Carrying a bit of extra weight around the tummy is something that is completely normal for some people, and no matter what diet they try or exercises they do, it just won’t seem to shift. For some people, non-surgical options are the way forwards but for others, surgery is the only option that remains. Both liposuction and tummy tuck surgeries are things that have been around for a long time and both of them are very good at what they do, but what is the difference between the two procedures?
What is liposuction surgery?
Liposuction is considered to be the less invasive of the two surgical options, but can be performed on pretty much any part of the body where you have excess fat. This includes your stomach, back, arms, legs and even places like under your chin or armpits.
During liposuction surgery, a combination of saline solution and water is injected into the fat cells that are to be extracted from the body. A cannula that is similar to a needle used for an IV is then inserted and the fat cells are sucked out of the body, leaving you with a slimmer and more sculpted figure.
The main thing that sets the surgery apart from a tummy tuck is that liposuction is only related to the removal of fat and not related to removing any excess skin. What this means is that liposuction is considered to be much more suitable for smaller fatty deposits on the abdomen, or for use on other areas. It’s also really important to understand that liposuction is not considered to be an adequate method of weight loss surgery and if your goal is to lose drastic amounts of weight, then you will need to consider and pursue other options.
The fat cells that are removed during liposuction surgery are permanently removed, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t gain weight in the future so maintaining your new figure is very important.
Who is liposuction for?
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that is for a healthy person who is actively trying to lose weight, but has fatty deposits that do not respond to their diet or exercise. If you match that description then you are likely to be a good candidate for liposuction.
What is a tummy tuck?
A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that is performed on the lower part of your abdomen. During surgery, an incision is made horizontally across your hips in the area between your belly button and underwear line. This incision is what allows the surgeon to perform a tummy tuck surgery and makes it the more invasive of the two procedures.
During a tummy tuck surgery, the surgeon repairs the muscles beneath the abdomen by pulling them together and stitching them in place. Once the muscles have been repaired, any excess skin is then removed and the incision is closed with a number of sutures. The overall result you are left with is a flatter and smoother stomach with a faint amount of scarring across your hips which will fade over time.
As long as you continue to maintain your results with proper diet and regular exercise, the results can be completely permanent but undergoing a substantial amount of weight gain will completely counteract the results of your tummy tuck surgery.
The procedure itself is more intense than liposuction and where liposuction removes excess fat, a tummy tuck surgery is performed to repair and reconstruct the muscles within the abdomen and removing any excess leftover skin.
Who is a tummy tuck for?
Just like with liposuction, a tummy tuck surgery is perfect for someone who is considered to be healthy but has stubborn fat on their abdomen that is still there, even persisting through diet and exercise. Alternatively, a tummy tuck may also be perfect for someone whose abdomen is beginning to sag due to their age, weight loss, pregnancy or even previous surgical procedures that have left you with excess skin. If the above description matches you will and you don’t suffer from any underlying health conditions then you are likely to be a good candidate for a tummy tuck.
Which surgery is the right surgery for me?
Well that question really depends on what results you’re looking to achieve from surgery and what your condition is going into it. If you’re concerned about pockets of fat across your abdomen then liposuction is likely to be the better option for you, whereas if you’re concerned about loose skin then a tummy tuck is going to be the right surgery, but that’s not to say that only picking one is your only option.
Can you have both liposuction and a tummy tuck performed?
If you’re struggling with both excess fat around your midriff as well as loose skin, then it is entirely possible that you could undergo both procedures and in some cases can even undergo both at the same time. This is something that your surgeon will discuss with you during your consultation to see if you would be a good candidate for both surgeries, but the results of undergoing both in one procedure are often much greater than opting for either surgery individually.
So the major differences between the two is simply the results which are likely to be achieved at the end, tummy tuck surgeries are performed to fight the appearance of loose skin and liposuction is performed to remove excess fat cells. While neither are considered to be effective weight loss options, both surgeries will provide you with amazing and in some cases, completely life changing results. To book your free, no-obligation consultation, contact us today to speak with our team.