I am 21yrs old and have not had children yet. Do I have any other options that are less invasive that a Tummy Tuck?
Unfortunately in your case, there are no non-invasive or non-surgical options that will get you a surgical result.
There are some non-surgical fat reduction/skin tightening devices on the market (such as Vanquish) but I think you would be hard pressed to get a satisfactory result using that approach.
I typically counsel patients like you on a few things: first and foremost to get the most out of your investment (which plastic surgery is!) and for your health is make sure you adhere to a good diet and exercise plan.
No amount of plastic surgery will be great if you are on a bad diet and don’t exercise. If you need, find a nutritionist and trainer to help motivate you! 🙂
Secondly, I agree with the last plastic surgeon personally. Although a tummy tuck is an option I prefer to look at the body as a whole and you have 2 things going on – excess fat on the whole trunk (front and back) and some excess skin on the front.
The tummy tuck alone will leave you with all of the excess fat in the flanks, back, and upper abdomen. Plus if you haven’t had children it is unlikely that you really need any tightening of the abdominal muscles as they likely are not stretched out yet.
I would start by performing 360 degree liposuction to the trunk using VASER liposuction. This technique allows for the use of ultrasound to make the liposuction easier and also to tighten the skin some. If after you heal you still have some residual skin laxity a tummy tuck or mini-tummy tuck would be an option to remove the excess skin.
You may want to consider holding off all together if you plan to have children in the near future – especially the tummy tuck! Either way make sure you do your research and choose a board certified plastic surgeon with experience performing body contouring procedures. (Megan Jack, MD, Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon)
Tummy Tuck Before childbirth
Looking at your photos, I see you have some excess fatty tissue, particularly in the mid abdomen, along with some stretchmarks and looseness of the skin. the ideal procedure for this is a tummy tuck, however I deffinitely do not recommend this prior to having children. A suitable alternative would be to have last assisted liposuction to reduce the fat and also achieve some degree of skin tightening. It certainty would not give you the result of the tummy tick, but is the best option right now. (Scott Wells, MD, New York Plastic Surgeon)
Tummy Tuck Candidate before childbirth
Based on your photos, you are a candidate for a Tummy Tuck ( Abdominoplasty). This is your only way to remove all of the excess skin you have and tighten your muscles. I will not recommend liposuction alone – in your case. (Thomas Trevisani, Sr., MD, Orlando Plastic Surgeon)
You are definitely a tummy tuck candidate, there is too much loose skin to rely solely on liposuction and without the tummy tuck, you will not get a good result, as your skin quality is not so good around your abdominal area. Hope to have helped. (Jose Leon, MD, Dominican Republic Plastic Surgeon)
A Tummy Tuck may make sense for you.
You do seem to have a lot of skin laxity for someone who has not had children. Perhaps you lost a lot of weight?If you want a tight flat tummy now and you are not planning on having children in the near future a tummy tuck may still make sense. Obviously when you do have children, you wil pay the price of stretching you tummy. But that is what happens to everyone! (Rodney A. Green, MD, Cleveland Plastic Surgeon)
Sorry that I do not have a “magic bullet” answer for you. I would caution you to avoid spending time/resources on noninvasive modalities: they will not be effective in your case. (Tom J. Pousti, MD, FACS, San Diego Plastic Surgeon)