People often get confused between tummy tuck and liposuction, and how they differ. Yes, both procedure may have similar goal that is to improve or enhance body contour, but generally there still exists a great distinction between them and the effects that each of the two provide. The general rule is that you should first consult your doctor before going for any of these procedures.
Let us just explain for those who are unfamiliar about these two procedures, and what they are all about. Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty, is a major cosmetic surgery which is carried out on the lower abdomen of a patient, to make a tummy look flatter and tighter. This is a procedure of choice for patients that has excess and sagging skin; while liposuction is a less invasive and advanced cosmetic procedure that address excess fats only to enhance body contour. Liposuction is not good for patients that lost massive with that has excessive sagging skin. Because liposuction will not be able to remove or excise the excess sagging skin. Though there are times that patients may have mild sagging skin, then liposuction may be an option since liposuction may be just enough to stimulate skin contraction after fat aspiration. Then excision will not needed.
Tummy Tuck Procedure
The fat deposits at the central tummy and lower abdominal area is very difficult to get rid of. People try rigorous weight loss programs and diet plan and yet complain about having a pot belly. This is when a need for a tummy tuck might be considered. Before liposuction was invented, tummy tuck was performed thoroughly and it is still carried out when the need arises. It involves the elimination of a large amount of skin from the abdominal area together with fats.
In this procedure, a general anesthesia is administered to the individual after which a surgical incision is made between the two hip-bones, that is the entire area between it. An incision is additionally created near the belly button to reposition the navel when the abdominal skin is pulled down excessively. The skin which has unwanted and too much fat is then removed from the abdomen. One can also have the option of skin tightening. It is carried out by stitching the abdominal muscles together. This entire procedure is completed by pulling down the excess skin and cutting it off. Tummy tucks also involve the formation of a new belly button by a surgically-made one, after the incisions are stitched.
Liposuction Procedure
Liposuction is a more advanced and less invasive cosmetic procedure compared with the tummy tuck surgery. In this procedure, a vacuum machine combined with laser or ultrasound devise is used to carry out the suction of excess fat from the body. Liposuction entail local anesthesia and a few incisions near the abdominal area. With the help of surgical vacuum, the extra fat deposits are eliminated by suction process after which the incisions are stitched. Liposuction does not require any supplanting of the belly button. Some extra skin is typically left after the process of liposuction but it also leads to shrinkage in the skin after the elimination of body fat, which makes up for the same. Liposuction is not good for patients that has massive or sagging excess abdominal skin, for these patients tummy tuck procedure will be the best option.
Tummy Tuck Vs. Liposuction
Tummy tuck should only be considered if you want to remove very large amount of skin. This is the reason why a liposuction is suitable for majority of the patients. You should identify whether the problem is the belly fat. A tummy tuck will eliminate excess skin and will tighten up your abdominal muscles, whilst a liposuction will take away majority of the fat cells leaving the skin with normal elasticity. Liposuction would be appropriate for people who are close to the ideal weight and with no abdominal wall or muscle laxity and who don’t want the skin to be tighter. And for women who have undergone pregnancies, a tummy tuck surgery is the solution for tightening their loose skin and a flatter tummy as a result.
There are cases in which tummy tuck(abdominoplasty) is also combined with liposuction procedure. This is called Saldanha Procedure. This is best for patients with excessive sagging abdominal skin with excess abdominal fats.
Prior to making any decision, I strongly encourage on consulting an expert doctor’s option concerning this issue. After the consultation and the procedure, you should be able to make a great improvement and acquire a greater boost of self confidence with an improved body.
Regardless of what cause you’ve for wanting to obtain an abdominoplasty or liposuction , make certain that you are deciding to do it for yourself and not for someone else. The important thing is the way you really feel about your personal physique and shape.
