If you have excess skin, fat, or both on your abdomen, you might be trying to consider your options. While a tummy tuck or liposuction are not effective for managing your weight, if you are at a normal weight and have stubborn areas that are unaffected by diet and exercise, a tummy tuck or liposuction might be right for you. Here are the differences between these two procedures.
Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure in which excess skin and fat are removed from the abdomen. As excess skin and fat are removed, old scar tissue and stretch marks can be removed. A tummy tuck has a long recovery time of several weeks or months before you really enjoy the benefits of the procedure, and you may have a brief hospital stay.
A tummy tuck is most often recommended when someone undergoes a significant amount of weight loss. Diet and exercise will not firm and tone the excess skin that you have left over from the weight you have lost. A tummy tuck will give you the slender abdomen that you worked so hard for.
Liposuction
Liposuction is a much simpler procedure. With liposuction, small incisions are made in the abdomen, fat cells are broken up, and then they are sucked out of the abdomen. If you have stubborn fat that is resistant to diet and exercise, liposuction with its short recovery time could be the answer. Liposuction does not, however, remove any excess skin.
It is common for these two procedures to be performed together. The liposuction removes the excess fat, while the tummy tuck removes the excess skin. If you have undergone significant weight loss and are now at a normal weight, it may be beneficial to have one or both of these procedures. Contact us today for more information or to schedule your appointment.
