According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ annual statistics, liposuction is typically the most commonly requested cosmetic procedure. Patients often come to me with concerns about the appearance of their waist despite consistent diet and exercise, particularly after weight fluctuations or having children. I’m frequently asked if liposuction vs tummy tuck will produce the best results.
When evaluating patients, I first determine the cause of the patient’s dissatisfaction: excess fat, excess skin and skin laxity, or muscle laxity (diastasis recti). After determining these answers, I formulate a personalized treatment plan to deliver your ideal aesthetic vision.
What Is a Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)?
A tummy tuck addresses skin excess/laxity above and below the belly button, fat excess, and muscle laxity (diastasis recti). To see how a tummy tuck reshapes the midsection, you can browse some of our tummy tuck patients’ before and after pictures.
What Happens During a Tummy Tuck?
During a tummy tuck procedure, I make a circular incision around your belly button and dunk it down. I then make a super low incision—below the bikini line—and lift the abdominal tissue up (not unlike the hood of a car)! I then perform muscle repair, suturing the middle edges of the six-pack muscles together. After this, I resect the excess skin and tummy tissue. The next step is to make a new, natural-looking “home” for the belly button through the remaining abdominal tissue. The incision is artfully hidden on the belly button itself. The lower incision is repaired in layers to produce the least conspicuous scar possible.
Most patients return to work after 10 to 14 days. I provide detailed postoperative instruction to enhance your comfort and healing.
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction addresses unwanted, excess fat and does not directly affect lax skin. The ideal candidate is a patient near their goal weight with a small to moderate amount of excess fat and excellent skin elasticity. It’s essential to remember that liposuction is a body contouring vs weight loss solution.
What Happens During Liposuction?
During liposuction, I make small access incisions and infiltrate a mixture of saline and epinephrine, which is designed to reduce bleeding and bruising. I then use a long rod called a cannula to extract the excess subcutaneous fat. Liposuction can be used nearly anywhere, from head to toe. Take a look at our liposuction patients’ before and after photos to get an idea of the type of results that are possible.
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Recovery from liposuction is less involved than a tummy tuck. Most patients return to work after just a few days.
Why Combine Tummy Tuck and Liposuction?
A tummy tuck and liposuction can be performed alone, but they are often combined to truly slim and contour the waistline. When they’re performed silmultaneously with breast enhancement surgery, such as breast augmentation or a breast lift, the combination is often called a mommy makeover. This comprehensive approach addresses multiple aesthetic concerns resulting from pregnancy and breastfeeding. While it’s an extensive procedure that require ample downtime and healing, women benefit from undergoing only one procedure and recovery window and achieve results that are truly transformative.
Explore Your Options
If you are looking to flatten your midsection and snatch your waist, be sure and seek out a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive body contouring expertise. We encourage you to request a consultation to discuss your goals and concerns. Together, we’ll determine the best treatment plan to help you achieve a more defined waistline and lasting confidence.
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