What procedures can be performed together with the tummy tuck?
While the tummy tuck is a complex procedure often performed as a stand-alone, it can also be associated with other plastic surgery procedures. The purpose of combining the tummy tuck with other procedures is to correct the overall appearance of the body or to enhance another features. When combined procedures are performed, the results achieved are superior and the patient only has to pay the costs of general anesthesia and other fees just once. Also, there is the benefit of only having to take time off from work once and get multiple procedures done in one operation.
The procedure that is most commonly associated with the tummy tuck is liposuction. The tummy tuck traditionally works on the loose muscles of the abdominal wall to strengthen them with sutures and remove the excess skin and fat tissue on the tummy. However, if the patient is confronted with significant adipose tissue on the tummy and the flanks, they cannot be addressed in any way during a traditional tummy tuck procedure. This might leave the patient with a Spongebob figure after the surgery that is not very appealing. This is why many plastic surgeons recommend the tummy tuck with liposuction of the abdominal wall and the flanks if the patient has adipose pockets localized in these areas of the body.
It is also important to mention another procedure that could be performed at the same time with liposuction and the tummy tuck. This is the fat transfer to the hips. Liposuction with the tummy tuck and fat transfer to the hips is also known as the hourglass tummy tuck and is performed with the purpose of helping the patient achieve an hourglass silhouette that is desired by many women nowadays. This procedure provides superior aesthetic results when compared to the traditional tummy tuck, and the patient can enjoy an overall enhanced body figure, not only a flatter and firmer abdominal area. This is a good option for all patients confronted with localized fat deposits on the midline and also small or narrow hips.
For the patient who had bariatric surgery before undergoing plastic surgery, the tummy tuck is often associated with other body lifting interventions or breast enhancement procedures. For example, the tummy tuck can be performed together with a breast augmentation, breast lift or breast reduction surgery. At the same time, the tummy tuck can be combined with a lifting of the arms or thighs, if the patient is confronted with skin sagginess in those areas of the body as well.
It is during the pre-operative consultation that the plastic surgeon will recommend the suitable surgical plan for each patient and what procedures should or could be performed to improve the aesthetics of the patient’s body even more, aside from the tummy tuck.
