5ft 8, around 82-83kg - Which type of tummy tuck will I need? (Photos)

Based on your photos, it doesn't appear that you need to lose any more weight. A full tummy tuck, monsplasty, and liposuction of the sides and back would be well-suited for you. In your case, I don’t see significant benefits to a circumferential procedure, also known as a lower body lift. Dr.B.

Your photos suggest you would have a very good outcome in the abdominal area with a standard tummy tuck. it's difficult to provide a good recommendation for the extra tissue on your back because it is partially covered and distorted from your bra. Options would be liposuction, upper back lift, or extended/circumferential tummy tuck.

Dear Reserved631624,

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

You would need a regular tummy tuck and could have liposuction of the waist, flanks and bra rolls.
One problem is that you currently have skin laxity in the bra roll and upper abdominal area.
You cannot expect liposuction to smooth out the bra rolls, although they can improve. Regarding the upper abdomen, it can be difficult to smooth that out with a regular abdominoplasty, because the undermining stops in the upper abdomen and the excess wrinkling skin goes up over the ribs.
There may need to be a secondary reverse abdominoplasty to be able to mechanically pull up and smooth out that skin. That can be combined with breast lift if you are going to get that as part of a mommy makeover as a staged second procedure, since the scar goes in the inframammary fold.
Your back photo does not show the buttock area, but what it does shows is excess flank fat that would be treatable with liposuction alone without a circumferential incision done for a lower body lift.
The tummy tuck will pull up the front of the thighs a lot which currently appear to have excess skin in the medial upper thigh area. So, based on these pictures, you would appear be a candidate for a regular abdominoplasty, with the proviso that because of skin redundancy of the upper abdomen, inner thighs, and bra rolls, you could be a candidate for other elective procedures, such as as reverse abdominoplasty, medial thigh lift and upper lateral back lift.

Thank you for your question regarding which type of tummy tuck would be best for you. I appreciate your history and pictures, and congratulations on maintaining your 45kg weight loss for over 12 years—this is a tremendous achievement!

Based on your photos, you have excess skin and fat on your abdomen, hips, and buttocks, which makes you a strong candidate for an extended tummy tuck or, ideally, a 360 circumferential lower body lift. A standard tummy tuck will not fully address the skin laxity and excess fat around your back and sides, which is why a lower body lift may be the most comprehensive solution to achieve your goals.

A 360 lower body lift includes an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) to remove excess skin and fat, repair the rectus abdominis muscles (your "six-pack" muscles), and reposition the belly button. It also lifts and reduces the mons pubis, hips, and buttocks, addressing the sagging skin and fat deposits that commonly remain after significant weight loss.

You mentioned being advised to consider a circumferential tummy tuck to address your back. The 360 lower body lift would achieve this more effectively. Liposuction alone on your love handles and lower back may leave you with excess skin, especially considering your history of weight loss and skin quality showing stretch marks—a sign of reduced skin elasticity. If left unaddressed, this could result in loose, wrinkled skin after fat removal.

For your upper back, I recommend a horizontal torsoplasty (bra strap lift). This involves removing a butterfly-shaped area of skin and fat across your upper back, leaving a scar that can often be concealed beneath a bra strap. If you are concerned about your back rolls, this procedure can be combined with your 360 lower body lift for more comprehensive contouring.

In summary, a 360 circumferential lower body lift will provide the most dramatic and long-lasting results, addressing excess skin and fat on your abdomen, hips, and buttocks. If needed, a horizontal torsoplasty (bra strap lift) can further refine your back contour. If you have any more questions about tummy tucks, lower body lifts, or back lifts, I recommend consulting an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in post-weight loss body contouring. Do your research, examine before-and-after photos, and ensure your surgeon has performed at least 100 lower body lifts for the best outcome.

Good luck, and I look forward to seeing your transformation!

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen, MD, MBA

Congratulations on your weight loss and maintenance of your weight loss. I would agree that an abdominoplasty would work exceptionally well to contour your tummy. The question, is after weight loss, how bothered are you by the folds in your back and the amount of laxity of the skin in your back. If you wish that to be as smooth and tight as possible, usually a circumferential body lift will not only take away some of the skin laxity, but help to smooth out the creases and rolls in your back. Liposuction can help to reduce the volume of these, but it doesn’t tighten the skin as well. There is the trade-off of having a circumferential incision line, but it’s alwaysweighed against having the best result. find a board-certified plastic surgeon who performs not only abdominoplasty, but also lower body lifts and have a detailed consultation.

Thank you for your inquiry! Liposuction will only remove the fat, therefore causing laxity of the skin. We would love to meet with you to discuss your options. Schedule a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to help you reach your goals.

Dear Reserved,

Thank you for your pictures and sharing your story.
Here's how I would break it down as the recommended procedure versus the alternative procedure:

Tummy:
Preferred procedure- Fleur-de-Lis Abdominoplasty (Inverted "T"). This would take care of excess tissue, vertically in the midline and horizontally at the waist.
Alternative procedure – standard abdominoplasty (horizontal incision only). In your case, this may leave access/loose skin in the midline above the bellybutton.

Back:
Preferred procedure- Upper body lift/Bra lift. This will remove excess tissue of the upper back and smooth contour towards your hips. This does leave a scar in the middle of the back horizontally in the bra area.
Alternative procedure –Tumescent liposuction with radiofrequency (BodyTite, or J-Plasma). May leave some loose skin, despite the improvement and contour

Buttocks:
Preferred procedure- Tumescent liposuction with fat grafting to the buttocks plus radiofrequency (BodyTite, or J-Plasma) of the abdomen and back. This MUST be done prior to any procedures if you are strongly, considering improving the shape volume of your buttocks.
Alternative procedure – Buttocks lift

Hopefully this helps organize the areas and your thoughts.

Best of luck.

Earl Stephenson Jr, MD, DDS, MBA
ESJ Aesthetics

It looks like you have some loose skin on your back, which is probably why liposuction alone didn’t work. This loose skin can be removed with a circumferential tummy tuck. A full tummy tuck can improve the appearance in the front of your body.

Given the weight loss you've achieved, it sounds like you’re at a point where body contouring can provide transformative results. A tummy tuck with liposuction would be a great option, as it addresses the excess skin and fatty tissue in your abdominal area. Liposuction can also help contour the sides, waist, and back to improve overall body shape.


Regarding the back area, since you mentioned concerns about back fat and skin laxity, liposuction can effectively remove excess fat from your back. However, for significant skin tightening, a bra line lift could be considered to smooth out the back contour.


If you're seeking to address both the front and back, a circumferential tummy tuck, also known as a lower body lift, could be a more extensive option, as it removes excess skin from both the abdomen and the back. Discussing these options with an experienced plastic surgeon will help you determine the best approach to achieve your body contouring goals while considering your individual anatomy.


Dr. Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHS
Harvard, Johns Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Educated
Double Fellowship Trained
Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon
New York, New York

I suspect you would get a beautiful result with a tummy tuck. A bra line lift could complement this nicely by improving your back contour. It is not a bad idea to start with a tummy tuck and liposuction of your back and enjoy those results. For the best back contour, you may need further surgery, but you could think on it for a while and go forward at your own pace. The combination of surgery on your back and abdomen at the same time it is a difficult healing process.