The battle against sagging skin and excess fat has been a long-standing one throughout history. Whether you’re a woman dealing with loose abdominal skin that hasn’t snapped back after pregnancy, or a man who has love handles that have proven resistant to every workout, the desire for a tighter and more defined midsection is universal. Although sometimes referred to interchangeably, Tummy Tuck and Liposuction are two very different procedures that are incredibly effective at addressing excess skin and resistant pockets of fat. When performed together, they can yield results that not only enhance but often exceed patient’s expectations for transforming their abdominal profiles.
What is the difference between a Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) and Liposuction?
Although both surgical procedures fall into the realm of “body contouring,” the mechanism of how they work to improve the appearance of your waistline if very different.
“A Tummy Tuck works in two planes to achieve smoother results in your midsection,” explains Dr. Nathan Leigh, a board-certified plastic surgeon with Edina Plastic Surgery. “First, it reconnects or tightens separated or loose abdominal muscles which frequently occur as a result of pregnancy,” he says. “This step allows us to essentially recreate the foundational contour of a patient’s waistline,” continues Dr. Leigh. “Next, any loose, sagging, or excess skin is removed from the front of the abdomen to restore a smoother, flatter, appearance to the stomach area. This excess skin commonly occurs after pregnancy and significant weight loss.”
Unlike abdominoplasty, Liposuction is focused on removing isolated pockets of subcutaneous fat that are resistant to diet and exercise. It is especially effective in areas like love handles, belly fat, the flanks, thighs, and back fat. As pockets of fat are removed, the contours of the body become smoother and more defined.
“While all of my Liposuction patients may not benefit from a Tummy Tuck, I rarely have a Tummy Tuck patient who would not benefit from further contouring and shaping with Liposuction,” shares Dr. Leigh. “There is such a symbiotic relationship between these two procedures,” he continues, “a patient’s results can be more balanced and harmonious when Tummy Tuck and Liposuction are performed as a combined surgery.”
What are the Benefits of Adding Liposuction to Your Tummy Tuck Surgery?
Multiple factors contribute to the shape of your midsection. These include the amount of fat present, the condition of the underlying muscle, and the health and laxity of the overlying skin. Combining Liposuction to a Tummy Tuck allows your surgeon to truly customize the contours of your body by addressing all three. As excess pockets of fat are removed from the back, flanks, abdomen, and hips, a smoother and shapelier midsection emerges. Simultaneously, excess skin is removed to achieve the tightness, and flatness patients desire on their stomach. This surgical combination can offer 360 degrees of transformation that is more uniform and balanced than if only one procedure were performed.
Another benefit of Tummy Tuck plus Liposuction surgery is a potentially shorter recovery time. It obviously requires less downtime to recover from ONE combined surgery than to return for two separate procedures.
“The combination of Tummy Tuck and Liposuction is one of my favorite combined surgeries to perform,” says Dr. Leigh. “For me, it honors the ‘treat to complete’ philosophy and utilizes a multi-faceted approach to achieve multi-dimensional results,” he continues. “Patients are so ecstatic with their outcomes because they essentially reclaim the youthful waistline they once had. That’s the aspect of plastic surgery I love most – that it can help people feel like themselves again and comfortable and confident in their bodies. Let’s face it – you approach life differently when you love the way you look!”
Are you considering Liposuction or Tummy Tuck Surgery? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Leigh or another Edina Plastic Surgery board-certified plastic surgeon by calling (952) 925-1765.
