Both liposuction and tummy tuck can achieve the much sought after result of delivering you a flat midsection. Yet, both have different considerations; you must be aware of when deciding which is the one for you.

Tummy Tuck or Liposuction? The Procedures

Although both target the abdominal area, both procedures differ from one another. To appreciate the differences, let’s describe how each one surgery proceeds.

Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

A tummy tuck procedure is also known as the abdominoplasty operation. The procedure allows us to bring together the abdominal muscles and remove the excess of hanging skin from the abdomen. Childbirth and massive weight changes can make abdominal muscles distended and broken apart.

Full Tummy Tuck: Meant for people with much hanging tissue and skin along with abdominal muscles, stretched out to a higher degree. It requires an incision running from one side of the hip to the other over the pubic hairline. From it, the surgeon lifts the layer of skin covering the abdominal muscles and excises the excess of it. Then it proceeds to manipulate the muscles, suturing them together. However, the belly button is often moved during this process; the surgeon cuts the skin over its new position and sutures it in place. Then he closes the incisions.

Mini-Tummy Tuck: Its for people with limited pockets of fat on the lower abdomen. By placing a smaller incision just above the pubic hairline similar to a cesarean incision. The removal of tissue and skin proceeds from that incision. The surgeon sutures the lower abdominal muscles together, closing the incision once done. On the contrary of the full tummy tuck, the mini tummy tuck usually does not require moving your belly button.

Liposuction

Different variations of liposuction are available; each applies different pieces of technological equipment. However, the main procedure is still the same.

Using the incision placed close to the targeted area as an entry point for a thin, hollow tube called a ‘cannula’. By turning on the cannula, the surgeon proceeds to suck the fat out of the area. The surgeon is careful to leave a small minimum of fat to contour into an attractive shape. The incision is then sutured.

Choosing Between Tummy Tuck and Liposuction

When is time to choose which one is the right for you, consider the key differences of both:

Liposuction will just suck out the fat beneath the skin. No excision of the hanging tissue and skin that formerly housed the fat takes place. The results are permanent for the operated areas but know that fat can accumulate in other areas after the operation.

In contrast, a tummy tuck results in a flat, toned abdomen that will endure unless much weight gain or pregnancy after the procedure happens. Women that are not looking to have more children are perfect candidates for a tummy tuck.

Finally, know that you don’t necessarily have to choose between both procedures at all. Some surgeons perform liposuction in conjunction with a tummy tuck. If you meet the criteria for both procedures and want to undergo them, inquire to your surgeon if it is possible.