Am I a good candidate for smart lipo or traditional lipo? (Photo)

Question

I am considering lipo because no matter how much I diet and exercise I just can't get rid of my stomach fat. I have extremely bad stretchmarks due to being so small and having children, 3 to be exact. If I get the lipo will it cause my skin to sag? Will it improve the appearance of my stretchmarks or make them worse? When I suck my stomach in it looks horrible. Is this how I can expect my stomach to look after lipo? I don't want a tummy tuck. I just couldn't bare looking at that hideous scar. Please help.

Ozge Ergun, MD · Answer

Thanks for the question. Based on your photos, you might be a good candidate for smart lipo. I recommend you to contact a Board Certified Surgeon for consultation. I wish you all the best.

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

Your stomach fat is the least of your worries. You have loose skin and loose abdominal muscles which are producing the potbelly appearance that bothers you. Lipo treats none of these problems and will simply cause your skin to shrink into a loose, wrinkled mess. I would think that trading your current appearance for a tight flat abdomen with a scar is a pretty good trade aesthetically speaking.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

The surgeon is the most important factor in the quality of the result and the ultimate smoothness.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Given the amount of laxity and stretch marks, you are not the best candidate for liposuction and better for a tummy tuck.  If you were okay with having some laxity but better contouring and decreased size, then liposuction would be okay if performed by a very well trained meticulous surgeon.  It is not the type of liposuction that matters it is the person performing it.  However, in your case, using ultrasound or laser may be benficial to help tighten the skin during the procedure.  And post procedure Velashape or Venus radiofrequency treatments would be useful for skin tightening.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Bruce E. Katz, MD · Answer

Thank you for posting a photo. It looks as if
you would be a great candidate for Smartlipo to the abdomen and mid-back areas.
Smartlipo will contour your body by removing unwanted fat deposits and
tightening the skin. Consult with your surgeon to make sure this is the best
option for you.

Scott A. Brenman, MD, FACS · Answer

Smartlipo is laser-assisted lipolysis and is a highly effective, minimally invasive, in-office procedure that destroys and permanently eliminates fat cells while promoting skin tightening up to 70%. It has been shown to improve cellulite and stretch marks. A very small cannula (tube) through which the laser fiber is introduced is gently inserted in the skin. The cannula is moved back and forth delivering laser energy directly to fat cells causing them to burst and form a liquid substance. Concurrently the fat melting laser energy emitted also stimulates collagen resulting in tissue tightening. The use of such a small cannula makes the procedure minimally invasive and performed under local anesthesia. The small blood vessels coagulate immediately on contact resulting in less bleeding, swelling and bruising with faster recovery time.If you are not interested in the scar or the recovery from an abdominoplasty then I recommend you seek the opinion of a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area that has experience with Smartlipo.Best, Scott A. Brenman, M.D., F.A.C.S.Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

We do more liposuction and fat transfer than any other
procedure.  I prefer to do my liposuction with my patients awake, thereby avoiding
general anesthesia. It allows me to have my patients move into different
positions, giving consistently good results.  We use no needles, no
scalpels and no sutures.  The procedure and recovery are easy.  Most
patients are back to most normal activities in a few days.I generally do my liposuction as Smart lipo using a laser made by Cynosure.  If it was for me, I would rather have first generation traditional lipo equipment in the hands of an expert than the best equipment with a less experienced surgeon.In a nut shell, it's the operator, not the equipment, that matters.You may want to consider a tummy tuck or least talk to your surgeon about your choices. This is when choosing a plastic surgeon can make a difference. If you consult a doctor who is trained in liposuction but not in surgery like tummy tucks, you will most likely be sold on liposuction. If someone is trained in all aspects of body sculpting, you can choose what is truly the best procedure for you. It's like the expression, "If you're a hammer, then the world looks like a nail." Go to someone who has the complete tool box. That said, as I mentioned before, the experience of the surgeon can make a big difference.I hope that helps.Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.

Am I a good candidate for smart lipo or traditional lipo? (Photo)

Answers (7)

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