Tummy Tuck: Prices, Photos, Reviews, Info, Q&A

Liposuction or a tummy tuck

I think form your pictures that although you do have some residual subcutaneous fat that could be removed with liposuction but you already have loose skin form the weight loss.

I think a tummy tuck would be able to correct both the skin and the fat issue and is likely a better choice for you.

If you are planning on losing any more weight, I would suggest that be done prior to any tummy tuck as then the proper amount of skin can be removed. (Julio Garcia, MD, Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon)

You are a clear tummy tuck patient, as it is the only procedure that will get rid of the excessive skin in your abdomen, liposuction could help to mold your back a bit, but it depends on the quality of your skin. Sometimes after a big weight loss, skin tends to become lax and thin, and will not respond well to liposuction. (Jose A. Leon, MD, Dominican Republic Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy tuck of liposuction after weight loss

Lipo vs tummy tuck operation

The proceedure most suited would be an extended abdominoplasty with umbilicoplasty. You have a sad belly button and this can be repaired. Your significant weight loss is commendable but the final reward is your body contour surgery to trim the excess skin. (Darryl J. Hodgkinson, MD, Sydney Plastic Surgeon)

You would most likely be very unhappy with just liposuction. Liposuction does not address excess or loose skin. In cases of very loose skin, liposuction can actually make it worse.

You look like you would be a good candidate for a full, if not an extended, abdominoplasty. That would get rid of the excess sagging skin and stretch marks, as well as tighten up your separated rectus muscles. I think you would find your stomach will match the rest of your healthy shape afterward. (Mary Lee Peters, MD, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)

The Lipo vs tummy tuck

When you have a skin fold and excess only a tummy tuck will do to correct the laxity. Liposuction just might make the skin excess worse, so tummy tuck is what you should look into. (Peter E. Johnson, MD, Chicago Plastic Surgeon)

Abdominoplasty is the only solution to this abdominal problem.

The sizable amount of redundant skin would only be aggravated by liposuction. A formal abdominoplasty or even an extended abdominoplasty may be the best operative choice. (Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)

The shape of your umbilicus or belly button indicates a significant amount of skin sagging. This would be expected after a remarkable weight loss such as yours. Liposuction removes fat but in most instances does not significantly tighten the skin.

Your main problem appears to be excess skin. Surgically removing the excess skin is the goal of abdominoplasty or “tummy tuck” Another benefit of the procedure is that the abdominal wall muscles are tightened using a suture technique called plication. (Barry Citron, MD, Montclair Plastic Surgeon)

Lipo vs tummy tuck surgery

It looks as though there is excessive skin that the only option would be best to do the tummy tuck, if you wanted additional body contouring, then liposuction with the tummy tuck would be an option. I would recommend to go to a few board certified plastic surgeons and receive a few opinions. (Gregory A. Wiener, MD, FACS, Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon)

With this amount of weight loss, your skin will not respond well to liposuction. You will need to have a tummy tuck to remove the excess loose skin to really get the kind of a abdominal change you are seeking and deserve after this weight loss accomplishment. (Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD, San Diego Plastic Surgeon)

I think that if you lost 75lbs you might be better off having some sort of tummy tuck to remove the excess skin and to tighten the muscles. (Steven Wallach, MD, Manhattan Plastic Surgeon)

Can I “get away” with lipo instead of a tummy tuck?

Ask surgeon Lipo vs tummy tuck

You can get away with liposuction, depending what you want your end result to be. I think you would be terrible disappointed with liposuction alone. In the bent forward photo, you already showing lots of skin laxity, both below and above the belly button, thin skin.

In the upright view, you show significant abdominal fullness which tells me that you have diastesis or separation of the muscles and/or fascial laxity. For a good result and a flat abdomen, you need an abdominoplasty with some liposuction of your waist and hips at the same time.

Lipo vs tummy tuck belly

The placement of the tummy tuck incision is a matter of preference. In my practice, I have the women bring their swimwear or underwear and I draw my proposed incision lines to be covered by these (a thong will not hide the incisions). Normally, I keep my suprapubic incision 21/2 in above where the upper labia majora meet. (George Marosan, MD, Bellevue Plastic Surgeon)

Liposuction alone would make you look worse since you already have excess skin and it will not shrink after just liposuction. You need muscle tightening and skin removal which is a tummy tuck. Liposuction may be performed to help thin or contour areas of excess fat. (Gregory Lynam, MD, Richmond Plastic Surgeon)

Lipo vs tummy tuck photo of belly

First of all you would not receive significant improvement from just liposuction. Your best procedure would be a full tummy tuck. The scar can be as low as you want it to be. If very low you may have a small vertical scar from where the belly button was previously. If your surgeon’s scars tend to be too high find another surgeon. (John P. Stratis, MD, Harrisburg Plastic Surgeon)

You have excess and lax skin, and liposuction would be disappointing for you- it does not impact these issues. You are correct in that the downside of a tummy tuck is a scar, but it can very likely be low enough to be hidden in most clothes or swim suits. Discuss this concern with your surgeon, and ask to see pictures of other patients that they have done with low scars, so that you can make sure that your understanding of a low scar is the same as theirs. (Matthew Concannon, MD, Columbia Plastic Surgeon)

You definitely need to consider an abdominoplasty and not liposuction. Discuss the scar location with your surgeon. (Donald Griffin, MD, Nashville Plastic Surgeon)

Lipo vs tummy tuck question to surgeon

What you need to understand is the placement of the incision might be higher or you could opt for a lower incision with a vertical midline extension. Best to see OTHER boarded PSs in your area. Was this dock a PS? (Darryl J. Blinski, MD, Miami Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy tuck vs liposuction

It certainly seems from your photos that your skin laxity and excess is the primary problem here and as you already know, liposuction will do nothing good for that. Therefore a tummy tuck is the best choice IMO and the scar can go as low as your excess skin above the umbilicus will allow it to. (Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)

Lipo vs tummy tuck. Photo before pregnancy

Your instinct is probably correct that a tummy tuck is in order. Your surgeon may wish to proceed in stages with liposuction to contour the body first and then assess where you are after this procedure. Ask him/her to clarify his treatment recommendation, and check with at least 2 other surgeons to ensure a clear understanding of your options. (Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS, West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon)

You could certainly have some improvement with liposuction alone, but there is so much laxity to your tummy skin that you will need a tummy tuck to get maximum improvement. Sometimes the doctor will draw the anticipated surgery incision line at the bottom of the loose skin.

The problem is that the incision (scar) will get pulled up by the natural elasticity of the upper skin. You must first manually pull the tummy skin up on the abdomen and then draw the scar where you want it to stay. It doesn’t sound like your sister’s doctor did that.

Now that might mean that there will be a short up and down scar low on your tummy from the old belly button site, but that is certainly better than a high scar from the tummy tuck. I rarely find that vertical scar to be necessary as long as the surgery to loosen the skin extends up over the lowesrt ribs and the closure is done with progressive tension sutures. (Ronald V. DeMars, MD, Portland Plastic Surgeon)