Skin tightening for mild stomach laxity, any suggestions? (Photos)

We have had excellent results with skin tightening over the past 12 years with laser liposuction. After numbing the treatment area with tumescence, the skin is tightened using the laser directly under the skin and then the deep fat is melted. Liposuction using small cannulas is performed to remove the melted fat and to sculpt the area. The huge advantage of laser liposuction is that very small incisions (less than a centimeter) are made to introduce the tools under the skin. When these tiny incisions heal on most people, they are not highly visible.

Mild stomach laxity without a tummy tuck can be improved with Smart Lipo laser or Vaser ultrasound liposuction or Thermi RF. These will tighten skin at rest to a degree, with minimal access incisions.

There will always be more laxity with movement or pinching skin that may or may not improve with minimally invasive treatments.

​An exam and consultation with a plastic surgeon is recommended to discuss your options and expectations.

In truth, non-surgical options give only mild improvement compared to surgical lifting. Skin tightening can be done with a combination of Vanquish, truSculpt iD, Venus Legacy, Exilis, Cellutone/Zwave. However, for best results, a Tummy Tuck procedure can be combined with a high definition procedure at the same time. For best results, VASER HI-DEF Liposuction with ThermiRF, Renuvion, InMode BodyTite and fat grafting to get the most fat removal, skin tightening, contour and definition. This combination will give you the most toned result. I recommend starting MTS Dermal Rolling, AnteAGE MD Microneedling kit, SkinCeuticals B5 gel, and AnteAGE MD accelerator. Get a formal evaluation with a hi-definition physique expert. Best, Dr. Emer​​

Dear Dixie Chicken,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering a treatment, 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

Dear Dixie Chicken,
Thanks for sharing your photos. They are helpful.
After the age of 30, the restoration of collagen providing support to the skin and all surrounding tissues diminishes. This leads to:
1. skin laxity as you demonstrate and
2. soft tissue laxity, ie folds of skin and descent of fat and all other glands, muscles and organs.
During the healing process of skin, following lifts like facelift or tummy tuck, the skin will swell and begin a thickening process but it is the aim of the body to heal the injury, ie. the cut tissues not firm the adjacent top skin layer.
The skin as a fabric requires focused collagen stimulation using:
1. Non-surgical: retinoids
2. Minimally invasive: sculptra, J Plasma, ThermiTight, chemical peels and laser
In other words, a tummy tuck for you will stretch and remove skin excess but not directly firm, contract, tighten and collagenize the “crepey” skin you illustrate.

Consult with a well skilled Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who offers these treatments to best understand what is best for you.

I wish you all the best!

Hello and thank you for your question. In my opinion, thermage would help tighten the skin on the abdomen. Thermage is a form of radio frequency heat that penetrates deep into the skin to stimulate collagen and smooth skin. The procedure should be repeated yearly to maintain results. Hope this helps!

Dear TN,
Thank you for sharing your tummy pictures.
You are not alone when it comes to having loose skin, but not bad enough to warrant the scars of a full tummy tuck. The in between patient could have lipo alone with skin tightening laser or ultrasound techniques, but the loose skin might be unchanged or get worse. A mini tummy tuck would minimize the scarring and get rid of the loose stretch mark skin, but leave a linear scar that takes six weeks of healing and lifting restrictions. A newer technologies over the last couple of years is called Renuvion that shrink wraps the skin internally, with one treatment, done at the same time as the liposuction.
I prefer a combination of ultrasound liposuction and Renuvion jplasma technologies together for the maximum results. The scarring is through little cannula sites, so small stitches are not needed. No lifting restrictions, and back to work after a two day rest.
Happy to help!
Best. Dr Brecht
Seattle, Wa