I've always had this type of 'love handles' - what are they & how do I fix it? (Photos)

The "love handles" are the areas of excess fat that typically form on the sides of your lower waist and hips. They are often a result of genetics, weight fluctuations, or hormonal changes. In some cases, these areas can be more prominent and challenging to address through diet and exercise alone, especially if you’ve always had this body shape. Fortunately, there are several options to target love handles, including liposuction.
If skin laxity accompanies the fat accumulation, procedures like a tummy tuck combined with liposuction can provide both skin tightening and fat removal for more dramatic results. In some cases, a flank excision may be necessary to surgically remove excess fat and skin. Consulting with an experienced plastic surgeon is key to understanding which procedure is best suited for your body and specific goals.
Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHSHarvard, Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Trained Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonNew York, New York

Thank you for your question. Looking at the photos you have provided I would suggest having a Flank excision along with some liposuction. That will allow your Surgeon to reduce down the love handle area and remove the extra skin as well. I would suggest speaking with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in person to evaluate and discuss your options. Best of luck to you.

Liposuction can remove unwanted fat, however skin tightening may also need to be performed at the same time to totally eliminate your love handles. A tummy tuck with liposuction or circumferential tummy tuck may be suitable options for you.

Thank you for your inquiry regarding addressing love handles. Based on the examination of photos of an individual with a similar body type as yours, I would suggest considering an extended tummy tuck procedure. Your concern involves excessive skin and fat, and liposuction alone may result in residual skin and undesirable outcomes. An extended tummy tuck with muscle plication could be recommended to address the issue effectively. This procedure can help placate the muscles and reduce your waistline by 4 to 6 inches while addressing the love handles and removing a substantial amount of fat. Additionally, complementing this with liposuction of the flanks can help enhance your body's contours. Thank you for your question, and I hope that this response provides useful information to you. Good luck.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Hello @svea90, thank you for your question. To make an informed recommendation. More information is needed. A consultation is vital to establishing a surgical plan that meets your needs, meets your expectations, and takes into account what is possible. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS. American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science” Member (IFATS), American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery member (SCCP)

Love handles are typically the result of the body retaining excess fat. This occurs when you consume more calories than your body burns or you burn fewer calories than you consume. As a consequence, fat cells tend to accumulate and become more visible, especially around the waist and hip regions.

Liposuction/liposculpture could help you to treat this issue.

It is best to consult with a skilled board certified plastic surgeon for the best results.

I hope this helps,
best of luck !

Since you have had an inverted T abdominoplasty, it appears that you have had significant weight changes in your life. The positioning of the "lumps" is due to the anatomic changes caused by the abdominoplasty and the scar placement.
Fortunately, liposuction should take care of the issue fairly well. At the very worst case, a small skin excision may be needed along the same scar.

Love handles can often be treated very well with liposuction.
Some things your surgeon will consider is the shape of the rest of your abdomen and back, as well as your height, weight and general health.

This area would do well with liposuction to remove the excess fat. Once removed, you can see how your skin does.

After reading your post and looking at the photos you provided, I think you would need some liposuction and direct excision of the tissue. In my opinion combining the two will give you a better outcome and improve your overall shape and contour. You need to understand that in cutting out the tissue you are going to have incisions and scars along the sides of your lower abdomen that can extend to the back, but you will also have the shape you are looking for