Liposuction and tummy tuck near me is a great choice for people who are looking to get rid of those stubborn areas. If you have ever struggled with the weight around your stomach, you know how challenging it can be to lose. If you are tired of trying different diets and exercise programs that don’t seem to work, then liposuction and tummy tuck near me might just be the answer you’ve been looking for!
Liposuction is a procedure that uses small incisions to remove fat from beneath the skin. It’s often used in conjunction with other procedures like tummy tucks or breast augmentation surgeries because the results are so dramatic. Liposuction can help remove stubborn fat from areas like your hips and thighs or arms, but it also works well on areas where cellulite has formed over time due to genetic factors such as age or weight gain/loss cycles over many years (especially if there’s been weight loss).
Tummy tucks are also known as abdominoplasty procedures because they involve removing excess skin from around your bellybutton area down towards your pelvic area (where most women gain fat after pregnancy). This is done either through an incision across the lower abdomen ( bikini line) or by making two cuts along each.
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Liposuction And Tummy Tuck Near Me
Abdominoplasty (also called a “tummy tuck”) and liposuction are two different surgical procedures that aim to change the appearance of your midsection. Both procedures claim to make your stomach appear flatter, tighter, and smaller. They’re both performed by plastic surgeons, and are considered “cosmetic,” so they aren’t covered by health insurance.
In terms of the actual procedure, recovery time, and risks, there are some key differences between the two. Keep reading to learn more.
Who is a good candidate?
Liposuction and tummy tucks often appeal to people with similar cosmetic goals. But there are some important differences.
Liposuction
Liposuction may be a good fit if you’re looking to remove small fat deposits. These are commonly found on the hips, thighs, buttocks, or stomach area.
The procedure will remove fat deposits from the targeted area, reducing bulges and improving contour. However, liposuction isn’t recommended as a weight loss tool. You shouldn’t get liposuction if you’re obese.
Tummy tuck
In addition to removing excess fat from the abdomen, a tummy tuck also removes excess skin.
Pregnancy or significant shifts in your weight can stretch out the skin that surrounds your stomach. A tummy tuck can be used to restore the look of a flat and contoured midsection. This procedure may involve bringing the rectus abdominus, or sit-up muscles, back together if they’ve been stretched or separated by pregnancy.
You may want to reconsider a tummy tuck if:
- your body mass index is over 30
- you’re considering getting pregnant in the future
- you’re actively trying to lose weight
- you have a chronic heart condition
What is the procedure like?
Liposuctions and tummy tucks are both performed by a plastic surgeon and require incisions and anesthesia.
Liposuction
You may be intravenously sedated for this procedure. In some cases, your surgeon will apply a local anesthetic to your midsection.
Once the area is numb, your surgeon will make small incisions around the site of your fat deposits. A thin tube (cannula) will be moved underneath your skin to loosen the fat cells. Your surgeon will use a medical vacuum to suction out the dislodged fat deposits.
It may take several sessions to achieve your desired result.
Tummy tuck
Your surgeon will put you to sleep via general anesthesia. After you’re sedated, they’ll make an incision at the bottom of the skin that covers your abdominal wall.
Once the muscles are exposed, your surgeon will sew the muscles in your abdominal wall together if they have become stretched out. They will then pull tight the skin over your abdomen, trim off excess skin, and close the incision with sutures.
A tummy tuck is done in one procedure. The entire surgery typically takes two to three hours.
What are the expected results?
Although liposuction and a tummy tuck both claim permanent results, significant weight gain after either procedure can alter this outcome.
Liposuction
People that have liposuction on their abdomen tend to see a flatter, more proportioned midsection once they have recovered from the procedure. These results are supposed to be permanent. But at least one studyTrusted Source disagrees. According to this study, up to a year after the procedure, the fat deposits reappear, though they may show up elsewhere on your body. If you gain weight, fat will reaccumulate in your body, though not typically in the areas that were suctioned.
Tummy tuck
After a tummy tuck, the results are considered permanent. Your abdominal wall will be more stable and strong. The excess skin that has been removed won’t return unless fluctuation in weight or a subsequent pregnancy stretches out the area again.
What are the possible complications?
Although there are side effects associated with any surgery, each procedure poses different risks that you should be aware of.
Liposuction
With liposuction, your risk of complication increases if your surgeon is working on a large area. Performing multiple procedures during the same operation can also increase your risk.
Possible risks include:
- Numbness. You may feel numbness in the affected area. Although this is often temporary, it may become permanent.
- Contour irregularities. Sometimes the fat that’s removed creates a wavy or jagged impression on the top layer of your skin. This can make the skin appear less smooth.
- Fluid accumulation. Seromas — temporary pockets of fluid — may form under the skin. Your doctor will need to drain these.
Rare risks include:
- Infection. Infections may occur at the site of your liposuction incision.
- Internal organ puncture. If the cannula penetrates too deeply, it may puncture an organ.
