Liposuction VS Tummy Tuck – Know the Difference

Many people want a flatter and shapelier belly. In such a case, cosmetic surgery may be an option. Generally, a tummy tuck and liposuction are the two options that a cosmetic surgeon can use to improve your belly’s appearance. While both options aim to reduce extra fat from your stomach, they are not the same procedures.

 

Tummy Tuck 

You may experience excess skin after losing weight or giving birth to your baby. This excess skin often becomes a problem, and no diet and exercise seem to be helping it in anyways. A tummy tuck is a frequently used procedure to remove extra skin from the stomach. 

This type of cosmetic surgery works on your belly in two ways .i.e. partial and full, while you are sleeping under general anesthesia.  A cosmetic surgeon removes sagging skin and extra fat and tights the abdominal muscles. A tummy tuck may also help to remove stretch marks and another scarring by removing the excess skin. 

A tummy tuck surgery takes several hours to finish. You will also need to stay in the hospital for some days after the procedure. It is not possible to return to your everyday activities unless your body starts healing in several weeks. Also, you will need to wait for several months for your bruising and swelling to go so that you can reap the benefits of a tummy tuck procedure.   

Liposuction

Like a tummy tuck procedure, liposuction also helps improve your belly’s appearance. It aims to remove small areas of body fat that may not go away through exercise and diet. A liposuction procedure involves making small incisions in the skills, breaking up fat cells, and using a suction tube to remove them. 

Contrary to a tummy tuck procedure, liposuction doesn’t remove excess skin or help with eliminating stretch marks or abdominal muscle tightening. It only works best if you already have tightened abdominal muscles and flexible skin as well as have appropriate body weight.  

Expected Results 

People get a flatter and more proportioned belly after they recovered from a liposuction procedure. Although this appearance should be permanent, you may find fat deposits reappearing elsewhere on your body, especially you gain weight. 

With a tummy tuck, you get permanent results with a more stable abdominal area. The removed excess skin doesn’t return unless you gain weight or have a subsequent pregnancy.

Potential Complications

Liposuction may increase the risk of complications if the surgeon decides to work in a large area. Performing more than one procedure during the same surgery also increases the risk of complications, such as numbness, contour irregularities, and fluid accumulation. 

Likewise, a tummy tuck shows more complication chances than other cosmetic procedures. Some of the associated complications include changes in sensation, fluid accumulation, and tissue necrosis.

Final Thoughts

Both liposuction and tummy tucks work to improve your belly. They are different in their procedure and expected results. Liposuction is a straightforward cosmetic surgery with little risk of complications. A tummy tuck, on the other hand, is a more complex procedure with more chances of complication. Consult with your doctor to identify which cosmetic procedure will work the best for your particular case.