What Is the Difference Between Liposuction and Tummy Tuck?
Before deciding which body contouring procedure you’d like to get, it’s important to understand what each procedure does, how it works, and what results can be expected. This blog discusses the differences between liposuction and tummy tuck surgery to help patients decide which is right for them.
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Are You Considering Body Contouring Procedures?
Feeling confident in your appearance can do wonders for your self-esteem. It can make you feel comfortable in your skin and improve the quality of your life overall. However, it’s common to have insecurities about your appearance, especially if your body has undergone changes that make you no longer feel like yourself. Many people who have experienced significant weight loss, pregnancy, or the natural aging process notice dramatic changes in their bodies that they may dislike.
The abdominal region is a common area of concern, especially when there is unwanted fat and excess skin. For many people, the stomach is one of the toughest areas in which to lose fat and get the aesthetic results they desire with diet and exercise alone. Even those who have taken the time to prepare healthy meals and get into a regular exercise routine can struggle with stubborn pockets of fat in the abdomen, obstructing their weight loss efforts. On top of all of this, if you have loose, excess skin due to weight fluctuations or aging, no amount of diet or exercise can remove this skin.
If you’re unhappy with your figure due to stubborn fat and excess skin, you may be a good candidate for a body contouring procedure. Two of the most popular choices are liposuction and tummy tuck surgery. Each has its own benefits and works best for different candidates.
Comparing Your Options: Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck
While the two procedures are similar and both remove stubborn fat, it’s essential to recognize that they are different surgeries. One may suit you better than the other.
What Is Liposuction?
Stubborn fat tends to accumulate in the stomach; however, it can also develop in other areas, such as the hips, thighs, and buttocks. Liposuction is a surgical procedure that targets stubborn body fat and eliminates it, leaving you with slimmer and more proportional body contours. One of the greatest benefits of liposuction is that it can remove fat from nearly any body area.
Liposuction is performed under anesthesia and involves creating small incisions around the chosen treatment area. The incisions allow Dr. Knowling to insert a cannula—a thin, hollow tube—into the area to loosen the fat in preparation for it to be suctioned out of the body. Once the unwanted fat has been removed, Dr. Knowling closes the incisions.
What Is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck removes stubborn fat specifically located in the abdomen. However, unlike liposuction, tummy tuck surgery also removes excess sagging skin in the abdominal region. Additionally, this procedure tightens the abdominal muscles.
Like liposuction, a tummy tuck is also performed under anesthesia to ensure the patient’s comfort during surgery. Dr. Knowling will make a horizontal incision, typically somewhere between the belly button and the pubic hairline. Once the incision is made, the skin can be lifted, and the weakened abdominal muscles can be tightened and repaired. Excess fat will be removed, and the abdominal skin will be pulled back tightly over the stomach. Dr. Knowling will trim excess skin to eliminate sagging and close the incisions once all adjustments have been made.
Which Body Contouring Procedure Is Right for You?
When deciding which body contouring procedure you’d like to get, it’s important to have a clear idea of your surgical goals and desired results. Once you feel confident that you know what you want, you can have an easier time comparing how those goals match up with the results of each procedure. If you’re having trouble deciding which procedure best aligns with your goals, you can ask your surgeon during a consultation appointment, and they can help you find your best fit.
Areas of Concern
What body areas would you like to focus on for your procedure? If your main concern is excess skin and fat on the stomach, then perhaps a tummy tuck will get you the results you desire. If excess skin isn’t a concern, and you want to eliminate fat from other body areas in addition to the stomach, then liposuction may be a better fit for you.
Aesthetic Goals
Many people have an idea of their body goals—whether that’s restoring a silhouette that they used to have before pregnancy or enhancing their body contours after losing weight. Take a look in the mirror and assess your body from different angles to pinpoint what areas you’d like to improve and what your desired results look like.
Comparing Recovery Times
Recovery periods are an inevitable part of surgical procedures. For some patients, recovery can be daunting, especially when thinking about pain levels and taking time off work. However, many patients find that the necessary recovery time is a fair trade-off for the results they receive from their procedures.
For liposuction and tummy tuck surgery, patients typically need to take two weeks off of work to rest. This time period may fluctuate depending on the extent of the surgery, the treatment areas, and what type of job the patient has. Your surgeon will inform you of when it’s safe for you to go back to work.
The total recovery time will also vary from patient to patient. That being said, liposuction and tummy tuck procedures typically have a six-week recovery period during which patients must refrain from certain physical activities.
Which Lasts Longer, a Tummy Tuck or Liposuction?
Tummy tuck surgery and liposuction are both designed to have long-lasting results that can be enjoyed for many years. The key to maintaining results for both of these procedures is to maintain a stable weight. Gaining weight post-surgery can result in new stubborn fat deposits while losing weight can create excess skin.
To learn more about maintaining liposuction results after surgery, read our blog post on “Does Fat Return After Liposuction?”
Can You Combine Liposuction With Tummy Tuck Surgery?
It is important to note that some patients may benefit from combining liposuction with a tummy tuck. Candidates for this combination of procedures are typically people who want to remove an amount of abdominal fat that cannot be done with a tummy tuck alone but also have sagging skin they wish to eliminate.
Have More Questions About Liposuction and Tummy Tuck Surgery in Huntsville, AL?
To learn more about liposuction and tummy tuck surgery in Huntsville, AL, schedule a consultation with Dr. Knowling by calling (256) 881-2220 or filling out our online contact form.