- Fat embolism. An embolism occurs when a loosened piece of fat breaks away, becomes trapped in a blood vessel, and travels to the lungs or brain.
Tummy tuck
Tummy tucks have been shown to carry more complication risks than some other cosmetic procedures.
In one study, 8.5 percentTrusted Source of people who had a tummy tuck needed to return to the hospital because of some kind of complication. Wound complications and infections were among the most common reasons for readmission.
Other possible risks include:
- Changes in sensation. Repositioning your abdominal tissue may affect the superficial sensory nerves in this area, as well as in your upper thighs. You may feel numbness in these areas.
- Fluid accumulation. As with liposuction, temporary pockets of fluid may form under the skin. Your doctor will need to drain these.
- Tissue necrosis. In some cases, fatty tissue deep within the abdominal area may get damaged. Tissue that doesn’t heal or dies must be removed by your surgeon.
What’s the recovery process like?
The recovery process is also different for each procedure.
Liposuction
Your recovery process will depend on how many areas were operated on, and whether additional liposuction sessions are needed.
After the procedure, you may experience:
- swelling at the site of your fat removal
- draining and bleeding at the site of your incision
Your surgeon may recommend that you wear a compression garment to help reduce swelling and help your skin heal smoothly over your new shape.
Because liposuction is an outpatient procedure, regular activity can be resumed fairly quickly. You should be able to do anything you usually do within the next 48 hours.
However, you should hold off on heavy weight lifting and extensive cardio until you’ve gotten approval from your doctor.
Tummy tuck
When you wake up, your incision will be covered in surgical dressing, which will need to be changed several times. Your surgeon will also provide you with a compression garment or “belly binder.”
Within one day, you should be up and walking (with assistance) to prevent the formation of blood clots. You’ll likely be taking prescription pain relievers and antibiotics to help ease any discomfort and reduce your risk of infection.
Surgical drains may also be in place for up to two weeks.
It takes six weeks for the initial recovery phase of a tummy tuck to pass, and you’ll need several follow-up appointments with your doctor to check on how your incision is healing. During this time, you should avoid any position that involves abdominal extension or bending backwards, which may pull or place too much tension on the incision.
You should also hold off on any strenuous physical activity or exercise until you get your doctor’s approval.
The bottom line
Although liposuction and tummy tucks both aim to improve the appearance of your midsection, these procedures are markedly different in their promised result and the way they work.
Liposuction is a straightforward procedure that carries little risk or recovery downtime. A tummy tuck is considered a more serious operation. Your doctor or potential surgeon will be your best resource in determining which procedure may be right for you.
When Do You Need Tummy Tuck?
Tummy tuck helps in conditions enumerated below
- Excess or sagging abdominal skin
- Abdomen that protrudes and is out of proportion to the rest of your body
- Gross laxity and separation of abdominal muscles
- Excess fatty tissue that is concentrated in your abdomen
This operation is helpful especially for
- Women with lax abdominal skin after pregnancy
- Abdominal laxity due to aging
- Laxity after excessive weight loss or following bariatric surgery
A combination liposuction and tummy tuck may be necessary for those with excessive fat with extra skin laxity.
How a Tummy Tuck Is Done
This surgery can take anywhere from one to five hours. You may need to stay overnight in the hospital, depending on your case.
You will get general anesthesia, which will put you to “sleep” during the operation.
Tummy Tuck Types
Visceral (Fat which surrounding Abdominal organs)
Subcutaneous (beneath the skin – about 80% of all body fat), This Subcutaneous fat is removed by Liposuction.
Tummy Tuck Techniques
Endoscopic Tummy Tuck Surgery:
- An endoscopic tummy tuck is a minimally invasive form of abdominoplasty. It has a shorter recovery time than other forms of tummy tuck, and it also has less scarring, swelling and bruising. It is sometimes advertised as a “scarless tummy tuck.”
- During this procedure, a number of small incisions are made, and the entire surgery is performed using long, thin instruments.
- The surgeon will tighten the abdominal muscles and may remove excess fat, but will not remove any excess skin. As such, this surgery is best suited for patients who have bulging bellies, but little excess abdominal skin.
Mini Tummy Tuck Surgery:
- A mini tummy tuck, or partial tummy tuck, is more invasive than an endoscopic tummy tuck, but still less than other forms of tummy tuck.
- It is frequently recommended for patients who are within 10% of their ideal body weight because it is less traumatic, but is somewhat less versatile than a standard tummy tuck.
- This tummy tuck technique only requires one incision, which lies low across the abdomen and is not as wide as a full tummy tuck.
- In this procedure, the navel is left intact and does not need to be recreated.
- Depending on the patient’s needs, the surgeon may use liposuction techniques to remove fat from under the belly button, and some muscles between the navel and the pubis may be tightened.
Traditional Tummy Tuck Surgery:
- Patient’s abdomen will be cut from hipbone to hipbone in this procedure, the option for those patients who require the most correction.
