In regards to plastic surgery procedures, liposuction is a relatively simple procedure. A thin, hollow tube is inserted into the body, and fat is sucked out. This leaves extremely minimal scarring and just a bit of pain and swelling afterwards, with a short recovery. A tummy tuck, on the other hand, is not so simple.The more minor of these can be treated on an outpatient basis, while the more major are performed in a hospital. Regardless of type, the patient is put under general anesthesia. The tummy tuck, since it involves the skin, is generally better for a patient who wants a flatter stomach.
Swelling, bruising and temporary numbness are common side effects of liposuction, and in some rare cases infection, bleeding and skin ulcers can also occur. All of the risks and side effects mentioned above can be greatly reduced by selecting an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon to perform your procedure. Both liposuction and tummy tucks have relatively similar recovery times; however, liposuction allows patients to return to moderate normal activity sooner.
There are two types of tummy tuck: full and mini. A full tummy tuck corrects both the upper and lower abdomen, while a mini tummy tuck concentrates only on the lower abdomen. The surgeon does not reposition the umbilicus in a mini tummy tuck. Liposuction procedures may be classified as either wet or dry.
This is a laser procedure that is done over 25-50 minutes depending on how many applicators are needed (we treat with 4 applicators at a time and the applicators are about the size of a deck of cards). There is no down time. We treat each patient at least two times 6 weeks apart. It takes 12 weeks after your last treatment to see the final results.
Your surgeon will make an incision all the way to the muscle to expose it and repair the abdominal wall. What this means is that the doctor will tighten up the abdominal muscle that has been stretched and distended. This will ensure you will be left with a flat and tight abdomen. So, as you can tell, sometimes liposuction is not enough to give you the shape you want. To know if you’re a candidate for a tummy tuck or liposuction, contact one of our Patients Coordinators to get started with your journey.
A good plastic surgeon can work wonders on your body with liposuction, whether you require fat removal from your stomach, buttocks, arms or legs. Even the chin and facial area can benefit from liposuction. Another thing to note is that the recovery time after a liposuction procedure is quick " in comparison to tummy tuck recovery. Usually, a doctor will examine you before this procedure to determine how much loose skin may be visible after liposuction. The fat displacement due to liposuction is usually too sudden for your skin elasticity to handle naturally.
Full recovery may take up to six months. Risks of tummy tuck include bleeding, blood clot formation, infection, poor wound healing, anesthesia-related complications, nerve damage, and fluid build-up. Recovery time is also longer in this procedure and it may not be possible to take up regular exercise and work for some weeks.
Whatever is causing you to feel down about the shape and firmness of your abdomen, there are cosmetic surgery solutions which can help you achieve the smoother, flatter silhouette that you desire. Many patients confuse liposuction and a tummy tuck since both can dramatically alter the shape of your midsection. However, the procedures for both are very different, as can be the results that they provide.
