Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck - The Truth Revealed
People spend a lot of money on improving their appearances and whether to have a liposuction vs. tummy tuck is one of the most common decisions made every day. While women have the most liposuctions and tummy tucks, these cosmetic surgeries are gaining rapidly in popularity among men as well, especially in urban areas.
Do you like the looks of your abdomen?
There are two reasons why someone elects to have a liposuction vs. tummy tuck. You have either too much fat on your abdomen or you have loose and unattractive skin covering your abdomen. Loose skin is often the result of pregnancies or a very large loss of weight.
Most people opt for abdominal surgery because their appearance makes them self-conscious. Whether you have loose, hanging folds of skin or excessive fat covering your abdomen, chances are you feel embarrassed about the way you look. In today’s society, you are made to feel that looking good is a must to social acceptance and the key to self-esteem.
For many people, no amount of diet and exercise gets rid of stubborn abdominal fat. The only choice for a great-looking abdomen is to have a surgical procedure. But how do you know which to choose--liposuction vs. tummy tuck?
What is liposuction?
If you have excessive abdominal fat and you want to get rid of it, liposuction is the answer for you. A liposuction procedure will eliminate unwanted fat and tighten the skin to make the area more shapely. With a liposuction, very small incisions are made in the skin and a tube or cannula is used to enter through the incision to break up the fat underneath the skin. The fat is then suctioned out through the incisions.
If you want to get rid of “love handles” or “saddlebags” liposuction is the perfect answer.
Do you need a tummy tuck?
If you want to get rid of abdominal fat plus loose or hanging skin around your abdomen, you might have better results with a tummy tuck. Also known as abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck is designed to make stretch marks, hanging folds of skin, and fat disappear.
If you are confused about liposuction vs. tummy tuck, discuss both procedures with your plastic surgeon before choosing one. A tummy tuck is a much more extensive and serious procedure than liposuction. It is not done as an out-patient surgery like liposuction but requires general anesthesia and a much longer recovery time.
In fact, a tummy tuck can be quite painful right after surgery. It requires a very long incision from one hip to the other. Another incision is made to remove the belly button from the skin which surrounds it. Excess skin covering the abdomen is removed. A new opening is made to house the navel. Liposuction is used in a tummy tuck to vacuum out the fat from underneath the incision. Muscles may actually be tightened with sutures to firm the abdominal area.
The tummy tuck has the best results with people who are in physically good shape but just cannot get rid of abdominal fat. Also, those women who have had several children and have extended or stretched their skin can have excellent results with this surgery.
Have a tummy tuck to get rid of loose skin or a liposuction to decrease fat.
Seek out a certified surgeon
No matter which you choose: liposuction vs. tummy tuck, seek out a certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in both procedures. Don’t be embarrassed to ask a lot of questions. Any good surgeon will be concerned for your level of comfort and will want to help you understand what is involved in either surgery.