasis.   This will help you decide if it is worth it to do liposuction.
As you mentioned, many people are happy with some liposuction and consider a tummy tuck later.

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

Yes you will have sagging skin as a result of liposuction. The Gold Standard for superior liposuction results requires use of the advanced technology of ultrasound-assisted VASER liposuction. As an official trainer of VASER liposuction, I perform full body liposuction cases every week. VASER liposuction has been the only modality that has consistently resulted in outstanding liposuction outcomes. VASER liposuction ensures a smooth contour regardless of degree of excess fat by virtue of being able to remove any and all remaining fat comprehensively and uniformly. If skin redundancy is observed, Renuvion technology can be simultaneously applied to tighten your skin to optimize your overall contour outcome. A Skype or FaceTime consultation with a VASER specialist will help you get an accurate recommendation and pricing.

Respectfully,
Arian Mowlavi MD, FACS
Realself 100 Hall of Fame Inductee

Respectfully, 
Arian Mowlavi MD, FACS
Realself 100 Hall of Fame Inductee

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Liposuction because of the diffused networker of scar tissue that forms actually creates some skin retraction and for that reason skin laxity is typically not made worse by having Liposuction.  if the procedure is done correctly skin conditions are typically not improved and not made worse but may simply look a little different.

There’s no shortage of before and after pictures including middle-aged post partum women which represent 70% of Liposuction cases that I do.

Look at enough before and after pictures of patients with similar body characteristics to your own and you’ll get an idea of what the skin looks like as well as the outcome of each provider.

Delivering consistent high-quality Liposuction and fat transfer results is more difficult than most people believe. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of choosing the most experienced and talented providers for these procedures.

Results are permanent and more or less irreversible.

Do that but having multiple in person consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons who have experience with this procedure. During consultations ask each provider to show their entire collection or before and after pictures including average results and less than average results.  seeing a handful of outcomes that represent the best results of the providers career is not a good representation of what average results look like.

Specifically asked the provider to shell patients that have similar body characteristics to your own.

An experienced provider should have no difficulty showing a minimum of 50 sets of before and after pictures. Highly experienced providers will have several hundred to 1000’s of before and after pictures for each procedure and an atomic body area.

I also recommend reading all the reviews on various physician review websites and avoiding providers with any significant number of justified negative reviews.

The absence of justified negative reviews is more telling and more important than an abundance of positive reviews.

For the abdomen a proper assessment should differentiate between the four variables that contribute to shape and contour of the abdomen.  These are skin laxity, subcutaneous fat, diastasis recti or muscle separation from previous pregnancies and lastly excess visceral or intra-abdominal fat.

A proper assessment should help in explaining accurately the type of results each patient should expect from the procedure. Recognize that Liposuction only treats subcutaneous fat so patients with the other three variables contributing will have a partial improvement.

Went and doubt continue having more consultations until you feel quite certain you found a provider who has the skill and experience necessary to deliver consistent quality results.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

Jose A. Munoz, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi and welcome to our forum!Your photographs appear to demonstrate significant fullness of the abdomen and flanks associated with moderate stretch marks. I am unable to ascertain from a photograph if this represents accumulation of fat beneath the skin, internal visceral fat or a separation of your anterior abdominal muscles as the result of previous pregnancy or weight loss.Superficial fat is addressed with liposuction, abdominal wall repair is accomplished with abdominoplasty, and visceral fat is addressed with a regimen of diet and exercise. A physical examination is required to differentiate among these entities. Stretch marks indicate the presence of permanently damaged overstretched skin usually occurring during pregnancy or significant weight fluctuation where when pregnant or heavy, the skin's dermal elastic fibers rupture, resulting in the loss of elasticity and the development of streaks on the skin surface. The skin will stretch over a greater surface area and will predispose to further sagging.Although we do not have height and weight data, you do not appear significantly overweight. I tend to lean toward abdominoplasty with liposuction of the flanks but need more history and results of a physical examination.Seek a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon for evaluation and discussion.Best wishes...

Will I have sagging skin after liposuction if I don't get a tummy tuck? (photos)

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