Will liposuction get rid of the baby belly I've never lost? (photos)

Question

I'm looking to get rid of excess fat in my belly to help my varicose veins and high blood pressure that hasn't left after kids. Will liposuction take care of this? Do I need to have more than one area done? Will a tummy tuck be needed? Can I have a tiny tuck right after a hysterectomy?

Donovan Rosas, MD · Answer

Concerns about the appearance of the abdomen are very common among patients consulting with a plastic surgeon. Just like every patient is different…so too is every abdomen. Different problems require different solutions. Your board certified plastic surgeon is uniquely trained to identify the problems as well as the appropriate solution.
The abdomen is commonly addressed via liposuction or abdominoplasty (“tummy – tuck”). Which procedure is best is dependent upon the source of the problem. 
Excess fat deposits underneath the skin can be addressed via liposuction. Liposuction will not address any other issues and may worsen the situation if there are other factors at play (such as skin excess and muscle laxity, see below)
Commonly patients concerns are centered around issues of excess skin as well as fat. A third factor, which is often overlooked by most patients is abdominal wall muscle laxity (typically seen in post partum mommies).  The tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure designed to eliminate excess skin and fat and tighten the muscles in the abdominal wall to create a smoother and slimmer contour. The tummy tuck is designed to target areas of the abdomen that have not responded to diet and exercise, making it particularly popular among people that have a lot of loose or sagging skin around the abdominal area due to significant weight loss, as well as women with excess skin and stretched abdominal muscles following pregnancy and childbirth. 
Candidates for tummy tuck should be already at or near their ideal weight for optimal results. It is recommended to women that are planning on becoming pregnant to postpone the procedure until they are finished having children. 
Based upon your photos alone, you would do best with an abdominoplasty. Liposuction alone, while an option, would not address all of the issues common in a "mommy tummy" i.e. skin excess, muscle laxity and excess fat. There are alternatives including lipo with BodyTite which uses RF heating to address skin laxity as well as subcutaneous fat excess. There are also non-invasive means of addressing muscle laxity such as EMSculpt which uses HiFEM (high frequency electromagnetic waves) to induce muscle contractions and strengthen and tighten your core in a non-invasive fashion. These are all options, however, the abdominoplasty is the gold standard in your particular case for rehabilitation of the abdominal area.With regards to your specific questions, these procedures are contouring procedures and not a means for weight loss. They are not likely to have any effect of varicosities or blood pressure.
As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

Paul Vitenas, Jr., MD · Answer

Thank you very much for your question and photographs. Based on your pictures, it does appear that you would make a good candidate for liposuction. While the liposuction will eliminate the unwanted fatty tissue along your abdomen, the stretched skin may not bounce back. For this reason, you will find that a tummy tuck with liposuction can provide the best results, eliminating the lax tissue to create a flat, tight, smooth stomach. To determine the best technique(s) for your situation, I suggest scheduling an in-person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon, experienced in body contouring procedures.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

In your side view photo, your abdomen protrudes as if you are still pregnant. This occurs because the pregnancy stretched and irreversibly damaged the fascia (the support layer). The technique I recommend is abdominoplasty with mesh reinforcement, if you are not planning future pregnancies. The mesh creates a more hourglass figure by compressing the abdominal wall resulting in early satiety and helps maintain a reduced weight.Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Alex Campbell, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. It is hard to tell from the photos provided, although based on your information it seems that you'd get best results from a tummy tuck procedure. Tummy tuck, also know as abdominoplasty, is a procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen and to restore the weakened abdominal wall, giving a firmer and smoother appearance.  We nearly always add liposuction to our tummy tucks to sculpt the body 360 degrees to achieve an ideal feminine figure.  Tummy tuck is a very powerful technique in the right hands, and can have dramatic results if done correctly.  You definitely have to choose your surgeon correctly and make sure that he/she has the training and experience to meet your goals with absolute safety.  Don’t settle for less than a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with specialized expertise in this procedure.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Recommend that you work with your PCP physician to get your weight and blood pressure under control first.  Then have the hysterectomy; once healed and cleared by your gynecologist, have the tummy tuck with liposuction.

Ryan Neinstein, MD, FRCSC · Answer

Thanks for the question, using a combination of vaser energy to melt fat, gentle fat removal, and plasma energy for shrink wrapping the skin you can get a great result quickly with virtually no scars. However, the roundness from your belly is likely due to muscle weakness from pregnancy. The only way to fix that dramatically is to make a tummy tuck incision lift everything up and sew the muscles back together aka the diastasic repair. I find many patients are happy without doing that because they can improve that with core work in the gym and they don't want the full scars of the tummy tuck

Thomas Trevisani, MD · Answer

I suggest that you get your blood pressure and weight under control first- there's no substitute for healthy lifestyle. Once you arrive at your best weight and all your medical issues are under control - you can consult with BC PS re/ full tummy tuck

Trevor M. Born, MD · Answer

Dear MOmmy2Thank you for your questions and photos! Part of the answer lies in your pre pregnancy body shape.  At this point , good blood pressure control and fitness take priority over surgery.With Warm Regards Trevor M Born MD

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. Based on your photographs and medical history, I recommend weight loss and getting your blood pressure well controlled first.  After this, you will be a better candidate for a full tummy tuck with liposuction.  This can be done through a low incision, all completely below the bikini line.  The belly button can be designed to look natural and have no scars on the exterior.   Your muscles can also be plicated resulting in a flat abdomen.  Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.  
 
 Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D. FACS

Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Robert M. Tornambe, MD · Answer

MOmmy2. Diet and exercise is first option.  This is the best way to get control of your blood pressure, liposuction or Tummytuck will not.  Liposuction will decrease bulk and may even allow you to go down one dress size, but Tummytuck will give you most dramatic result.  It is fairly common to undergo Tummytuck at the same time as hysterectomy. However, your plastic surgeon and gynecologist must be able to work together. Be sure to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to help guide you. Good luck!