BodyTite or Tummy Tuck? I’m struggling with the decision and reading mixed reviews (Photo)

It really depends on what your overall goals are.
BodyTite (RFAL radiofrequency assisted liposuction) can shrink tissues very well overall, particularly in someone that has overall good skin tone like you. When done in combination with a more standard form of liposuction you would have a very nice improvement to your shape.
If you want the most dramatic look possible, an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) would theoretically give you that, with the trade off being the scar and 2-3 week preliminary recovery period. Still, an abdominoplasty will not address fat on your insides that make the belly pouch outward and in those cases the abdomen may still round out (convexly) rather than being flat or concave. This is why overall weight loss and a stable weight is often recommended prior to abdominoplasty. 
Based on your pictures, I would tell you the following if you were my patient. You very likely may not need either procedure if you were to lose weight in a sustainable fashion with lifestyle modification. That’s why if you decide to have a procedure I would more likely recommend BodyTite at this point. 

Hello and thank you for your question and photos.
After reviewing your photo, I would recommend a full tummy tuck combined with liposuction. A full tummy tuck corrects the aftermath of pregnancy:
1.  The separation of the abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) is repaired to reduce the bulge
2.  The loose skin is tightened
3.  Fat deposits can be reduced with liposuction
Liposuction alone would not correct the bulge due to the muscle separation or the loose skin and would, in all likelihood, lead to a disappointing result for you. However, if you do extensive liposuction as the sole procedure, you would benefit from a skin tightening device along with it such as Renuvion powered by J-Plasma or Imode BodyTite.  A tummy tuck combine with liposuction would give the best result in terms of flattening and tightening the tummy, but has the disadvantage of scarring and a longer recovery.  So if getting back to activities quickly is your preference, then look into Renuvion powered by J-Plasma or BodyTite with Vaser liposuction.
I would recommend a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.
Best regards,
Andrew Lyos MD, FACS
 

You probably need some sort of skin removal to be happy, but this really just depends upon your expectations and your plans to become pregnant in the future.  BodyTite is a non-excisional device that utilizes radio-frequency assisted lipolysis to address the shortcomings often associated with traditional liposuction or surgical body and face lifts, including sagging or wrinkly skin and scarring, by inserting a wand under the skin to coagulate inside while tightening the skin on top. While a traditional TT can do wonders for your body, it leaves a large and unwanted scar behind. At Hughes Plastic Surgery, we offer a better option: the short-scar TT.
A short-scar TT was developed to enhance a patient’s abdomen and get rid of excess fat and skin in a way that created more attractive results. The shorter scar it leaves is the same length as that of the mini TT.  While the mini TT is less invasive, it also isn’t as comprehensive as the full TT. A short-scar TT, however, offers double the amount of loose skin and fat removal that a mini offers.
Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Los Angeles, CA

Based on your pictures, I don't recommend Body-Tite alone, due to skin laxity. For best results, I recommend a hi definition procedure like VASER liposuction, which can be performed at the same time as a tummy tuck, depending on skin laxity. I use VASER HI DEF with ThermiRF/J Plasma/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 getting a formal evaluation with a hi definition physique expert. Best, Dr. Emer

You will see a more dramatic improvement with a tummy tuck because all the loose skin will be removed.  However with liposuction and BodyTite you should still get good results and have no scars.

Tummy Tuck is still the gold standard if you have excess skin between the belly button and the pubic area,along with muscle separation. Liposuction can also be performed for additional contouring. The decision of whether to undergo Bodytite is based on a clear understanding of the limitations of this vs a traditional tummy tuck. You need to see a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in body contouring and is familiar with bodytite to discuss the pros and cons of either option. As a quick overview, Bodytite allows for less downtime and no long scar with a resulting improvement in abdominal contour. The degree of improvement with bodytite is a function of the amount of loose skin initially present.  Tummy tuck with liposuction in every case will result in a more reproducible improvement in the contour of the tummy since the surgeon has 100% control over the amount of skin that can be removed. The majority of my patients are back to a desk job after 2 weeks of undergoing a tummy tuck. You should also see the before and after galleries of the tummy tuck and bodytite procedures on the surgeon's website to give you an idea of the results that can be obtained with either option. 
Regards,

Dr. Ravi Somayazula

Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery- American Board of Medical Specialties

Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)- Subcommittee Task Force on Patient Safety

Member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS)

Member of the Texas Society of Plastic Surgeons, Houston Society of Plastic Surgeons, Harris County Medical Society

Thank you for including photos with your question!BodyTite gives some improvement of soft tissue and overlying skin tightening. That being said, you will have the most improvement with a full tummy tuck as it will ensure removal of the most 'extra' tissue possible, as well as correct any muscular deformity that may be present. 2 weeks off of work is usually the most my patients take post-tummy tuck, some even less if they don't do heavy lifting at work or  have other majorly strenuous engagements.Ultimately, decide how much scars and more intense recovery matter when considering your results. If you want the best result possible, an abdominoplasty will serve you best.Best of luck!

Thank you for you excellent question, which is asked by many patients.  Bottom line: both will give improvement.  Tummy tuck will give tighter skin but has more cost in terms of money and down time.  Your skin may not be quite as tight after body tite but you have less down time and cost.  It really depends on what your goals are.  For the best result I would use a combination of Bodytite and TT .

Both procedures can give you improvement.  BodyTite will have a more limited result but has a lot less down time and is less expensive.  With BodyTite a radiofrequency wand is placed underneath the skin and heats the tissue causing lipolysis.  The heating process also tightens the fibro-septal network.  Fat is often removed with liposuction during the procedure.  You can see contraction of about 30-35%.   A tummy tuck will give you the most tightening of your abdomen and will remove a large amount of the lax skin and underlying fat.  The downside is the associated scar and a significantly longer time to recover from the procedure.  Both procedures can lead to improvement but the tummy tuck will give you the best contour.  Good luck!Timothy A. Janiga MD, FACS

Thank you for your question and photos. Body Tite is a radio frequency system that works by stimulating collagen regrowth in the tissues. The pros of Body Tite are that it is a minimally invasive procedure with hardly any recovery time. The cons are that it can take up to a year to see your final results. In general, we see about a 30% improvement in tightening. If 30% tightening is what your goal is then I recommend doing the Body Tite. If you want a complete tightening of the abdomen then go for the abdominoplasty because Body Tite will not achieve those results. I hope this helps! Good luck.