The Tummy Tuck vs. Lipo: What You Need To Know

The Tummy Tuck vs. Lipo: What You Need To Know

You want to age as gracefully as possible, but even with proper diet and regular exercise sometimes your body just doesn’t want to play along. Your skin will lose elasticity as the years pass by, and if you’ve had children then you’ll also find yourself dealing with excess skin and reduced muscle tone as a result of being pregnant.You want a solution, but you’re not sure if you should have liposuction or a tummy tuck.In this article we cover what the difference is between a tummy tuck and liposuction in enough detail to help you make the best possible decision for your personal circumstances. We are, however, also happy to discuss any questions you might have during a consultation.The Procedures: Tummy Tuck vs. liposuctionWhat is liposuction?Liposuction involves the removal of stubborn deposits of fat from areas of the body where diet and exercise haven’t been effective. You will either receive a local anesthetic prior to your procedure to make sure the entire area is numb, or in certain circumstances your surgeon may choose to sedate you.During liposuction a very thin metal tube – called a cannula – is inserted through tiny incisions in your skin, and uses suction to remove fat from just those areas. It is minimally invasive, and with a relatively quick recovery time.What is a tummy tuck?The medical term for this procedure is an abdominoplasty, and involves the removal of excess, sagging skin, as well as tightening the abdominal muscles. This procedure is always conducted under general anesthetic, so you’ll fall asleep before your tummy tuck, and then we’ll wake you up when it’s done.Liposuction can also be used as part of a tummy tuck procedure, especially when stubborn deposits of fat require some extra attention.Are You A Good Candidate?Both of these procedures are suitable for male and female patients, although they do tend to be more popular with females. One key point to mention here is that neither procedure should be used as a method for losing weight. In fact, the results of your procedure can be maximized by achieving a healthy bodyweight before you undergo it.Liposuction is ideal for anyone requiring spot fat removal from those areas where you can’t lose the fat through diet or exercise. Typical examples of this include the “love handles”, legs, chin, inner thighs, arms and butt.A tummy tuck is more suited to people who have lost definition, skin elasticity and muscle tone throughout their entire midsection, either through pregnancy, age or through rapid weight loss. Dr. Sessa will surgically remove any excess skin, while also reshaping your midsection to give you a completely natural look.Another benefit of an abdominoplasty is that it can help repair your rectus abdominus muscles if they’ve become separated or stretched due to pregnancy, and especially if you carried twins or triplets.What Results Can You Expect?You will be able to see the tangible results of your liposuction procedure once the minor swelling has subsided. It’s important that you allow your body to heal for at least a few days before assessing your new body shape.What you will see at that point is the unsightly contours you were worried about are gone, giving you a more toned and trim midsection. Our previous clients have had some amazing results from their liposuction procedure.A tummy tuck delivers results across the board, including improved muscle tone and the absence of your sagging belly. That “pooch” belly you’ve tried so hard to hide will be a thing of the past. Again you need to allow at least two weeks of recovery time before assessing your results, especially if you’ve had a tummy tuck and liposuction combination treatment. Here are some before and after pictures of tummy tuck procedures performed by Dr. Sessa, just to give you an idea of what’s possible.Please note that neither of the above procedures can stop you from gaining weight in the future. Removing fat and excess skin will only ever be a temporary measure unless you embrace certain lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet and regular, moderate exercise.At Sarasota Surgical Arts we know that every patient is different, which is why we invest time in consulting with you to discuss which of the above procedures will deliver the best possible results for you.Why not call us today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Sessa?