Tummy tuck or 360 lift after weight loss? (photos)

Question

I have gone from 310-180 from 2009-2012 and stayed at around 180 since. I would like to know which would be more beneficial for me when I only have a 5 week recovery time before going back to work as a kindergarten teacher. Also if I join do either with some lipo and arm lift, how much recovery time should I expect?

Carmina Cardenas, MD · Answer

After the massive weight loss you have developed a severe degree of saggy skin on abdomen, lateral, pubic and maybe buttocks. 
So you will be a great candidate for Lower Body Lift which should include Circumferential Tummy Tuck, pubic lift, tight muscle repair to create a smaller waist and flatter abdomen, and Real buttocks lift. I would add some lipo to waist and lovehandles to sculpt the area and harvest some fat to transfer to buttocks and hips. 
You will look wonderful. 
I would recommend not to combine with anything else. 
Be encouraged 
Dr. Cardenas

Landon Pryor, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question, Anon08.  Based on your photos and the weight dimensions that you have provided, Circumferential Abdominoplasty is going to give you the most comprehensive result.  This procedure can be performed at the time of the arm contouring procedure.  You can expect about 3 weeks of downtime with minimal activity.  If you have a 5 week recovery period, that will be perfect.  As for resuming strenuous activity, heavy lifting and working out, you are looking at 4 to 6 weeks of downtime.

Aldo Guerra, MD · Answer

If your buttock is saggy then the body lift will be the best option if not then the tummy tuck. Have a formal consultation for a recommendation. Best wishes, Dr. Aldo

Don Fontana, MD · Answer

No  question in my mind. A lower body lift is the better choice.  This is major   surgery . Five weeks  should be fine for your recovery period. Whether you have  your arms done at the same time is  up to you and your surgeon.  I would prefer staging the operations.

Tania Medina de Garcia, MD · Answer

Hello dear!!Thanks for the question and provided information as well.Congratulations for the weight loss, that's the first big change. In your case, i recommend to performance surgery problem by problem, because the extra skin it's too much. The first step to do it's the tummy tuck, and then with a better evaluation and more photos we'll know the next steps.Make an appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon to talk about your goals and concerns.Good luck :)

Bernabe Vazquez, MD · Answer

Congratulations on your weight loss! You current weight of 180  is closer to half your original weight than to your original weight. In other words you have to realize that you are  physically another person! A tummy tuck is a procedure ideally designed for a patient with post pregnancy changes. In my opinion it is too limited a procedure for a large weight loss patient. Looking at your photos, It appears that you have excess skin in various areas of your body and will require more than one procedure.Therefore it is a good idea to start the journey by doing a procedure that will address more than one area. I always recommend a lower body lift as a primary procedure as it will include a tummy tuck,outer thigh lift, buttock lift and augmentation all in one setting. After that, the next stage is usually a combination of an arm lift with inner thigh lift or a combination involving the breasts. It will be a long road but the result  will be worth it! Good luck and again congratulations on the weight loss

Samuel Lien, MD · Answer

Congratulations on your weight loss! Anyone who has lost 130+ lbs will have significant amounts of extra skin, and the most bothersome areas tend to be the upper arms, breasts, abdomen, lower back, and inner thighs. It's tough to appreciate how much extra skin you have of your lower back based on your photos, but just about everyone who has lost that much weight COULD have a circumferential lift, the question would be is it worth the extra expense and recovery. It's always best to have this discussion with a board certified plastic surgeon who has had a chance to examine you, and he or she can talk about the nature of each procedure and what may be best for you. Recovery in 5 weeks would be reasonable for either surgery, in my experience. It may be possible to do an arm lift at the same time, depending on how you approach the abdomen, but combination procedures should always be carefully considered given the risks of extra time under anesthesia and stressing the body with so much healing all at the same time.

Michael Carlisle, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

It appears from your pictures a lower body lift would be best. Tummy tuck would work and you would be happy with it, but lower body lift would give you the best results. If the butt sags, you will definitely want LBL. 5-6 weeks is probably okay for return as teacher, but be aware you may need some more time. Everyone is different, but generally 4-6 weeks back to teaching. Arm lift along with this will be a tough recovery. I will do this combination, but I don't like it: limited use of your ABs and arms makes for a tough recovery. It wouldn't really add to the timeframe of recovery though. Lipo is no problem to add and no additional recovery.

Tummy tuck or 360 lift after weight loss? (photos)

Answers (8)

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