Both a tummy tuck and liposuction can get you a smoother, trimmer stomach, but the two procedures couldn’t be more different. They also don’t guarantee the same results.
To help you decide which procedure is right for you, it’s important to think about your ultimate goal. Do you want to sculpt your body by removing unwanted body fat? Or do you have excess belly skin that’s leaving you feeling untoned? Did having a baby leave your abdominal muscles weak and your belly protruding? These questions can help put you on the right path.
When you’re ready to take the first step, Dr. Kiran Polavarapu at Polavarapu Plastic Surgery can guide you through the process to ensure that you get the flatter stomach you’ve been dreaming of.
Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that helps you obtain a sleeker silhouette by removing unwanted fat from specific areas of your body. Popular locations for liposuction treatment include your hips, thighs, buttocks, knees, and — of course — your abdomen.
There are several advantages to having liposuction. Not only is it a short procedure with a faster recovery time, liposuction also removes unwanted fat from the treatment area permanently.
An important thing to note about liposuction, however, is that you only get rid of the extra fat. With this procedure, excess skin remains and any muscles that have stretched out of shape due to weight gain or pregnancy aren’t addressed.
Dr. Polavarapu recommends liposuction for men and women who have firm, elastic skin and simply want to get rid of those pockets of diet-resistant fat. Liposuction is safe for healthy people of all ages but may be less effective for older men and women who have less elasticity in their skin.
Even people with a healthy body weight can have loose, sagging, and protruding bellies. Many times, this is due to a combination of excess skin and muscular issues that diet and exercise alone can’t fix.
The most common causes of unsightly abdominal changes include:
Dr. Polavarapu offers abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, to address these skin and muscle changes in the abdomen. During a tummy tuck, she removes your excess fat and skin while also restoring your separated or weakened abdominal muscles. This approach leaves you with a belly that’s more firm, smooth, and has a sleeker appearance.
While a tummy tuck is the best option for eliminating excess skin and unwanted fat and tightening up stretched muscles, it does have some downsides. Because it’s a more involved surgical procedure, it typically comes with a larger surgical scar and requires a longer recovery time.
The best candidates for tummy tucks are healthy women and men who don’t smoke and are at a stable weight. While it’s considered a permanent procedure, you can have diminished long-term results if you undergo significant weight loss or gain after your surgery.
Something else to consider: You can have a tummy tuck and liposuction at the same time.
Liposuction and tummy tucks can help contour your body, but they shouldn’t be considered a weight-loss tool or a substitution for exercise. To get the best results from both treatments, it’s essential to reach your ideal weight before undergoing liposuction or a tummy tuck.
You don’t have to decide between a tummy tuck or liposuction on your own. Call Polavarapu Plastic Surgery today, or schedule an appointment online to get started.
