If you’ve ever heard someone quip “She had a tummy tuck!” about a celebrity who has rapidly shed her “baby weight,” then you know that liposuction and tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) surgery are often confused. In reality, that celebrity has probably done most of the hard work of weight loss herself… But she might have made use of an abdominoplasty to snap her stomach back into the kind of taught, tight shape that makes headlines.
So, what’s the difference between liposuction and abdominoplasty, and what do you need to know if you’re interested in either one? Read on to find out:
The Skinny On Liposuction Vs. Abdominoplasty
First and foremost, it’s important to understand that neither liposuction nor abdominoplasty are intended to be true “weight loss surgeries.” Liposuction is often used to remove small to medium-sized deposits of stubborn fat found anywhere on the body (e.g., a genetic “double chin” or belly fat that exercise just won’t budge), but it can’t make an overweight person thin overnight. If you have a great deal of excess weight, you’ll need to lose it via healthy means before considering cosmetic surgeries. Cosmetic surgeries are, however, often a necessary final step in creating a really sleek, lean appearance. It’s extremely difficult, and not always safe, to reduce your body fat percentage to a very low amount via diet and exercise alone. If you’re a healthy weight but still have unsightly fat deposits, then liposuction is a better choice for banishing them than extreme dieting.
Tummy tuck surgery, on the other hand, doesn’t target specific fat deposits (though some subcutaneous fat will usually be removed during this procedure). Instead, it assists people who have already lost a lot of weight (such as formerly obese individuals or women who have recently given birth). Often these people have a lot of unsightly loose skin that will never completely firm up on its own. To correct this, their plastic surgeon will make a long incision on their lower abdomen, reposition the skin, muscles, and tissue above, then remove whatever excess is left over. This leaves the stomach looking firm and toned.
In summation, liposuction is probably right for you if you’re a healthy weight but need to take care of one or more smaller deposits of stubborn fat. An abdominoplasty, on the other hand, is the better choice if you’re happy with your overall fat loss, but have loose skin you need to get rid of. And of course, if you have both issues, it’s important to keep in mind that you can safely get both surgeries—You’ll just need to get your abdominal liposuction done first before having a tummy tuck.
For more information, or to schedule a consultation, contact Ritacca Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa today.
