This is the first question that matters, because it prevents the wrong procedure. Fat dominance usually looks like localised thickness that blurs the waistline, with skin that still has reasonable recoil. Skin dominance looks like looseness, creasing, or redundancy that persists even when volume is not excessive, often after weight change or pregnancy. Structural drivers include the way the ribcage and pelvis define waist width, and the way the abdominal wall affects profile. Many people have a mixed pattern, which is exactly why templates fail. In consultation, I look for what is limiting the silhouette from multiple angles, and I assess whether removing volume will improve contour or simply reveal laxity. The plan should follow the mechanism. If the plan does not match the dominant driver, satisfaction drops even if the surgery is technically “successful.” Op. Dr. Mert Demirel European Board Certified Plastic Surgeon (EBOPRAS) ISAPS & ASPS Member Istanbul, Turkey Sent via Notion Automations