If you’ve been considering plastic surgery to achieve a flatter, smoother, and more contoured midsection, chances are your research has already led you to abdominoplasty, or “tummy tuck.” But what if there is more that concerns you about your stomach area than just sagging, loose skin? If you’ve also been battling stubborn pockets of fat on your abdomen, hips, flanks, and/or lower back, you may be an excellent candidate for one of the perfect pairings in plastic surgery – lipoabdominoplasty!
What is Lipoabdominoplasty?
“A lipoabdominoplasty is a combination of liposuction and a tummy tuck performed in a single surgery,” explains Dr. Christine Stewart, a partner and board-certified plastic surgeon with Edina Plastic Surgery. “Although the term itself may be new to many people’s ears, combining these two procedures is extremely popular in plastic surgery because liposuction and abdominoplasty can dramatically complement each other on the right candidates. Liposuction removes excess fat and adds beautiful contour to the midsection, while tummy tuck removes excess skin to restore a flatter and smoother front to the abdomen. As you can imagine, the results can be truly transformative when they are performed together.”
What Do Liposuction and Tummy Tuck Surgery Achieve When Performed Alone?
To understand why a patient may enjoy superior results after a lipoabdominoplasty, one needs to understand what each separate procedure can achieve.
Abdominoplasty—A traditional tummy tuck focuses on removing excess skin and fat in the region between the belly button and pubic bone. It is often performed after a dramatic weight loss or pregnancy to tighten sagging abdominal skin. An abdominoplasty can also tighten underlying abdominal muscles that may have been stretched or damaged during pregnancy.
Liposuction—Liposuction surgery focuses on removing stubborn pockets of fat via a vacuum-assisted cannula inserted under the skin. It can be performed virtually anywhere on the body to “debulk” volume, restore smoothness, and add beautiful definition and contour.
How Does Liposuction Complement Abdominoplasty?
“In all honesty, it is rare to find a tummy tuck patient whose procedure would not benefit from a little liposuction here or there around the midsection,” says Dr. Stewart. “Unless you are now a very lean, athletic man after weight loss, or a lean, athletic woman frustrated by loose abdominal skin after pregnancy or weight loss, chances are you are among the millions of us who carry additional fat on our hips, flanks, upper abs, or lower back. That’s why this duo of liposuction plus abdominoplasty is so effective at giving a more complete result to the overall midsection.”
Other ways liposuction may complement a tummy tuck:
- Muscle definition of the abdominals is enhanced
- More contour and definition of the overall midsection
- Clothing fits better after surgery
- In women, a more desirable hourglass shape can be achieved
- Results are more balanced and natural-looking
Who is a Good Candidate for Lipoabdominoplasty?
“Patients with loose sagging skin on the front of the abdomen, as well as pronounced pockets of fat around the circumference of their midsection, are generally good candidates for lipoabdominoplasty,” advises Dr. Stewart. “As with any plastic surgery, candidates must also be in good overall health, be non-smokers, and have realistic expectations of their results.”
“Patients who are well above their ideal weight with a BMI > 35, may not be a good candidate for this procedure until they lose weight and maintain a weight that is comfortable and healthy for them,” explains Dr. Stewart. “If a significant amount of weight is lost, this patient may also be a better candidate for and extended abdominoplasty or body lift surgery, as loose, sagging skin may be present around the entire circumference of the midsection after a dramatic weight loss. Your candidacy will be determined at your initial consultation.”
How is a Lipoabdominoplasty Performed?
A lipoabdominoplasty begins with liposuction to remove excess fat from the abdominal area. Depending on what has been previously discussed and determined between you and your surgeon, fat may also be removed from additional areas like the hips, flanks, and lower back to enhance your overall result. During liposuction, targeted fat is first saturated with tumescent fluid. Next, a tiny tube called a cannula is inserted into a small, discreet location close to the area of fat removal. Your surgeon will move the vacuum-assisted cannula under the skin to dislodge and remove fat and add contour and definition to the area.
“After your surgeon has removed excess fat with liposuction, they will proceed with your tummy tuck procedure,” says Dr. Stewart. “The incision used for abdominoplasty will vary depending on whether you have a standard or extended tummy tuck, but it generally runs below the hips and is easy to hide under clothing. If necessary, underlying muscle repair will be performed. Excess skin is then removed, the belly button is remodeled, and the incision is closed.”
What is the Recovery Like After Lipoabdominoplasty?
The duration of your recovery after lipoabdominoplasty will depend on whether or not muscle repair was needed during the tummy tuck portion of your procedure. If so, expect additional lifting restrictions and a longer recovery.
“After a lipoabdominoplasty, you will be swollen and tender, although most discomfort is relieved from the anesthetic used during your procedure and pain medications prescribed afterward,” states Dr. Stewart. “Your incisions will be taped, and drainage tubes will extend out from under your compression garment. This garment will be worn for six to twelve weeks to help reduce swelling. Drainage tubes are generally removed within 7-10 days. Most of the sutures used during your procedure are dissolvable and need not be removed. Swelling will subside significantly within the first 4-8 weeks but may persist slightly for up to a year.”
When Do I See Results with Lipoabdominoplasty?
Patients play a vital role in the results they achieve with lipoabdominoplasty. It is crucial that you follow your post-care instructions closely, especially movement restrictions, to ensure you don’t negatively influence your results. Your commitment to these instructions will significantly contribute to the success of your procedure.
“Patients can expect swelling to subside significantly after the first two months following lipoabdominoplasty and immediately enjoy a flatter, smoother stomach,” shares Dr. Stewart. “With each passing month, the new contours of your body will become more pronounced, especially if you eat clean, drink lots of water, abstain from alcohol, and slowly reintroduce a workout regimen. Many of my patients remark on how much better clothes fit and how much more confident they feel. You’ll also see any scarring begin to fade naturally in the first six months to a year. Our medical spa, Skin Artisans, offers scar revision packages that incorporate laser treatments and topicals to help scarring fade even faster and ensure that scars are flat and smooth. As always, it’s important to be patient, especially with swelling, because the results of having a complete midsection makeover with lipoabdominoplasty are worth it!”
Have you considered tummy tuck surgery and think that you may also be a candidate for liposuction? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Christine Stewart or another board-certified plastic surgeon at Edina Plastic Surgery to discuss combining your abdominoplasty with liposuction! Call (952) 592-6084, text (952) 925-1765, or CLICK HERE to get started!
