Are you sick of staring at stubborn fat deposits in the mirror that won’t go away no matter how many kale smoothies you consume? Do you yearn for the times when you walked without a jiggling stomach and had a flat midsection? You’re not alone, after all! Fortunately, specific surgical procedures can help with these common body image problems. So which procedure—liposuction or stomach tuck—is best for you? It’s like trying to choose between a flashy sports vehicle and a luxurious sedan – both have advantages and disadvantages, and both will get you where you need to go, but which will provide you with the ride of your dreams?
Tummy tuck and liposuction are cosmetic surgical procedures that can help improve your body shape, but they work in very different ways. Let’s study the distinctions between these two well-known treatments and delve into the field of cosmetic surgery. Before we delve into the technicalities, it is crucial to note that the procedures are not intended to reduce body weight but rather to sculpt the body.
Liposuction and Tummy Tuck: The Basics
Liposuction is like trying to get rid of the excess baggage from your body by going on a crazy shopping spree. You buy many new clothes to replace the old ones that no longer fit, and you throw the old ones in the trash. In other words, liposuction removes fat cells from specific areas of your body, aiding you in achieving a more contoured appearance.
On the other hand, a tummy tuck is like trying to reorganise your closet. You don’t just want to eliminate the excess baggage – you want to ensure everything is neatly arranged and fits perfectly. So you take everything out, put the things you don’t need in the garbage, and then carefully fold and place the remaining items in a way that makes sense. In other words, tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, removes excess fat and tightens the skin and muscles in the abdominal area, resulting in a flatter, more toned midsection.
In short, liposuction is an excellent option for removing specific pockets of fat, while a tummy tuck is a more comprehensive procedure that can help you achieve a complete body transformation.
The Procedure
Liposuction and tummy tuck are invasive surgical procedures that are targeted at sculpting the midsection area of the body.
Liposuction
Liposuction is typically performed under general anaesthetic or local anaesthetic, along with sedation, to reduce pain and prevent accidents. To maximise access to the fat deposits and reduce scarring, the surgeon will strategically put one or more small incisions, typically less than half an inch in length, in the area to be treated.
A local anaesthetic, epinephrine, and a saline-based tumescent solution is injected into the treatment region to numb the area and constrict blood vessels. Also, it facilitates the fat cells’ disintegration and simplifies their removal. A cannula—a small, hollow tube—is inserted through the incisions to suction out the surplus fat. The fat cells are loosened and expelled from the body by the surgeon using a back-and-forth motion.
The treated area is covered in compression clothing after the operation is successfully concluded to help with swelling control and aid in healing. After the treatment, you’ll be monitored over for a few hours before being allowed to return home—typically the same day. Recovery times can vary depending on the degree of liposuction and the area treated. Still, most patients can resume work and daily activities within a few days to a week.
Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck, sometimes called an abdominoplasty, removes extra skin and fat from the abdomen and tightens the abdominal wall muscles. Unlike liposuction, which is carried out on any body area, the tummy tuck is targeted at the abdominal region. The detailed steps in a tummy tuck can vary according to the patient’s goals; however, the following outlines what to anticipate.
As tummy tucks require an extensive surgical procedure, general anaesthesia is typically used throughout the treatment. The surgeon will place a horizontal incision across the lower abdomen. It is usually placed just above the pubic area. Depending on the degree of the tummy tuck, the incision’s length and placement may vary. The surgeon will repair and tighten any split or weakened abdominal muscles, leading to a flatter, more toned appearance.
The surgeon will remove any excess skin from the abdominal area, which may require a second incision around the navel to allow the skin to be pushed down and tightened. Moreover, the surgeon might use liposuction to trim the waistline and eliminate extra belly fat. The treated region is then wrapped in compression garments to decrease oedema and speed healing after the wounds are closed with sutures or surgical staples. Depending on the amount of the tummy tuck, recovery times can vary, but most patients can resume work and daily activities in two to four weeks.
Who Should Get It?
Even though it may seem that a tummy tuck and liposuction are the same operations with the same results, it’s crucial to remember that they provide very different results. In addition to the basic requirements of being in good general health and having reasonable expectations for any operation, it’s crucial to talk with a trained plastic surgeon to figure out which procedure would best suit you.
Liposuction
Liposuction is the ideal remedy for you if your love handles are so large that they are beginning to resemble luggage handles, your thighs rub against each other so closely that you could start a fire, your belly button has vanished beneath a layer of flab, or even if you have a “muffin top” that brings to mind an entire bakery.
On a more serious note, if you are at or close to your optimum body weight and have small, stubborn areas of fat that you can’t lose with diet and exercise, liposuction is the treatment of choice for you.
Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck can solve all of your problems if you have given birth, your stomach looks like a deflated balloon, you’ve lost weight, but your stomach still looks like a bag of rocks, your “six-pack” actually looks more like a “one-pack” or a “keg,” or if your belly has pushed out so far that you can’t see your feet.
Individuals with excess skin and fat in the abdomen and weak or separated abdominal muscles are good candidates for a tummy tuck. It could result from circumstances like ageing, pregnancy, or drastic weight loss. A tummy tuck is best suited for individuals at or close to their optimal body weight but with extra skin and abdominal muscular laxity.
The Cost Involved
The cost of a tummy tuck and liposuction varies based on several parameters, including the extent of the treatment, the location and experience of the surgeon, and the type of anaesthesia administered.
Tummy tucks are generally more expensive than liposuction because they need more extensive surgery and entail the removal of extra skin and tightening of the abdominal muscles. A tummy tuck can cost anywhere between £4,500 and £6,000. Yet, liposuction, a less invasive treatment that merely includes fat removal, can cost anywhere from £2,000 to £6,000 or more.
Book a Complimentary Consultation
Photo by philippe spitalier on Unsplash