Tummy Tuck after Lipo
You will recognize a significant improvement with a tummy tuck after having had liposuction. You had significant excess skin and this has only deflated and not contracted.
This is one of the known consequences of just liposuction and hopefully was addressed with your prior to the tummy tuck procedure. Will you vere be completely flat?, perhaps but at the evry least you will be markedly improved with a tummy tuck. (John P. Stratis, MD, Harrisburg Plastic Surgeon)
Liposuction removes fat only. The removal of fat is like taking air out of a balloon; the balloon envelope wrinkles. After liposuction, the skin may wrinkle depending on age, weight gain/loss, child bearing, stretch marks, etc.
From your pictures and your history, it appears that you may be a good candidate for an abdominoplasty to remove skin/fat and to tighten the abdominal skin envelope. Consult a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon (George C. Peck, Jr, MD, West Orange Plastic Surgeon)
To answer your question you side do believe a tummy tuck will improve your result.There is still significant fat beneath the skin. Ideally further weight loss will certainly improve your tummy tuck result. You may also discussed with your plastic surgeon whether additional liposuction could be done during the course of your tummy tuck. (Brooke R. Seckel, MD, FACS, Boston Plastic Surgeon)
You needed a tummy tuck to begin with and either thought lipo was the easy and less expensive way out or were convinced that it was such by the surgeon. I am quite outspoken on not giving patients what they think they want when it is not what they need because then my signature would be on poor results.
At this point, you are a candidate for tummy tuck but there may be a compromise in what can be achieved because of the scarring. (Robert L. Kraft, MD, New York Plastic Surgeon)
Tummy tuck after two liposuction operations.
Who did your lipo? And why was that recommended rather than tummy tuck? Perhaps inappropriate recommendation; perhaps your (poorly-informed) choice, but the issue now is NOT whether you remain a tummy tuck candidate (you do, as all of my other colleagues have answered).
The issue now is whether or not the scar tissue makes your anticipated tummy tuck outcome flat and smooth (“even” as you put it) or if the scar tissue will still leave some degree of lumpiness or irregularity.
If I understand your question to be what I just stated, I only heard crickets (silence) in the other answers. I suspect the reason is that your prior surgeries may well have compromised your potential outcome. You might indeed have a nice improvement with a skilled tummy tuck, but you still have some of the scar tissue present from your previous liposuction surgeries.
Physical examination may provide some help in answering this concern, but only your liposuction surgeon will know just how close to the skin surface the liposuction was performed, the extent and severity of the scar tissue, and the resultant change in the elasticity of your abdominal skin that may affect the outcome of a tummy tuck. Scar tissue cannot be liposuctioned, only the fat around the scars. But sub-Scarpa’s fat can be removed, if that is where the scar tissue resides. The actual answer may only be found at the time of tummy tuck, but I would advise you that a usual and common oustanding outcome may not be possible in this setting of two previous abdominal liposuction operations. If the lipo was performed by an ABPS-certified plastic surgeon, then that should be your first stop for consultation.
If not, seek ABPS-certified plastic surgeons with lots of experience in tummy tucks (and liposuction) – one way is to select ASAPS member plastic surgeons (who will also be ABPS-certified) – for more information. You CAN have significant improvement in most cases.
Still, you should have been told that you needed a tummy tuck in the first place and avoided the risk, cost, and wasted time and effort of two unnecessary operations! (Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS, Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon)
You appear to have a number of stretch marks and if yo have had children then a tummy tuck may have been the better procedure for you from the start. Please see a board certified plastic surgeon in your area for consultation. (Gregory Lynam, MD, Richmond Plastic Surgeon)
It looks like there is plenty more residual fat to remove. With lipo, its not what you remove that counts, but what you leave behind. Cant answer about the TT because I can’t see your lower abdomen in these photos (Mark D. Epstein, MD, Stony Brook Plastic Surgeon)
From the pictures you provided, it appears that there may be some loose skin, along with stretch marks – it is difficult to tell from just the picture is there is still areas of ‘lumpy’ fatty tissue. A tummy tuck may help correct this. Liposuction will not help with the loose skin or the stretch marks, a tummy tuck can. Consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can perform an in-person exam. (Joseph D. Alkon, MD, Newark Plastic Surgeon)
Tummy tuck after liposuction
A tummy tuck after liposuction may be possible to perform, but might not address the issues for which you are worried. The skin and fat from the belly button to the pubic hair is typically removed with a tummy tuck. If there are contour irregularities above the belly button, these would not necessarily be fixed. A tummy tuck would give you a flatter abdomen overall and remove excess skin and fat. Visit a boarded PS for a full exam and to help decide the best way to proceed. (Michael Burgdorf, MD, Nashville Plastic Surgeon)
Based on the photos, it appears that you would be a good candidate for a tummy tuck / abdominoplasty. Generally, tightening the skin makes many areas of unevenness much less visible or completely treats the problem. I would have a consultation with a board – certified plastic surgeon. (James E. Chappell, MD, Baltimore Plastic Surgeon)