Do I need a tummy tuck to get flat and shapely stomach or will lipo suffice? (Photos)

Hello Ruth86, and thank you for your history and your pictures.

Your best results would be achieved with a horizontal abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). During a tummy tuck, the rectus abdominis muscle is sutured together or plicated to flatten your abdominal profile. This is especially beneficial if your abdominal wall has weakened or stretched due to fluctuations in weight. Additionally, during a tummy tuck, the pubic region is lifted and reduced, and excess skin and fat are permanently removed. The belly button is also repositioned into a more natural and aesthetically pleasing location.

Most plastic surgeons would recommend a tummy tuck over liposuction for you. With liposuction alone, you run the risk of skin rippling or irregularities post-operatively, as it does not address excess or loose skin. Liposuction can also lead to asymmetry if the skin and muscle underneath are not adequately addressed. A tummy tuck, on the other hand, provides a much more comprehensive solution by removing excess skin and fat while tightening the abdominal muscles to achieve a flatter and firmer abdomen.

When tightening the rectus abdominis muscle, the muscle is brought together along the midline, inverted, and flattened. The rectus muscle is tightened from the sternum to the pubic region, resulting in a significantly flatter abdomen. This type of muscle repair is a key difference between a tummy tuck and liposuction, as liposuction does not address muscle laxity or loose skin.

Based on your photos and history, a tummy tuck would yield far superior results compared to liposuction. A tummy tuck would not only flatten your abdomen but also provide a shapely, sculpted contour.

When seeking surgery, it is essential to consult with an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who has performed hundreds of tummy tucks and can show you "before and after" pictures to give you confidence in their expertise.

Good luck, and I hope I’ve helped answer your question regarding your options!

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

As usual, I would need a good examination to answer this question well. It seems that your abdomen is quite protruding and this would only be helped with a tummy tuck. I think many patients would be under impressed and dissatisfied with just liposuction. You would only change your profile a little bit. It seems a tummy tuck and liposuction contouring of your lower back would give quite a nice result. Perhaps a consultation would cover the possible approaches to your abdomen so you could make this decision for your self. Good luck with everything.

According to the information that you have provided, you have fluctuated a bit with your weight, which could cause loose skin, but it doesn’t seem that you have too too much. Perhaps a good option for your case specifically because you have not had is Liposuction 360 with J plasma

I suspect you would have excellent results with traditional tumescent liposuction of the abdomen and flanks. Alternatively, you could consider radio frequency assisted liposuction such as bodytite to tighten the skin further and avoid abdominoplasty scars.

Thank you for your inquiry! This type of surgery is determined by the amount of abdominal skin laxity you have. We would love to sit down with you and discuss your options. Schedule an appointment with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to help you reach your goals.

You appear to have some wrinkled skin above and below your belly button, which would make a tummy tuck more suitable for you.

When considering liposuction vs. tummy tuck it is important to consider what your goals are. The biggest thing we worry about with liposuction alone is what will happen to the skin after liposuction. Things like age and weight fluctuations as well as genetics influence how well the skin will shrink up or respond from liposuction. In the photos it does appear that you have some loose skin, particularly above the belly button. This will not be improved with liposuction alone. If the goal is to fit better in clothing and improve the silhouette, this can likely be accomplished with liposuction. If the goal is to have the tummy as tight and flat as possible, a tummy tuck is going to be your best option.

Based on your history of significant weight fluctuations and the photos you’ve shared, a tummy tuck combined with liposuction of your flanks is likely to provide the best long-term results. While a tummy tuck involves a bigger recovery and a scar, it offers the advantage of removing excess skin and creating a flatter, more contoured stomach as you age.

If you choose liposuction alone in areas with already looser skin, you may develop excess skin and possible irregularities during the healing process or as you get older. A tummy tuck addresses these concerns directly, giving you a more consistent and lasting result.

Dr. B.

Dear Ruth86,
based on your photos, you look like a good candidate for a TT. Full tummy tuck should tighten your abdominal muscles and remove the excess skin. Flanks liposuction would give you a better shape. I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon because only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hello, thank you for the provided photos. If you get liposuction alone to abdomen and flanks, it is likely that you will have lower abdominal skin laxity remaining. For your best result, I would advise a lipoabdominoplasty to thin out the fatty wall layer and remove all excess skin.