How to Decide Whether Liposuction or a Tummy Tuck is Right for You

The battle to lose weight can be very difficult. Sometimes dieting and eating right just isn’t enough to get rid of abdominal fat. Both tummy tucks and liposuction are procedures many people consider when they want a flatter stomach and a more attractive figure. Although many people decide that surgery is the right choice for them, they may not know which procedure they should have done. To figure out whether a tummy tuck or liposuction would be best, it is important to know the differences between the two procedures.

An Overview of Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty is another name for a tummy tuck. This procedure involves removing fat and extra skin. A tummy tuck also helps tighten your abdominal muscles to give your stomach a tighter, more toned appearance. Abdominoplasty takes two to five hours, and you are given general anesthesia. During the procedure, the surgeon will make a large incision and use tools such as a scalpel to get rid of extra skin and fat. Your abdominal muscles will be contoured and tightened during this procedure as well.

A tummy tuck is major surgery. You can get either a partial or full abdominoplasty. The full version will require a longer recovery period.

An Overview of Liposuction

Liposuction is different from a tummy tuck in a few ways. When you get liposuction, you usually aren’t given general anesthesia. Instead, you are awake during the procedure and are given local anesthesia in the area that is being worked on.

During liposuction, the surgeon will make a small incision in your abdomen. Tummy tucks usually require larger incisions. The liposuction surgeon will then insert a tube to break up and suction off the fat that is under your skin. This particular type of fat is called subcutaneous fat. The surgeon does not use a tube to suction fat off during a tummy tuck. He uses tools like a scalpel.

Other Differences Between Liposuction and a Tummy Tuck

Liposuction doesn’t require a large incision, so your recovery time will be shorter. A few days is usually all the time you’ll need to start doing normal activities. After having a tummy tuck, it could take you two weeks before you are able to resume normal activities. Both surgeries require about a month for total recovery.

Liposuction carries with it a slight risk of damage to your blood vessels or nerves. Tummy tuck surgery has a lower risk of damage to nerves and blood vessels. When you have liposuction done, you could experience side effects such as tingling, but this usually doesn’t happen when you have a tummy tuck. When it comes to price, liposuction is generally much cheaper than abdominoplasty.

Which is Right for You?

If your abdomen has pretty good muscle tone, and you’re not obese, then liposuction could be right for you. Also, if you don’t have a lot of excess skin that needs to be removed, then you should opt for liposuction. This procedure will take away the fat around your abdomen and other trouble spots that exercise and diet cannot get rid of. If you are obese, you could have liposuction done to get rid of small portions of fat in certain areas. It’s important not to get a very large amount of fat removed all at once because it isn’t safe.

If your abdominal muscles are stretched and very loose, then you should consider getting a tummy tuck. It will tighten up your muscles to give your stomach a flat, toned appearance. Also, if you find that you have a lot of excess skin or that your abdominal skin is droopy and unsightly, then you should consider a tummy tuck. It will remove that excess skin and flatten your stomach.

When you know the differences between liposuction and abdominoplasty, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about which procedure would be best for you. It’s important to choose the right procedure

Robert Goldman has been involved in cosmetic surgery since 1978 and specialises in cosmetic breast enhancement and body shaping, throughout Australia.