Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck: Which Is Right for Me?
Many people struggle with stubborn fat deposits and loose, stretched skin. These concerns are especially common around the midsection, where fatty tissues tend to reside. When diet and exercise fail to tone the stomach, cosmetic surgery may be the most appropriate option. Both tummy tuck and liposuction tone the abdomen and improve body contours, but the procedures are not quite the same.
Plastic surgeon Ken Smart works with patients from Frisco, TX, Plano, TX, and other areas of North Texas to create a treatment plan that is well-suited to their unique needs. He helps patients consider liposuction vs. tummy tuck, and which will best provide their desired results.
Liposuction Treatment
No matter how often a person exercises or how healthy their diet, there are often unwanted pockets of fat that collect around the body. Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that improves body contours by targeting excess fatty tissues.There are various liposuction techniques, but each has the same goal: target stubborn fat deposits and remove them from the body.
Liposuction is an extremely versatile procedure. It can be performed on many areas of the body, including the hips, thighs, arms, buttocks, and stomach. It is especially common to perform liposuction around the midsection because many people struggle to get rid of excess fat from this area. Fat that is removed from the body during liposuction treatment is gone for good, so as long as the patient continues to practice good diet and exercise habits, their treatment results should be permanent.
Liposuction Candidates
Liposuction is a body contouring treatment rather than a weight loss treatment. It is best-suited to individuals who have already achieved their ideal weight or are within 20 to 25 pounds of their ideal weight range. Patients must also be in overall good health and free of any conditions that could increase the risks of surgery. Finally, patients should understand that liposuction only targets fat deposits; it does not address excess saggy skin. Therefore, for optimal liposuction results, patients should be free of excessively loose skin and have good skin elasticity.
Tummy Tuck Treatment
As the name suggests, a tummy tuck specifically targets the abdomen and midsection to improve body contours. While liposuction focuses on stubborn fat deposits, a tummy tuck procedure is more inclusive. During tummy tuck treatment, excess fatty tissues and skin are removed, stretched abdominal muscles are repaired, and the remaining skin is lifted and redraped to provide a firmer, flatter stomach. As with liposuction treatment, any tissues that are removed during a tummy tuck are gone for good, so as long as the patient does not gain weight after the procedure, treatment results should be permanent.
Tummy Tuck Candidates
Like liposuction, a tummy tuck is not considered a weight loss procedure. Patients should be at a stable weight and within a reasonable range of their ideal weight. Patients must also be healthy enough to undergo surgery without any excessive risk of surgical complications. Because a tummy tuck can address both excess fat and skin, many people are ideal candidates for this procedure. A tummy tuck may be especially beneficial to individuals who have experienced weight fluctuations in the past, those who have lost a significant amount of weight, or women who have been pregnant.
Contact Us
Liposuction and tummy tuck are both effective and beneficial cosmetic surgery procedures, but each has its own unique applications. To find out which of these procedures may be best-suited to your personal needs and desires, send us a message online or call (972) 334-0400 and schedule a consultation with Dr. Ken Smart.
