Is smart lipo an option to make my stomach flat again after pregnancy? 145 lbs, 5'4 (photos)

Question

I had a child 6 months ago and went from a relatively flat stomach to having some lower belly fat, I was 135lbs pre-pregnancy and I’m 145lbs now and 5’4. I am wondering if smart lipo would be an option to help flatten my stomach or even with a combo of that and 10lb weight loss could achieve that result. I seriously do not want a tummy tuck under any circumstance I hate the scar and the way the belly buttons look- very unnatural.

Ryan Rebowe, MD · Answer

In general based on your age and the amount of fat and skin that you have, SMARTLipo could be an effective procedure to improve your contour. However, a physical exam must be performed in order to make sure that your rectus muscle separation, or diastasis recti, is not significantly contributing to your lower abdominal excess. If this is the case, only an abdominoplasty or mini-abdominoplasty will truly treat the problem.

Deborah Marciano, DO · Answer

Yes. You are a good candidate for smartlipo based on you pictures, height and weight.Smartlipo has minimal downtime and can be done under local anesthesia with minimal or no scarring.

Kevin Tehrani, MD, FACS · Answer

thank you for your question and posting appropriate pictures. You seem to be a good candidate for sculpting of your abdomen and waist line as well as skin tightening with Smart Lipo (laser), Body tite  (radio frequency)  or Jplasma (Renuvion).  You can expect to have a dramatic improvement with liposuction without resorting to a tummy tuck. Best to have a virtual consultation to discuss options of course.

Marco A. Pelosi III, MD, FACOG, FACS · Answer

This is the most common question in the world. The answer is: it depends. It depends on what's causing your abdomen to NOT be flat. In your case, it's three things: loose muscles, loose skin, and little bit of fat. Fix all of them and everything will be flat and tight. Remove only the fat and nothing else and the loose skin will get looser and wrinkle, the potbelly will still be there, and you'll be only slightly flatter. If you don't want a tummy tuck because of the belly button scar, check out the scarless belly button on the video link or consider a mini tuck. If you don't want a scar, hit the gym and see if that helps, because lipo alone won't make you happy.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Aoxe2000,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Based on your photos, it looks like you would have some loose skin after liposuction. 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

Is smart lipo an option to make my stomach flat again after pregnancy? 145 lbs, 5'4 (photos)

Answers (5)