When is Lipo used Vs TT? (Photo)

If you have loose skin and stretch marks, then a tummy tuck is the best treatment. If you have no stretch marks and your skin is tight, then liposuction is a good option. A mini tummy tuck can only tighten the lower abdominal muscles and is indicated in smaller patients with only minimal amounts of loose skin. Based on your photo it appears you are a good candidate for a tummy tuck, but you would need to be examined in person to be sure.Best wishes,Dr.Bruno

Thank you for your question! Without an exam in person it is hard to give a recommendation. Generally, a tummy tuck is needed to remove excess skin and repair the muscle wall after separation following pregnancy. A mini tummy tuck results in a shorter scar but removes less loose skin and does not address muscle separation. Sometimes liposuction to the abdomen by itself can be an option if the skin quality is good and there is no muscle separation present. Your best bet would be to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon for a recommendation based on your personal history and an in-person exam. Best of luck!

I appreciate your question.If you have a lot of excess skin and especially muscle looseness from having children, a tummy tuck is better.Sometimes you need both depending on the amount of fat thats thereThe best way to assess and give true advice would be an in-person exam.Please see a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic and restorative plastic surgery.best of luck!Dr Schwartz

These are not mutually exclusive procedures, matter of fact they are done together more often than not. Based on the recommendations from the previous posts, if you go by the strict criteria, that a person must have good elastic skin otherwise they are not candidates for liposuction, then liposuction would be done only on the few potential patients who fit this criteria. Liposuction would not be the number one procedure in this country or the world. There are many ways to approach a patient with so-so elastic skin, excess fat, loose lower abdominal skin with sagging pubic area, fat rolls on the back, waist, hips, etc. I often liposuction my patients first who are not the best candidates for a TT, then I do a TT six months later to get the best body contouring and hourglass figure. Often, the TT scar is shorter if the liposuction is done first. Even poor skin with stretch marks tightens up to a certain degree. I do all my TT/liposuctions in my accredited office surgery suite under intravenous sedation and tumescent anesthesia. I do not use general or even epidural anesthesia anymore.Lipo is not a good alternative to a TT, but is a procedure that further improves your body contour. Based on your limited frontal photo, you will need a full TT (tightening the muscle from the breast bone to the pubic bone). A mini TT is rarely done, basically on a person with minimal skin laxity and a small fullness in the lower abdomen only. See a board certified plastic surgeon experienced in advanced body sculpting techniques for an in pewrson consultation/evaluation. good luck.

Tummy tuck and liposuction are two different approaches to improving the abdomen.  A combination of the two is common.  Liposuction will essentially shrink the existing you while improving your waist curves and flattening your stomach.  Liposuction does not remove skin so you are relying on the elasticity and strength of your skin to conform around the new lesser volume.  The skin shrinkage is usually impressive and their is a high satisfaction associated with liposuction as long as your expectations are inline.  In the correct hands, Liposuction is effectively performed without the need for general anesthesia.  This approach along with the use of small cannulas will allow for a much easier recovery.  On the other hand, a tummy tuck is also an excellent procedure to tighten-up and reshape the abdomen.  Skin and soft tissue is removed from the belly button down to the pubic region and this is extended from hip to hip.  The underlying muscles are tightened from the lower part of the sternum to the pubic region.  The belly button is reshaped. Liposuction is typically performed with this procedure but in a more limited fashion.  Ideally, you should be finished with child-birthing when undergoing a tummy tuck. A mini tummy tuck is a much smaller amount of skin removal and less muscle tightening.  A tiny tuck is only a small amount of skin removal and more aggressive liposuction.  The best thing to do is schedule a consultation with a Plastic Surgeon who performs a lot of these procedures.  

When it comes to deciding between a tummy tuck and abdominal liposuction, two factors should be considered.  1. The amount of skin laxity that you have and 2. You final expectations of skin tightness.  A tummy tuck takes out the loose abdominal skin and fatty tissue, repairs muscle separation and creates definitive tightening of the abdominal skin.  Liposuction only decreases the fatty tissue under the skin, but it neither tightens the skin nor does it allow for muscle repair.  In fact, if liposuction is performed on someone who already is bothered by excess skin laxity of the abdomen, they are likely to feel that the problem has worsened after liposuction, even with the decrease in fatty volume. And, that is where your expectations of the final skin tightness matters the most.  For tight abdominal skin, most need a tummy tuck. For improved contour, with some possible skin laxity being acceptable, liposuction can work well.  During the exam, your surgeon can discuss with you your skin tone and tightness and the risks vs benefits of each procedure.  Dr. B

When you evaluate your abdomen you have to look at 3 things: skin, fat, and underlying muscle.  If your skin is in good condition (not many stretch marks, fairly tight, not folding over your waistline), your muscle is tight and the problem is mostly stubborn fat then liposuction is the answer.  From your photo that appears to be the case.If you have stretched out hanging skin, lots of deep stretch marks, a bulging muscle underneath then a tummy tuck is a better option. An examination is obviously critical to fully determine what is best for you.  Liposuction is a faster recovery, less painful, no scars, and is less invasive.  I hope this information helps you!Thomas Taylor, MD, FACSPasadena, CA

Thank you for your questions. Tummy tucks are a great option for patients who have loose and/or sagging skin. This can be from extreme weight loss or sometimes loose skin after pregnancy. From your picture, it appears you could be a candidate for liposuction of the abdomen, but would need to have slightly looser skin before being a candidate for tummy tuck. With any tummy tuck procedure, blood supply is a major factor in the healing process. If tissue and/or fat is being removed rather than just loose skin, this can affect the blood supply while healing which can in turn cause other complications. Please schedule a consultation for a more accurate opinion. I wish you the best Dr. Gabbay

Liposuction is a good alternative when skin laxity is not an issue.  If skin laxity is an issue then an abdominoplasty is indicated.  A mini abdominoplasty is indicated for very small skin excision.General anesthesia is very safe unless you are quite ill.  Of course you should not be considering cosmetic surgery if that is the case.  Recovery time is considerable after an abdominoplasty so it should be taken into account.  

Thank you for your question and photograph.  Liposuction is best performed in those patients with isolated areas of diet and exercise resistant fat, and who have good skin quality.  Liposuction helps to permanently remove this fat, but in patients with already loose skin, or skin with extensive stretch marks, it may cause this looseness to worsen.  A mini tummy tuck is only used in patients who do not need their abdominal muscles tightened or repaired, and who have limited extra skin found below the belly button.  As a result, most patients are full tummy tuck candidates.  Hope that this helps.