“Dr Norris, will liposuction help me get my figure back, or do I need a tummy tuck?” This excellent question is posed to me frequently, and I’m going to try and answer it today for everyone who is wondering just what the difference is between abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and liposuction.
Let me begin by saying that excess skin and fat in the tummy area is a problem for almost everyone. Even the most stringent diet and most rigorous workout schedule may not be enough to keep this troublesome spot in tip-top shape without a little help.
Should I Get Liposuction?
Since 1983, liposuction has been one of the most popular procedures in cosmetic plastic surgery. According to the Australasian Foundation of Plastic Surgery, liposuction (also known as lipoplasty or suction lipectomy)
“…vacuums out fat from beneath the skin’s surface
to reduce fullness”
To perform a liposuction, your surgeon first makes a small incision. To make the fat easier to suction, a liquid mixture of anaesthetic and salt water is injected into the incision site. Then the liquid and fat are drawn out through metal tubes known as cannulas, which remove fluid from the body.
Liposuction is a less invasive procedure than a tummy tuck and is recommended for younger patients.
Liposuction is also recommended for women who want to have children in the near future. During pregnancy, the abdominal area needs to stretch to accommodate the developing foetus. If excess skin is removed with a tummy tuck before a woman becomes pregnant, she is likely to develop stretch marks that could have been avoided had she waited until her childbearing was complete.
Should I Have a Tummy Tuck?
The Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons calls abdominoplasty
“…a body contouring procedure performed on both men and, more commonly, women. The procedure is designed to improve the appearance of the abdominal area, which may have been affected by pregnancy, significant weight loss or the ageing process.”
For patients who have significant skin laxity, excess fat and separation of the muscles, a classic tummy tuck is the most common procedure.
Abdominoplasty is recommended for older patients whose skin has lost elasticity due to ageing, as older skin no longer has the ability to respond (shrink in size) following liposuction.
During this procedure, an incision is made in the lower abdominal region. Weakened muscles of the abdominal wall are restored and tightened. Loose skin and tissue is removed, and the stomach-area is flattened and tightened.
Whether you should have liposuction or abdominoplasty is not a decision you will make on your own. During a consultation with your surgeon, he/she will listen to your medical history, review your lifestyle and activities, assess your concerns, ask about your goals, and then (with your input) determine the best procedure to achieve them.
When weighing the benefits of a tummy tuck vs. liposuction, many patients mistakenly think they are looking at an either/or situation. In fact, there is a third option: Do a simple liposuction first. Then later, only if truly necessary, move on to a tummy tuck.