If you are thinking about having a body contouring procedure to help flatten and reshape your abdominal area, you might be wondering which is better: liposuction or a tummy tuck. Liposuction and a tummy tuck are two of the most popular cosmetic surgeries performed today. They are considered two different surgeries, but liposuction is often performed as part of the tummy tuck procedure, so you essentially get the benefit of two procedures (liposuction and tummy tuck) during one surgical session.
Sometimes, to get the best results, individuals may choose to include additional liposuction along with their tummy tuck, and today we are going to talk about 4 reasons you may want to consider combining liposuction and tummy tuck surgeries.
Which Is Better: Liposuction or a Tummy Tuck?
Before we go into the benefits of combining liposuction and a tummy tuck, let’s take a look at the differences between the two surgeries.
Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck is a surgery that requires a long incision (usually hip to hip) and concentrates on the abdominal area only. It can remove large amounts of excess loose skin and fat that may be left behind after a significant weight loss or pregnancy. A tummy tuck may also involve repairing weakened, torn, or stretched abdominal muscles and is often done in tandem with a breast augmentation during a “mommy makeover.”
Liposuction
Liposuction surgery uses very small incisions placed in strategic locations and can only remove a mild to moderate amount of fat when performed on its own. If you only need to get rid of small pockets of stubborn fat from your stomach, you probably only need lipo instead of a tummy tuck. Liposuction does not correct or eliminate loose, saggy skin, as tummy tuck surgery does.
How Do I Tell If I Need Lipo or a Tummy Tuck?
The best way to find out which cosmetic procedure is best for you is to speak with Dr. Angelina Postoev at IBI Plastic Surgery & Med Spa. She and her team will assess your circumstances, look over your health history, and speak with you about the results you would like to achieve, and then recommend a treatment plan to help you accomplish your goals.
You probably need liposuction if:
- You have good skin elasticity.
- You are near your target weight.
- Your skin bounces back when you pinch it.
- You have stubborn fat pockets that will not go away with diet and exercise.
- You do not have loose or sagging skin.
You probably need a tummy tuck if:
- You have a lot of loose, hanging skin. This often happens after pregnancy or major weight loss.
- You have loose skin with fat that is folding over on itself.
- Your abdominal muscles are torn, separated, or have been weakened from multiple pregnancies.
- Your belly protrudes despite reaching your goal weight, eating healthy, and exercising.
- You have chronic back pain and poor posture due to a weak core caused by damaged abdominal muscles.
Recovery of Liposuction vs Tummy Tuck
When comparing the downtime associated with liposuction vs. tummy tuck, the recovery is much shorter after liposuction than the four-to-six-week downtime needed after a tummy tuck.
What Is More Painful, Tummy Tuck or Liposuction?
A tummy tuck is considered more painful than liposuction because the surgery is more extensive, takes longer, involves a much larger incision, and provides muscle repair and tightening. During tummy tuck recovery, patients are not able to walk fully upright for several days, and things like coughing, sneezing, or getting in and out of bed can be very painful for a week or two, so patients are prescribed strong pain medication.
What’s Cheaper, a Tummy Tuck or Liposuction?
Liposuction is less invasive than complex tummy tuck surgery, uses small incisions and has a shorter surgery time, so the cost is normally much lower than a tummy tuck. Often, liposuction can be performed using local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia, which offers additional cost savings.
4 Reasons to Combine a Tummy Tuck and Liposuction
Combining liposuction and tummy tuck surgeries can offer many benefits, including:
Reason #1: You Will Get Better Results
Undergoing liposuction and a tummy tuck together deliver more dramatic results because a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) normally does not eliminate excess fat, but liposuction can be used to remove unwanted fat deposits.
By combining liposuction and a tummy tuck, Dr. Angelina can completely re-contour your abdomen, slimming down your waist, back, and flanks by eliminating excess fat, correcting excess loose skin, and repairing abdominal muscles, leaving your midsection flatter, smoother, and slimmer.
Reason #2: It Requires The Same Recovery Time
Recovery time for liposuction and a tummy tuck can vary depending on the extent of correction needed during the tummy tuck, the number of areas targeted for fat removal, and the liposuction technique used. Most people can return to work and light activities in about two weeks after liposuction, but it takes an average of four to six weeks for all the swelling to go down and for them to return to their normal routine.
A tummy tuck done separately can take anywhere from four to twelve weeks for recovery, depending on the extent of correction needed and the technique used. A full tummy tuck usually requires a recovery time of between six and eight weeks before the patient can return to their regular activities.
When the surgeries are combined, the recovery timeline will closely follow what is normal and customary for the type of tummy tuck they underwent. Both surgeries require the extended use of compression garments, and the individual will recover from both surgeries simultaneously rather than face two separate six to eight-week recovery periods.
Reason #3: It Will Reduce Costs
Combining the two surgeries reduces the total cost because some of the fees are charged only once. Most often, the cost of any type of surgical procedure includes the following fees:
- The fee for the anesthesiologist;
- The fee for the medication;
- The surgeon’s fee;
- The facility fee (use of the surgical suite).
Depending on your specific circumstances, there may be additional expenses, but undergoing both surgeries at the same time would reduce the total liposuction and tummy tuck cost. You would save a significant amount of money because you would not be paying many of these fees twice.
Reason #4: It Will Minimize Risks
Studies have shown that combining liposuction and tummy tuck surgeries reduces the risks of complications associated with tummy tucks, like postoperative seroma, hematoma, and wound infection. Surgeons that perform lipoabdominoplasty surgery (the combination of tummy tuck and liposuction) have significantly lower instances of revision cases.
Combining a tummy tuck and liposuction has many benefits and can deliver dramatic results that can be life-changing for the patient. Instead of going through two separate surgeries with individual recovery periods of six to eight weeks each, combining these procedures means only one recovery time that will follow the timeline of your tummy tuck.
We invite you to visit our tummy tuck and liposuction before and after gallery to view actual results from real patients.
Set up a consultation today with IBI Plastic Surgery & Med Spa and learn more about how a combination of liposuction and tummy tuck can give you the body you have always wanted. During your consultation, we will also provide you with information about the cost savings associated with combining these surgeries, and we will share the details of the financing programs we offer. Make your appointment now!
