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

This is a question we are asked a lot. In general, we recommend tummy tuck operations for people with loose skin and /or a loose abdominal wall. Liposuction is reserved for people with contouring needs but good skin tone. In a patient like yourself, I will give you two answers:

First, based on your story and photos, I would think you would get a superior results from a tummy tuck.

Second, liposuction may be a better option based on your lifestyle and recovery needs (which I know nothing about).

(Thomas P. Sterry, MD, New York Plastic Surgeon)

Skin excess = Skin excission

Fat excess = Liposuction

For your case you need a Full tummy tuck, find a Board Cerftified Plastic Surgeon and discuss your expectations. also it looks like you probably have an umbilical hernia, if so, it could be treated at the same time. (Luis Redondo, MD, Dominican Republic Plastic Surgeon)

An exam in person with a board certified plastic surgeon will give you the best information. But based on your pictures and history, it sounds as if a tummy tuck would be the best procedure for you. Liposuction alone may make your situation worse due to the loose skin and your hernia will not be addressed.

A tummy tuck will help remove loose skin and stretch marks, tighten your abdominal contour, and allow repair of a hernia. (Naveen Setty, MD, Dallas Plastic Surgeon)

If you are done having children and your skin is loose, usually a tummy tuck will get you a better result than liposuction. Also, your umbilical hernia may be fixed at the same time. Sometimes liposuction in patients with loose skin can make the skin look worse and wrinkle.

You should be examined and recommendations can be made for the best course of treatment. Although a tummy tuck has a longer recovery and a large scar, the shape and the results are usually better in patients whose skin is loose. (Yuly Gorodisky, DO, Oxnard Plastic Surgeon)

From your photos , I would not consider you a good liposuction candidate. Your abdominal muscles, their seeming laxity, Your skin stretch marks and very importantly the fact you don’t plan to have more children all contribute to my assessment and recommendation that you consider tummy tuck.

I can’t emphasize enough. See a trained (Board Certified) Plastic Surgeon. Tummy tuck is serious major surgery. (James R. Benjamin, MD, Bowie Plastic Surgeon)

Liposuction or tummy tuck

I think you will find liposuction very disappointing – it won’t give you a flat stomach and will leave skin looser. Your photos shows you need a standard tummy tuck to remove as much damaged skin as possible, tighten the stretched muscle and do some liopsuction on the sides. (Elizabeth Morgan, MD, PhD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon) Based on your history and photograph a tummy tuck may well be your best choice. Liposuction could make your stretch marks worse and would not address your umbilical hernia. Please consult a board certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in tummy tuck surgery. (Brooke R. Seckel, MD, FACS, Boston Plastic Surgeon)

Photos are helpful, but an in-person physical exam by a board certified plastic surgeon will be necessary to determine if you are a candidate for liposuction vs. tummy tuck. When you have stretch marks, that is an indication that the tissue/skin has been stretched.

In that case, liposuction may worsen the appearance instead of improving it, since liposuction removes fat and relies on the elastic skin to tighten up afterwards.Your umbilical hernia can be repaired at the same time as a tummy tuck, but would not be addressed with liposuction. You and your surgeon can develop the best plan for you. (Emily J. Kirby, MD, Fort Worth Plastic Surgeon)

Therefore can not respond to the question without at least a photo or in person examination. Plus if you are a “KELOIDER” than that opens additional issues and concerns. (Darryl J. Blinski, MD, Miami Plastic Surgeon)

If you’re considering a tummy tech then it will improve your abdomen as you stated. If you keloid this is a big problem. There’s really no way to prevent the keloid other than not to create a wound or a scar. (Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)

The recovery from tummy tuck is often between two to four weeks, while liposuction involves a rather straightforward recovery – usually just days. You did a great job researching about the two procedures, which made you realize not just their benefits but also some of the tradeoffs.

Take note that darker skin is more prone to keloids, which may be a problem with tummy tuck because it uses a long incision below navel. But because it will be positioned as close as possible to the pubic region, the scar is underneath the bikini or low-rise pants. Nevertheless, this is something you still have to consider. I suggest that you go to a board-certified plastic surgeon – member of ASPS or ABPS – because he can assess your underlying anatomies and determine what really needs to be done. Your skin quality will be also scrutinized to determine if your problem is a true case of keloid, or just hypertrophic scar which is much easier to address. To allay some of your concern, scar treatments have become a common part of post-op care. Silicone sheet or tape is particularly helpful because the constant pressure prevents or at least minimizes the formation of scar tissue on the skin surface.

I really appreciate it when people are equipped with the right knowledge that can help them decide if plastic surgery is really for them. (Tarick K. Smaili, MD, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)

If you are a true keloid former and you want to wear bikinis like the one in the photos than I would not recommend a tummy tuck, regardless of being left with a little loose skin after liposuction. You need a good exam that evaluate your scars. This can’t be done online. (Ronald Schuster, MD, Baltimore Plastic Surgeon) Your concerns are valid. The photos are hard to tell if you already have laxity of the skin and possible muscle and fascia laxity that would lead a plastic surgeon to advise a Tummy Tuck (over Liposuction), in which both issues would be addressed and corrected . It is not obvious that you have either from the photos and with your concerns of an unattractive scar I would lean towards liposuction recommendation. (David Liland, MD, Dallas Plastic Surgeon)

The photos don’t show what the issue is. Yes, a tummy tuck removes stretched skin, removes fat and tightens muscle.Hiding the incision is difficult in a string bikini. Let your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon see your ‘keloid’ scars – they are probably hypertrophic, not true keloids, and fair easy to treat. (Elizabeth Morgan, MD, PhD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)

Well it seems you are aware of the limitations of liposuction for skin excess issues. What you don’t offer is some photos which at a minimum are needed to offer an opinion on the alternatives. It takes about 6 weeks for incisions to approach their ultimate strength, but most are back to work, if it’s not very physical, by 10 days. It takes about a year for the scars to mature. (Jourdan Gottlieb, MD, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)

You did a very good job of evaluating your situation, all that you determined is true. When seeking a plastic surgeon make sure he/she is board certified in plastic surgery. Look at the surgeons before and after pictures of tummy tucks to determine how well the scar is placed, it should be in the panty line.

There is silicone sheeting that I have my patients use that help the scar heel. Most patients are able to return to work in 10 to 14 days, after six weeks, my patients are able to return to all normal activities. (Miguel Delgado, Jr., MD, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon)

As far as I can see in the photos, you definitely do not need a tummy tuck. You skin looks tight enough and there doesnt appear to be any redundancy worth going through a tummy tuck for. I would strongly consider a liposuction-type procedure first. (C. Coleman Brown, MD, FACS, Bethesda Plastic Surgeon)

You have definitely researched things well but no one can advise you without pictures and an examination. You hit the nail on the head that if volume is removed with liposuction and your skin can’t bounce back, you will be saggier than before and likely feel worse about your result. (J. Garrett Harper, MD, Charlotte Plastic Surgeon)