Do I Need Liposuction Or A Tummy Tuck?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I need to know if  I need liposuction, a mini-tummy tuck or a full tummy tuck? I am 28 years old and have had two children. I had breast augmentation done three years ago and go pregnant right afterwards. I have a big hard stomach and can’t seem to lose it even though I work out and try to eat right. I am 5’ 8” and weigh 190 lbs. I think surgery is only thing I can think of to help but I am not sure what I need, liposuction or some type of a tummy tuck. Please help!
A: With a relatively high BMI (body mass index) and a ‘hard and big’ stomach, I have concerns that any form of plastic surgery is appropriate for you at this time. You need to lose some weight by some method before considering any tummy reducing plastic surgery procedure. A hard stomach indicates that the skin is tight and a tummy tuck, while it can be done, would not produce a result that may be worth the effort. (the tight skin would not allow that much to be removed) A better yield on a tummy tuck would occur if you dropped 20lbs to 30 lbs, creating greater looseness of skin. Similarly liposuction would produce less of a result that expected as some of your fat is intraperitoneal (located behind the abdominal muscles) where it is inaccessible to a liposuction cannula.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana