Having second thoughts about surgery, BBL or tummy tuck first? (Photos)

Just based on photos only, you ap[pear to have some weakness to your abdominal muscles and some excess skin which can be addressed with the full or mini tuck. I am not a fan of fat transfer to the hips since usually there is excess fat above and below those areas which is best treated with liposuction. Also, it is difficult to do a tuck in front and a fat transfer in back and stay off both areas to heal.

Based on your photos and description, I would recommend a tummy tuck with muscle plication, and liposuction with fat transfer to your hips only. Liposuction of your waist and of the tissue between your pubic area and belly button will provide enough fat to fill in your hips. You’re correct about having loose skin after a liposuction only procedure. Doing a tummy tuck first is my recommendation, and there’s no reason you couldn’t have fat transfer to your hips at the same time. You actually may not need a second procedure. Also, many surgeons will offer liposuction of your back at the time of the tummy tuck. Hope this helps.

Thank you for your question and for sharing your photos. Based on the images and details you’ve provided, it’s clear that you have some excess skin and fat around your belly button, along with a small tummy pooch and stretch marks. These factors indicate that liposuction alone may not effectively address the skin laxity, as stretch marks suggest that the skin won't shrink predictably without surgical removal.

Given your goals of both enhancing your hips with fat transfer and addressing the loose skin in your abdomen, many plastic surgeons would recommend a combination approach: liposuction of the abdomen, fat transfer to the hips, and a tummy tuck. This would provide the best overall contouring by removing excess skin, tightening the abdomen, and adding volume to your hips for balance.

If finding a surgeon who performs all three procedures together locally is challenging, and traveling to Miami or another location is an option, it may be worth considering. If not, you might need to approach it in two stages. First, you could undergo liposuction and fat transfer to the hips, and then, after 4 to 6 months, proceed with the tummy tuck to remove the excess skin.

Most plastic surgeons in the U.S. would agree that performing these procedures together provides the best and most efficient results. If travel is an option for you, it might be worth considering to achieve your desired outcome in a single surgery.

I hope this helps answer your question and guide your decision.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen