Liposuction or Tummy Tuck – Which Is Right For Me?
Have you lost a significant amount of weight but are left with unsightly excess loose, hanging skin in your abdominal area? Have you recently had a baby and have stretch marks or loose skin? Do you wish for a sleeker, slimmer midsection and figure in general? If so, there are two options available for you – liposuction and abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck. However, how do you choose which body contouring procedure is better for you?
Liposuction is Less Invasive and Highly Effective
The liposuction procedure is less invasive than a tummy tuck and allows you to get rid of the stubborn excess fat cells around your midsection while slimming your body. If you prefer not to take the added recovery time of a tummy tuck, liposuction may be the right way to go for you. It’s a highly effective procedure that can eliminate stubborn excess fatty tissue in the abdominal area in a single procedure. Additionally, while it is great for helping you to lose fat in your stomach area, it can also be used in other problem areas such as the hips, buttocks, arms, or thighs. However, you must keep in mind that while liposuction can remove excess fat, it doesn’t do much where tightening and toning the skin is concerned.
Another thing to keep in mind is that liposuction surgery has downtime for recovery. However, this is a shorter length of time compared with a tummy tuck. Recovery from this procedure is also easier. Many patients are able to return to their jobs after one or two weeks. Bruising and swelling gradually subside within three weeks.
Tummy Tuck Eliminates Stubborn Fat and Excess Skin
Tummy tuck surgery is a better choice for some patients. Specifically, if you are not only looking to eliminate stubborn abdominal fat and slim down and tone up your figure, this is the procedure for you. It’s more invasive but can give you more drastic results as excess skin is removed and your abdominal muscles are tightened. Many people seek the procedure when they’ve had children or have lost a lot of weight. Sometimes, a tummy tuck is done in addition to liposuction.
At J. Sweat Plastic Surgery, we offer a traditional tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck. The traditional type can address the middle and lower abdomen while a mini tummy tuck focuses on the area below the belly button.
Tummy tuck surgery focuses on removing excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdominal area and tightens the abs as well. Often, patients are left with a large scar that can extend from one hip to the other. The recovery time is longer than that for liposuction.
After the surgery, it can take several weeks or even months to fully recover. Individuals with stronger abdominal muscles typically have a faster recovery period. It’s important to relax and avoid pushing yourself too hard while recovering, but exercise can also help in the healing process. Scarring also fades within a year.
Liposuction and Tummy Tuck Together
Both liposuction and tummy tucks are excellent procedures alone, but some patients may want to have both together. Depending on the results you want out of your treatment, you may choose to get both procedures. Liposuction can help you to shed that excess fat you are unable to eliminate through dieting and exercise while a tummy tuck can give you tighter muscles and skin. It all comes down to what you want to achieve with your body.
Schedule a Consultation
If you’re in a Sacramento, California area and want to get liposuction or a tummy tuck or both, contact J. Sweat Plastic Surgery for a consultation with Dr. Jeffrey Sweat today.