Is liposuction necessary for a tummy tuck?
Is liposuction necessary for a tummy tuck?
Liposuction is without a question one of the most performed plastic surgery procedures worldwide, and there is a clear and simple reason behind the increased demand for the procedure: it is the only method that can be used to get rid of localized fat pockets. No amount of dieting or physical exercise can provide localized results. If weight loss occurs as a result of keeping a strict diet, the patient will lose weight from all over the body and not necessarily from where the unwanted fat deposits were. Liposuction provides a simple and efficient method for eliminating stubborn fat pockets that are also safe for the patient and associated with minimal risks when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon in an accredited medical facility. Liposuction is commonly used to remove fat tissue that is in excess on the abdominal area and the flanks. The procedure is called abdominal liposuction, and it is very sought after nowadays.
On the other hand, we have another procedure that can enhance the appearance of the abdominal area and correct imperfections of the abdominal wall. We are talking about the tummy tuck, the procedure recommended for patients with saggy skin on the tummy, loose abdominal muscles, and umbilical hernia. It is more invasive compared to the abdominal liposuction and provides different results.
Some patients tend to believe that they can choose between liposuction and tummy tuck when it comes to enhancing the appearance of the tummy. Others believe that a tummy tuck includes liposuction. These are all myths. The plastic surgeon will perform a medical examination on the patient and check the tissues of the abdominal wall such as the muscles, fat tissue, and skin. If there is an excess of fat tissue on a patient with normal muscular tonus and good skin elasticity, the recommended procedure will be liposuction. If there is no excess of fat but a surplus of skin on the inferior part of the tummy and loose abdominal muscles, the recommendation will be a tummy tuck. However, patients should also know that there are different types of tummy tucks and it is true that one of them entails liposuction, as well as fat transfer to the hips. This procedure is called the hourglass tummy tuck and is recommended for patients with an excess of adipose tissue on the tummy and the flanks, narrow hips, skin sagginess on the abdomen, and other imperfections of the abdominal wall. The hourglass tummy tuck is a more complex procedure that aims to help the patient achieve the hourglass body as well, aside from enhancing the appearance of the tummy.
Liposuction is not necessary for the tummy tuck to be performed. Some patients need liposuction with the abdominoplasty as they either want to achieve the hourglass body shape or they have an excess of fat tissue on the midline that they want to be eliminated since they are undergoing plastic surgery anyway.
