Can a patient exercise his or her way into just needing liposuction and not a tummy tuck? Each of us has different patterns of fat disposition when we gain or lose weight. If you took a hundred people and had all of them gain 20 pounds, they would all accumulate fat in different patterns. Similarly, when you lose the weight, the weight comes off from certain areas and that is a variable we do not know. The bigger issue, however, is what the skin is doing.Laser technology plays a critical role in this process. Tummy tucks, on the other hand, prove a more useful measure in achieving that toned abdomen through the surgical removal of loose skin and the tightening of underlying muscles. The procedure is more intense in tucks owing to the necessity of surgery through the extended cut in your lower abdomen.
The result is a narrower waist and a flatter, tighter stomach. Though it will fade noticeably, the scar where the incision is made will never go away entirely"but it is so low on the abdomen that underwear or bathing suit bottoms will hide it easily. Liposuction can do wonders if the problem you have with your stomach is not that it looks loose or droopy, but that it has pockets of fat that don’t respond to diet or exercise.
Resuming activities, including exercise, takes 4 to 6 weeks. Liposuction: Most liposuction patients are already in fairly good shape and can maintain their results by exercising regularly and eating a healthy, nutritious diet. Tummy Tuck: Exercise and diet can also help maintain the results of a tummy tuck. For women in their childbearing years, getting pregnant after having a tummy tuck can compromise the results. Dr. Weinberg advises female patients to consider delaying a tummy tuck until they are certain they do not want more children.
Also known as an abdominoplasty, tummy tuck surgery is best suited for individuals who have sagging skin and fat around their midsection. By making the necessary incisions, excess skin is excised and fat cells are suctioned out, leaving patients with a firmer and more defined stomach. A tummy tuck is particularly effective for mothers and weight loss patients because it tightens the abdominal muscles that were stretched out during pregnancy or weight gain.
A cannula (thin metal tube) is inserted into the incisions to break up the fatty tissue. The surgeon then uses a medical vacuum to remove the dislodged fat. The procedure takes between 45 minutes and two hours. More than one liposuction treatment may be required for optimal outcomes. The patient is placed under general anesthesia.
What's the difference, and which one is for you? For both liposuction and abdominoplasty, patients undergo lab tests and a possible adjustment in medication. They should avoid aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements, as these could impact bleeding. Home preparation is mostly the same. Patients should stock up on ice packs and have loose clothing. However, liposuction patients also need compression bandages. Tummy tuck patients need petroleum jelly for the wound, a hand-held shower and a bathroom chair. Patients are unable to drive after the procedure, so it's best to have a companion.
Ideally, it’s better to wait a year before pursuing a tummy tuck to allow hormone levels to return to normal. A clinical study of abdominal liposuction patients reported that 78% of participants were satisfied with their results. Another study reported that 79.7% of patients who had undergone a liposuction procedure said they would undergo the surgery again. Factors such as the surgeon’s location, credentials, the type of facility where the procedure is being performed and the volume of fat removed all impact the final cost. 12,500, in addition to anesthesia and facility fees.
What Does a Tummy Tuck Entail? Tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure. While liposuction targets unwanted fat deposits, tummy tucks primarily target loose skin. Tummy tuck surgery also produces a flatter abdominal wall by tightening slack abdominal muscles. Tummy tucks are generally considered the best solution if the main issue is lax skin or muscle. Learn more about tummy tuck procedures and techniques in Zwivel’s comprehensive guide.
