Abdominal (Stomach) Liposuction Or Tummy Tuck: Which One Is Right For You?
Sep 30, 2022
Body contouring, specifically involving the abdomen (stomach), is an ever-expanding area of interest. Diet and exercise are the classic methods for body contouring but are challenging to maintain and results are often gradual. In the fast-paced world we live in, we desire immediate results. Let’s talk about two possible options: liposuction and tummy tuck (abdominoplasty).
Multiple devices on the market offer non-invasive technologies to address excess body fat of the stomach and improve tone. Weight loss medicine can help jumpstart the process, but the most definitive method to create a more desirable abdominal contour are surgical therapies such as liposuction or a tummy tuck.
This is a common question asked by prospective patients. The easy answer is that liposuction removes fat from the stomach but does not adequately address excess skin. A tummy tuck addresses both.
An important clarification is that a tummy tuck is not a weight loss procedure but a body contouring procedure.
Most surgeons have a weight limit for surgery based on the body mass index (BMI) and this varies depending on the surgeon. The higher the weight or BMI, the higher the complication risk profile. Patients with a higher BMI typically have more visceral fat. This is fat that is intra-abdominal where the organs are. A tummy tuck or liposuction does not treat this location and can be a limiting factor in abdominal contouring.
A good example of this is when a patient – despite undergoing a tummy tuck and tightening of their abdominal wall – still notes a round or protuberant shape to their abdomen. This is because of the underlying intra-abdominal fat pushing out against the abdominal wall.
Liposuction is often used with a tummy tuck to thin the abdominal wall and better define areas such as the flanks (sides) or mons pubis (pubic mound).
Massive weight loss patients or older patients with loose skin are typically not the ideal candidates for liposuction only. The potential result is worsening of the excess skin problem. Younger patients who have a little extra thickness to their abdominal wall and good skin elasticity are better suited for a liposuction-only procedure.
There are multiple liposuction technologies on the market and some adjunct devices that compliment liposuction to help tighten the skin. A safe and effective method to liposuction – regardless of device type – includes “pre-tunneling” to loosen the fat.
Next is suction to remove the fat. This is followed by “equalization,” where the surgeon uses the liposuction cannula (a thin tube) without suction to smooth out any contour irregularities.
A key to recovery for both liposuction and abdominoplasty is adequate post-operative compression. This is typically an abdominal binder in the early post-operative period that then is transitioned to a more comfortable, wearable type of compression garment.
A common recovery question is when can a lymphatic massage be performed after a body contouring procedure? After liposuction, I generally say it’s okay once the patient is no longer having post-surgical discomfort.
Schedule a consultation today to talk with Dr. Blumenauer to learn about his preferred technique and which type of procedure is right for you. Dr. Blumenauer is well trained to perform liposuction and tummy tucks to help you achieve your body contouring goals. For more information, schedule a complimentary consultation.
Oceana Aesthetics serves patients throughout Central and South Florida.