1 year post op of Liposuction, my flanks are uneven. Do I need a another Liposuction or a Tummy Tuck? (photo)

Question

I had lipo on my chest, upper and lower abdomen and flanks 1 year ago to the day, i felt a slight change in the chest and upper abs but as for the lower abs and flanks i dont see much change, in fact i think it got worse, they r uneven and still hang on the sides and lower back ,over all, i can still easily grab my belly fat in my palms and pull it away,is there a way to even them out? is it possible to get really flat abs without having to undergo another lipo or a tummy tuck again?

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

As a bodybuilder, I can appreciate the results of working out.  As a 
plastic surgeon, I also know that many patients can benefit from 
liposuction. You may benefit from additional liposuction or a tummy tuck.  An exam will be necessary to make that determination.Find a plastic surgeon who performs hundreds of 
liposuction procedures, has great reviews, and has great before and 
after pictures.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Yngvar A. Hvistendahl, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question, and I'm sorry
to read you are unhappy with your results. It's difficult to tell from your
photos alone, but you may benefit from a bit of additional liposuction or even
a tummy tuck. If your additional time in the gym isn't paying off, I recommend
scheduling a face-to-face consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon
who is experienced in body contouring. He or she can help you decide on the
best course of action for your specific circumstances. Good luck.

Megan Jack, MD · Answer

It's quite difficult to say using pictures alone--you really need a face to face evaluation and discussion as to options. Depending on several factors (amount of fat removed, age, skin quality, history of obesity, etc), you may or may not simply have residual excess skin leftover after your liposuction and yes sometimes this does necessitate skin excision (such as tummy tuck) for management. Occasionally, if the skin laxity is mild or moderate there are special energy devices that can be used to try to tighten up the skin. One of the newer devices we have been trying for this problem is called Thermi where small incsions are made similar to liposuction and a small probe is run against the back side of the skin to heat it in a controlled fashion. This heat helps to initiate a response where the skin tightens up, sometimes to a large degree.  You could potentially be a candidate for trying that option if you want to avoid a tummy tuck and if your laxity is not significant.  Some slight asymmetries are not uncommon after liposuction especially given we are not perfectly symmetric to start with before surgery.  Often times, small touch up procedures can be done to tweak the results and make things more symmetric.  Your best bet is to seek out a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in body contouring and skin tightening technologies to have an evaluation and recommendations for the best management.  Good luck!

1 year post op of Liposuction, my flanks are uneven. Do I need a another Liposuction or a Tummy Tuck? (photo)

Answers (3)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

​1 year post op of Liposuction, my flanks are uneven. Do I need a another Liposuction or a Tummy Tuck? (photo)

Answers (3)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

1 year post op of Liposuction, my flanks are uneven. Do I need a another Liposuction or a Tummy Tuck? (photo)