Tummy Tuck, Liposuction, or Both?
Most people think that a tummy tuck is the same as liposuction. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, these two procedures are similar yet technically different. These aim to make your stomach smaller, flatter, and tighter. Learning about the main difference between the two surgeries can help you understand which one you should choose. If you want to find out if you need liposuction, a tummy tuck, or both, here’s what you should know.
The Main Difference
Liposuction is a surgical process that removes small deposits of fat on the thighs, stomach, hips, and buttocks. Many people prefer to have liposuction and bypass workouts. A tummy tuck is the removal of excess skin and fat that cannot go away with exercise and diet. This is usually a treatment for stubborn fat accumulation in certain areas of the body.
The Processes
The following are the differences in the processes involved in liposuction and tummy tuck:
Liposuction. In this fat removal surgery, your plastic surgeon will numb your stomach area first. Then several small incisions around your stomach will follow. Your surgeon will then insert a thin tube under your skin to break down your fat cells. Once the fat is loose enough, a medical vacuum will suck it out. This procedure may take several sessions until your surgeon reaches your cosmetic goal.
Tummy tuck. Aside from removing excess fat from the abdominal area, this procedure will also remove excess skin. Pregnant women who gained significant weight usually have overstretched skin around their abdomen. With a tummy tuck, new mothers can restore their midsections back to their pre-pregnancy state.
The Results
After liposuction, a patient’s abdomen will have a proportional and flatter midsection. Experts say that the result from this procedure is permanent with proper maintenance. If you had liposuction and gain weight months later, fat would build up in your body again. If this happens, the areas treated before will not have that much fat in them.
A tummy tuck has more permanent results. It strengthens your abdominal wall by strengthening your abdominal muscles. The excess skin you lost in this procedure will not return anymore unless you gain weight or become pregnant. This procedure can help maintain your fit physique as long as you do your part with regular exercise and diet.
The Right Time to Combine
You can have both procedures if you have significant fat in the upper and lower parts of your abdomen, with stretched abdominal muscles and skin laxity. Having both liposuction and a tummy tuck is a good approach if you want to look slimmer in specific areas of your body. You can have your arms, hips, and thighs done at the same time. That way, you can reduce recovery time and costs.
Liposuction and tummy tuck are helpful procedures for looking slim. At Aesthetic Surgical Associates, we always put the health of our patients first in any procedure they have. Please visit our clinic in Metairie, Louisiana, for an in-person consultation. You can also call us at 504-226-8200 for appointment scheduling or inquiries about our liposuction and tummy tuck packages.
References:
https://www.healthline.com/health/liposuction-vs-tummy-tuck
https://flawless.org/journal/what-difference-between-tummy-tuck-and-liposuction/
