Tummy Tuck or Liposuction for Loose Skin?

Do I need a Tummy Tuck or will Liposuction give me the results I want?

Based on your pictures (see original post to view photos), I don’t believe that liposuction alone will give you the results you want. With skin laxity in the stomach, liposuction without a tummy tuck could actually increase the amount of extra skin, as there would be less fat to fill it out. In order to remove and tighten the skin, as well as the abdominal wall, the only solution is a tummy tuck. When your skin is stretched by multiple variables (such as pregnancy, weight gain, and the natural aging process), it can be like a rubber band. Once it has been stretched to a certain degree, it can’t shrink back to its original size. Similarly, our skin is unable to tighten on its own once there is a certain degree of skin laxity. A tummy tuck combined with liposuction will remove the extra skin that you notice hanging over and give you a better result.

The video below features photos from one of my patients and helps to visualize the benefits of an abdominoplasty to tighten the muscle wall and remove excess skin.

I hope this helps,

Learn more about about Dr. Nick’s approach to a Tummy Tuck or see real patient photos in our Before and After Gallery

Read other physician’s answers to this question, or like our answer on RealSelf.

RealSelf Q&A with Nick Slenkovich, MD