Tummy Tuck or Liposuction After Colon Resectioning

Tummy tucks are procedures that can be repeated again in the future as necessary but as Dr. Yuan correctly points out it is important to look at why you have gained weight, is your weight stable and are you significantly ideal bodyweight. All of the above can be significant factors in creating a good result.
Be sure to be as close to your ideal bodyweight as possible before proceeding for the best result.
And as always be sure to discuss your case in detail with a board certified plastic surgeon.
I hope this helps.

Hello mahesh, thank you for your question regarding whether you should have another tummy tuck or liposuction after your previous surgeries. Given your history of a tummy tuck six years ago and a colon resectioning two years ago, it's important to carefully consider the best approach to address your concerns.

Both a revision abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and liposuction could be options for you, but the best choice depends on your specific situation. A tummy tuck is typically the best option if you have a significant amount of excess skin and muscle laxity. Since you've already had a tummy tuck, a revision may be necessary if the skin has stretched again or if the muscles need further tightening. This procedure would remove excess skin, tighten the abdominal muscles, and provide a more contoured abdomen.

On the other hand, if your primary concern is excess fat rather than loose skin, liposuction could be an excellent option. Liposuction is less invasive than a tummy tuck and focuses on removing fat deposits from specific areas. However, liposuction does not address skin laxity or muscle separation, which might still be present after your previous surgeries.

Given that you've had a colon resection, it's essential to ensure that any abdominal surgery does not interfere with your previous surgical sites or cause complications. Consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has experience with revision surgeries and is aware of your medical history is crucial. They can assess your current condition, consider any potential risks, and recommend the best approach for your needs. I have performed many tummy tucks on patients who have had colon resections, and with proper planning and care, excellent results can be achieved.

In summary, if you have excess skin and muscle laxity, a revision tummy tuck may be the best option. If your primary concern is fat accumulation, liposuction could be a good alternative. Consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon will help you determine the most appropriate procedure based on your individual circumstances and goals.

Good luck, and I hope this helps answer your question regarding whether a tummy tuck or liposuction is the best option for you.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS

The answer is neither. Liposuction and tummy tucks are not good options for treating weight gain. I would recommend seeing a nutritionist in regards to your recent weight gain.

I doubt that you need a second tummy tuck after colon surgery.  With weight gain and having a previous procedure, it's unlikely you would need more fascia tightening and skin removal.  Nevertheless, I would follow the advice of a competent plastic surgeon.

I agree with the other surgeons that achieving your optimum state of health is important before surgery, but would like to add that whether another tummy tuck (in some form- there are many techniques and I actually perform 4 variations of the tummy tuck) or liposuction is best for you when you do have surgery will largely depend on what you look like now (do you have loose skin, or just excess subcutaneous fat, and are your muscles loose), what you would like to achieve, and whether you find the surgery, its recovery, and risk profile acceptable.
Your best course of action would be to commit yourself to a healthy lifestyle that you think you can sustain over the long term, allow the benefits of that healthier lifestyle to take hold (your weight ought to be stable for 4-6 months before surgery), and then seek the opinion of a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in your community. This would give you the best chances of ending up happy and safe.

Mahesh,
For someone who has already had abdominoplasty and then gains more weight, supplemental liposuction is usually a good plan. Since you have had a colon resection in the mean time, it is important to ensure that everything healed properly from that surgery. It would be a disaster if you underwent liposuction and had an incisional hernia at the site of the colon surgery. Additionally, the size and location of the incision used for the colon surgery would affect the surgical plan. In the end, you may benefit from a mini-abdominoplasty with supplemental liposuction. In any situation, please seek out a qualified plastic surgeon and discuss all the options with them.
I hope this is helpful.
David Shafer, MD

Tummy tucks are extremely popular and effective way to reach contour the abdomen and torso. In our practice no two tummy tucks are the same. We customize each tummy tuck for that specific patient. Our first priority is to create a beautiful and curvy shape.

In your case, you have an abdomen that has a great deal of scar tissue under the skin that needs to be carefully approached. Your surgeon should take great caution to elevate the skin and fat off your muscle and carefully assess whether there is any weakness or hernias in your muscle layer. 

This surgery is possible, but it is not a straightforward tummy tuck. Be sure you only work with an experienced plastic surgeon on this one.

To learn more about tummy tucks, see photos, and help you decide which one is best for you, please visit us at the link below:

 

It is always a good idea to have a thorough exam. Usually, a second tummy tuck is not warranted. But, you have to make sure that you do not have hernias from your previous abdominal surgery. It could be a disaster with liposuction if this isn't evaluated properly.
 

Hello,
Deciding upon the technique for a revision after additional surgery is hard enough when you are standing before me. The Internet is not going to help you much in deciding which way to go here.
 

Your statement that you have gained a lot of weight from inactivity suggests that you are not an optimal candidate for surgery yet. My rule of thumb prior to assessing any patient for surgery is to ask if they have attained as optimal healthy and stable lifestyle as possible for their situation. If you are inactive, you need to become more active. I would recommend discussing an exercise routine with your doctor or a personal trainer at a gym. If you have nutritional or dietary habit issues because of the colon sugery, you should discuss that with your doctor, nutritionist or dietician. Get in the most optimal lifestyle you can, then see what surgery is required. Doing surgery at any other time risks increased complications, inadequate or ineffective surgery, or surgery at the wrong time in the wrong patient.