The Best Way to Get Rid of a FUPA (Fat Upper Pubic Area)
Where our body stores fat is based on our unique genetics. For some it is more on the inside, or the visceral fat. For others it is on their thighs. Yet another place where we store extra fat is in the upper pubic area, affectionately known as the “FUPA.”
A FUPA results in a more pronounced lower belly area that can affect anyone, even Beyonce! Having kids and a C-section scar can make the shelf of tissue in the FUPA be more saggy. The skin and fat stretch during pregnancy. If that tissue does not snap back (which is pretty common), then we are left with a sagging area of skin and fat under the C-section scar.
If you reached your limit with a healthy diet and regular exercise and now wonder how to get rid of that FUPA, keep reading. Depending on your specific needs, there are three good options to get rid of a fatty upper pubic area. These options are a Tummy Tuck, Liposuction and CoolSculpting. Let’s go over the details below.
Get Rid of a FUPA: Tummy Tuck
The definitive way to be completely rid of a FUPA, if you are done having kids, is a Tummy Tuck. During a Tummy Tuck procedure, I cut out the extra skin and fat that makes up the FUPA and I re-suspend that tissue on your abdominal wall. Put another way, I remove the extra tissue in a FUPA and restore the normal location of that tissue along your belly so it is not sagging.
The Tummy Tuck primarily treats the separated abdominal core muscles and extra skin above a C-section scar. Removing the FUPA is something we do at the same time as the Tummy Tuck, just like I contour the sides of your belly with Lipo in the same surgery. Doing all these things together gives you the best possible natural-looking result. When we look at Before and After pictures in the office during the consultation, you can see how the Tummy Tuck surgery gets rid of the C-section shelf and the FUPA at the same time.
We have several resources available to help you learn more about a Tummy Tuck. Check out the Tummy Tuck procedure page, how it can help with a C-section pooch, planning for recovery after surgery, average procedure cost, and Before & After photos to see how a Tummy Tuck helps get rid of a FUPA.
Get Rid of a FUPA: Liposuction
If you aren’t sure that a Tummy Tuck is right for you, or if you might have more kids and want a fix in the meantime, Liposuction might be the answer. Lipo involves small incisions and passing a rigid metal tube (cannula) to literally suck out the fat.
When we treat a FUPA with Liposuction, you don’t have to be all the way asleep. Yes, it is a surgical procedure, but it can be done with sedation or minimal anesthesia. We compress the skin with a garment after surgery that you wear for a few weeks to help the skin contract or shrink down over a smaller space.
The amount of skin contraction or skin shrinkage in the fatty upper pubic area varies for each person. The results depend on a number of factors like your stretch marks and collagen in the area of the fat upper pubic region.
Learn more about Lipo on the Liposuction procedure page, Liposuction vs CoolSculpting, average cost of Lipo, and the typical recovery timeline.
Get Rid of a FUPA: CoolSculpting
Coolsculpting is the least invasive way to work on reducing a FUPA. When we CoolSculpt the FUPA, typically the bulge can shrink by 25%. We share Before & After pictures in the office to show you what this looks like. If your FUPA bulges more than it sags and it is not full of stretch marks, then you might be a good candidate for CoolSculpting.
The nice thing about Coolsculpting is that the procedure is fast with minimal downtime. In fact, patients often get it done on their lunch break and head right on back to work afterwards! Just know that CoolSculpting does not involve excess skin removal, suctioning or cutting out fat. There are limits to how much the fat upper pubic area will go down with this option.
Learn more about it on the CoolSculpting procedure page, Liposuction vs CoolSculpting, and the average cost of CoolSculpting to see if CoolSculpting is right for you.
You Have Options!
So what now? If you feel overwhelmed, don’t worry. It’s not your job to figure out what is the best option. The answer comes from a consultation with your board certified plastic surgeon.
During your consultation, we discuss a number of things. Do you plan to have more kids? What do you do for work and how much time can you take off? How bad does the FUPA bother you? Is it every day, every morning when you get dressed? How much exercise have you done and are you at peak fitness?
We go over this and so much more in person at our plastic surgery office in Raleigh to make sure you are comfortable and confident with the decision. You have options to treat a FUPA. Schedule a consultation today so we can help you take the next step. With our on-site certified OR and our all-female team, it is worth the drive whether you are coming to us for plastic surgery in Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, just outside of Raleigh, the Greater Triangle Area or even the coastal towns. We are passionate about what we do, and we are excited to guide you to the plastic surgery treatment plan that is the best fit for you.
