Tummy Tuck or Abdinoplasty is by nature an invasive or open surgery, which requires a large incision and scar. Liposuction can remove the fat in a much less invasive manner, but does not give as much skin tightening as tummy tuck. Liposuction combined with skin tightening such as BodyTight and or Renuvion can give as much of 2/3 of the skin tightening of an abdominoplasty / tummy tuck. Most people can have good results with the less invasive liposuction procedure, but some need an open surgical abdominoplasty to get the results they want. I recommend consulting with a surgeon to determine what the best option is for you.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Yes, it really depends on what you have, whether it is a lot of loose skin or not. Consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can examine you and discuss the best treatment option at length.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Bodytite is a radiofrequency treatment that serves to tighten skin, much like Thermi-tite. This is accomplished by subdermal heating of the collagen fibers, which can cause tightening as well as stimulate fibroblast activity for collagen deposition. This can be combined with liposuction, but does not necessarily need to be.

The fat removal component is no different than traditional liposuction. For those patients with excess fat in the absence of skin laxity, Bodytite does not necessarily hold an advantage over more traditional liposuction. However, in patients with laxity or in whom there is a concern for worsening laxity post-liposuction, radiofrequency tightening will help.

Bodytite demonstrates a 30% tightening vs. 7% with liposuction and 15% with SmartLipo. This result can take as many as 3 months to become evident.

While BodyTite does not address all of the components of a "tummy tuck", it can address 2/3.

As always, discuss your concerns with a board-certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

Published on Jul 11, 2012