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Abdominal Contouring: Liposuction or a Tummy Tuck?
Posted by Laurence Weider on July 2, 2019
Should You Have Liposuction or a Tummy Tuck?
Most people desire to have a flat, firm stomach, but not everyone can achieve this through diet and exercise alone. Regular diet and exercise may give you a toned body, but you might still have loose skin and excess fat around your stomach and flanks. Others may experience pockets of fat in the midsection that do not seem to go away or shrink in size despite regular exercise. In addition, pregnancy or weight fluctuations can stretch out the abdominal muscles and skin. At this point, you may want to consider having surgery to get a more appealing body contour.
While you might have considered having surgery, it can be difficult to know what procedure is best for you. Tummy tuck and liposuction are procedures performed at Weider Plastic Surgery to give you a flatter and firmer midsection. While both procedures help to reduce the size of your abdomen, there is a difference between the two. These differences will help you narrow down and decide what procedure is right for you. Weider Plastic Surgery has addressed some crucial areas below to help you decide which procedure will give you the best results.
Which procedure is best for you?
Your ideal procedure will depend upon your body and your goals. If you have loose skin or a very lax abdominal wall (abdominal muscles), then you will likely get the best results with a tummy tuck. During a tummy tuck, excess skin and fat are removed and the abdominal muscles are tightened. This creates taut abdominal skin and a well-defined abdominal and flank contours. On the other hand, if you have fatty deposits that are unresponsive to weight loss but good abdominal muscle and skin tone, you may get great results with liposuction alone. Often times, Dr. Weider recommends a tummy tuck combined with liposuction to the flanks and possibly other areas as well. Some people who have skin excess and abdominal wall weakness primarily of the lower abdomen (below the navel) do well with a mini-tummy tuck combined with liposuction. A personal consultation with Dr. Weider will help you pinpoint your areas of cosmetic concern and your optimal procedure.
Age is a consideration
As we age, our skin loses elasticity. This is the ability of the skin to shrink after weight loss or liposuction. Once the skin’s elasticity is reduced, liposuction alone may leave behind loose skin. In this situation, a tummy tuck may provide a better result, because of the skin tightening that is created by the procedure.
How much recovery time should you expect?
In general, liposuction has a shorter recovery period than a tummy tuck. Liposuction typically requires seven to ten days before you can get back to routine activities. For a tummy tuck, the recovery is longer and averages two to three weeks. Of course, recovery time varies from person to person. During your consultation, Dr. Weider can give you an estimate of when you will be able to do specific activities regardless of which procedure you choose.
Are you ready for a slimmer contour and more self-confidence?
The best way to find out which procedure is right for you is to seek a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Laurence Weider. With a personal evaluation and consultation, Dr. Weider can help you determine which procedure will benefit you the most. Regardless of which procedure is chosen, patient safety and satisfaction are of utmost importance. To learn more about the treatment options that you have, feel free to contact Weider Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation.
Dr. Weider, a native of Southern California, is a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon who has maintained a private practice in Dallas, TX since 1999. After attending Stanford University, he obtained his medical degree (M.D.) from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He then completed a one year surgical internship in Los Angeles at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, followed by a four year general surgery residency in Dallas at Methodist Medical Center, and a two year plastic surgery fellowship in Cleveland at Case Western Reserve University.
