Liposuction vs. Tummy tuck
I’m often asked by women about which option (liposuction or tummy tuck) is best for improving the appearance of their abdomen. While every individual is different, there are some generalizations that you may apply to yourself.
-The better the tone of your skin, the more likely it will successfully recoil after the fat is removed following liposuction. As we age, our skin loses its elastic quality, making liposuction a less viable alternative as time goes by. We try to counteract this by utilizing a compressive garment postoperatively that will aid in conforming the skin to its new position. In addition, people who were previously heavy and then have lost significant amounts of weight also develop “loose’ skin that doesn’t tighten well after liposuction. They almost always need to have excess skin excised.
-”No pain, no gain.” Although not everybody is a candidate for a tummy tuck, it almost always yields a more dramatic result than liposuction; but not without a more significant recovery. Although the scar is concealed in the bikini line, it is significant and runs from hip to hip. A special series of sutures holds the abdomen in like an “internal corset,” which gives the abdomen a youthful shape that liposuction will never accomplish. The downside is more extensive recovery (several weeks), with no heavy lifting for 6 weeks. Alternatively, liposuction has a short recovery of only several days. A tummy tuck is usually performed under general anesthesia, adding other risks, albeit rare (~1%), such as blood clots in the legs, and wound healing problems. Liposuction, however, can be safely performed in the office (if only the abdomen and flanks are addressed), greatly reducing the cost to the patient. Multiple areas suctioned should be performed in a controlled surgical hospital setting.
Ultimately, the choice for the procedure depends on a lot of different factors, from your individual anatomic specifics, to postop job requirements, to plans for future pregnancies, and overall health. Only after an examination and long discussion may we choose the custom tailored option that is perfect for you.
