One of the areas women wish they could wave a magic wand over is their stomach. There is a variety of cosmetic fixes available, but most women debate between a tummy tuck and liposuction to flatten and smooth their bellies. How should potential patients choose between the two, however?
The Basics of a Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that could flatten the stomach by removing excess skin and fat while tightening the muscles in the abdomen. Patients may need to hold off on a tummy tuck if they’re planning on becoming pregnant again or losing a fair amount of weight.
A tummy tuck isn’t a replacement for weight loss or healthy eating and exercise. A tummy tuck could improve the appearance of the abdomen after diet and exercise haven’t been effective.
Recovery is extensive with this procedure. Activities may need to be limited for several weeks, and many patients may have to take some time off of work before they feel physically capable of returning to their normal activities.
Liposuction
Good candidates for liposuction may be within their ideal body weight, have good muscle tone, and smooth, taut skin. Patients who are bothered by excess fat deposits that just won’t budge despite a great diet and regular exercise may enjoy the results of liposuction.
Liposuction could remove fat deposits from areas like the hips, buttocks, upper arms, abdomen, chin, and thighs. A cannula may be placed under the skin to remove the displaced fat.
Once the swelling from the procedure has gone down, the results may appear, and they could continue to improve over the next few months as the skin adheres to the body’s new shape. Recovery may be simpler with liposuction than it is with a tummy tuck.
Incisions may be small, so patients may need to take off more than a week of work. Swelling could take a few weeks to go down, but many patients may feel ready to return to their regular activities sooner.
Patients may go with a tummy tuck if they want to tone their stomach and remove excess skin. Liposuction may remove excess fat deposits without making any improvements in loose skin or lax abdominal muscles. A good surgeon can help their patient decide which procedure is the best fit for their body. Contact REAL Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery today to find out which is right for you.
