Even after sticking to healthy diets, engaging in regular exercises, and shedding the extra fat, many people still express dissatisfaction with the appearance of the excess fat and skin in their belly. This is one of the most common concerns patients have when they visit plastic surgeons.
It’s normal to have some frustration after noticing that you’re not getting a flat, toned tummy even after exercising regularly and sticking to your diet. in some cases, giving birth or gaining weight can stretch abdominal tissues to a point where burning off fat just cannot result in a flat stomach. After significant weight loss you can notice changes in your abdominal wall, loose skin, stretch marks, and separated abdominal muscles. Fortunately, you have some options when it comes to plastic surgery and getting the figure you’re been working toward. Tummy tuck surgery or liposuction cosmetic surgery are both great options for reducing excess skin and fat.
What is Liposuction and Tummy Tuck?
LIPOSUCTION and TUMMY TUCK are common plastic surgery procedures. Liposuction is a minimally-invasive procedure where a blunt-tipped cannula and surgical vacuum is used to remove fatty tissue from different body parts, including the abdomen, hips, and thighs. The result is a more defined and contoured figure.
A tummy tuck, on the other hand, is a surgical procedure that can remove sagging, excess skin and tighten the underlying abdominal muscles. Abdominoplasty is another name for the surgery. It’s usually performed under general anesthesia rather than local anesthesia like liposuction.
Ideal Candidates for Liposuction and Tummy Tuck
The key difference between LIPOSUCTION candidates and TUMMY TUCK candidates is whether you have excess skin or not. Generally, liposuction can remove excess, stubborn fat in areas where the skin is still elastic. Tummy tuck candidates usually have skin that has stretched and sags, meaning it will require a surgical procedure for removal.
In both cases, it’s important that you’re at or near your ideal weight with a stable diet and exercise lifestyle so that more weight gain doesn’t negatively affect your results. Also, in both cases, your plastic surgeon will likely recommend that you don’t have any future plans to get pregnant, since this can also negatively affect your results.
Can I Get Both?
In many cases, a TUMMY TUCK combined with LIPOSUCTION can be beneficial. If you have sagging skin that can be addressed by a tummy tuck, you can likely also benefit from liposuction on the surrounding areas like the hips or thighs. The result is a more fully-contoured figure rather than simply addressing the stomach area. Your plastic surgeon can recommend your best options during a consultation.
Schedule a Consultation
A TUMMY TUCK and LIPOSUCTION can both be an excellent way to achieve your body contouring goals. To meet with our team and learn more, we invite you to contact our Pikesville office by calling or FILLING OUT OUR ONLINE FORM.
Dr. Ira D. Papel is certified in Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Papel earned his B.A. from Johns Hopkins University and his M.D. from Boston University of Medicine. He completed a residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and a fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Papel is considered an international expert in rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, and facial aesthetic surgery.
