Tummy tuck or smart lipo
Should I get a tummy tuck or smart lipo?
There are a variety of surgical procedures or combinations that can produce good results in patients with abdominal laxity, depending on multiple factors including their anatomy and degree of desired improvement: A mini tummy tuck, an umbilical float modified tummy tuck, a full abdominoplasty.
Each of these can be performed with or without liposuction and with or without abdominal muscle repair. They produce different degrees of improvement.
Based on your photos, the muscular bulging, and the laxity you have above the belly button you will get a better long lasting result with a full tummy tuck.
Abdominoplasty or smart lipo
You will not get a reasonable cosmetic result with liposuction alone, no matter which type, including “smart lipo”. No matter which procedure that you decide to undergo, it is advisable that you should wait until you are finished having children.
Following the advice of anyone who would presume to tell you what to do based on two dimensional photos without taking a full medical history, examining you, feeling and assessing your tissue tone, discussing your desired outcome and fully informing you about the pros and cons of each option would not be in your best interest.
Find a plastic surgeon that you are comfortable with and one that you trust and listen to his or her advice. The surgeon should be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery andideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person. (Robert Singer, MD, La Jolla Plastic Surgeon)
The tummy tuck or smart lipo
You are not a candidate for liposuction. A tummy tuck will greatly improve that area as well as improve the muscle laxity, fat, and contours. Consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for an in person exam to discuss this surgery. Best wishes! (Robert E. Zaworski, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)
You are the perfect candidate for an abdominoplasty as demonstrated by your photos. (Frederic H. Corbin, MD, Brea Plastic Surgeon)
I agree with the other answers in this section – your aren’t going to be happy with the results of liposuction alone. It would be a simpler surgery for you to go through, but you’d end up with loose skin and a less attractive belly.
Tummy tuck or smart lipo before
Your best bet is to see a board certified plastic surgeon and have them explain how a tummy tuck with liposuction could be used to make you a very nice abdomen. (Justin West, MD, Orange Plastic Surgeon)
You have a large amount of skin laxity which is the major aspect of your problem. No amount of liposuction, smart or not, will reduce this skin laxity. It will actually make it worse as you deflate the skin by removing more fat.
A tummy tuck will greatly improve that area as well as improve the muscle laxity, fat, and contours. You are much more suited for tummy tuck than smart lipo. (Pablo Prichard, MD, Phoenix Plastic Surgeon)
Liposuction VS TT
Tummy tuck surgery or smart lipo
You have to acknowledge these features on your abdomen:-Severe Flaccid skin above and below navel and also stretch marks are very high above navel, which will remain even after Tummy Tuck (but in the lower abdomen).
Severe loose muscle above and below navel which can not be fixed other than doing a tight muscle repair and finally achieve a flat abdomen and specially a tapered waist. So, you are a perfect candidate for a Full Tummy Tuck and muscle repair in order to get rid of the saggy skin and to achieve a flat abdomen and reduce dramatically your waist. If you get a minor procedure (any type of liposuction, you name it) you will end up with minor results: the skin will be saggier and your loose muscle will remain as is, protruding.Be encouraged. The important and significant things in life are not easy to achieve. (Laura Carmina Cardenas, MD, Mexico Plastic Surgeon)