- The incision will be made low, at about the same level as patient’s pubic hair. Surgeon will then manipulate and contour the skin, tissue and muscle as needed.
- Patient’s belly button will have a new opening if he/she undergoes this procedure, because it’s necessary to free navel from surrounding tissue. Drainage tubes may be placed under skin and these will be removed in a few days as surgeon sees fit.
Extended Tummy Tuck Surgery:
- This procedure is recommended for patients who have excess skin and fat located around the love handle and hip areas.
- This surgery is performed in a similar manner as a traditional tummy tucks, but it treats a larger portion of the abdomen.
- In this tummy tuck technique, the incision is much larger: in addition to stretching across the patient’s lower abdomen, it reaches all the way to the back of the patient’s hips.
Tummy tuck Steps
Step 1 – Anesthesia
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedures. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.
Step 2 – The incision
A full tummy tuck requires a horizontally-oriented incision in the area between the pubic hairline and belly button.
Tummy tuck incision front abdomen
The shape and length of the incision will be determined by the amount of excess skin. Once the abdominal skin is lifted, the underlying weakened abdominal muscles are repaired.
A second incision around the navel may be necessary to remove excess skin in the upper abdomen.
Tummy tuck incision front abdomen sutures
The upper abdominal skin is pulled down like a window shade. The excess skin is trimmed and the remaining skin is sutured together. A new opening for the belly button is created. The belly button is popped through to the surface and sutured into position.
Tummy tuck side before and after
Step 3 – Closing the incisions
Sutures, skin adhesives, tapes or clips close the skin incisions.
Step 4 – See the results
Your tummy tuck will result in a flatter, firmer abdominal contour that is more proportionate with your body type and weight.
Basic Areas
- Women – generally around the buttocks and thighs: “pear-shaped”.
- Men – generally around the abdomen: “apple-shaped”.
Note that these are the predominant patterns – but both ‘apple’ and ‘pear’ shaped distribution can be found in either gender.
Estrogen (female hormone) increase fat storage in the body. Estrogen cause fat to be stored in the buttock , thighs and hips in women, when women reach menopause and the estrogen produced by the ovaries declines, fat migrates from their buttocks ,hips and thighs to their waists ( belly) .
Males generally deposit fat around waists and abdomen apple shape due to lack of estrogen.
| Specific Areas | |
| Knee | Fat often builds up on the inside region of the knees in most of women. |
| Upper Arm | Also common in women, fat build up can occur in the middle to upper area of the upper arm. |
| Abdomen | Fat build-up around the navel area is common in both men and women. Love handle or tyres is due to abnormal fat deposition over tummy area. It is also one of the few fat deposits that are also found in slim women. |
| Inner Thigh | Fat storage between the thighs is common in the women – but also occurs with the men. It is more noticeable in women due to the width of the pelvis that in turn influences the position of the thigh |
| Outer Thigh | Sometimes called “Riding Breeches” – this area is the most likely place for the pitted or ‘quilted’ appearance of cellulite. This fat concentration also blends with fat tissue on the inner thigh and the buttocks. |
| Buttocks | Without fat here – sitting would be quite uncomfortable. Fat is held in place by the gluteal fold. If significant fat is lost from the buttock, then only appropriate training can prevent the buttock from sagging down against the thigh. |
| Lower Back | This fat concentration often merges with the buttock area. |
| Chest | Breast tissue comprises the mammary gland (one’s ‘endowment’) surrounded by fat. Men also have atrophied glands and fat in this area. Both sexes gain fat in this area. In men this can sometimes be mistaken for the condition of gynecomastia – a condition that includes not only fat build up, but growth in gland tissue |
Gender and Ethnic Variation
There is considerable research showing that fat distribution varies between gender and ethnic groups. For example men have an overall less body fat percentage than woman and Asian adults are more prone to visceral and central obesity than Europeans. Mediterranean women are prone to fat gain in the outer thighs.
Possible complications associated
Possible complications associated with abdominoplasty may include:
- Significant scarring. If the incision area does not heal properly, there is a chance of poor quality scar. This can often be treated by a second operation. There can be delays in wound healing if you have problems with the blood supply in your skin.
- Blood clots and infection. As in any surgery, there is a risk of bleeding, infection, blood clots, or reaction to the anesthesia.
Recovery from a tummy tuck
Recovery will take several weeks. Your doctor can give you medication to reduce the pain. Swelling should begin to disappear in a matter of weeks and resolve completely in a few months. You will have to restrict exercise and other activity as advised by your doctor.
Scars are normal, and they will fade over the course of a year. Your plastic surgeon will take care to ensure that the scars will be hidden by bathing suits and clothes. The surgeon may also recommend scar treatments such as laser that help scars fade and soften.
What are the Benefits of Tummy tuck Surgery?
Tummy tuck benefits are more plentiful than many people realize. Tummy tuck surgery benefitsare following:
- Improves the abdominal wall so it becomes firmer and flatter
- Reduces the bulge of the tummy following pregnancy
- Improves the appearance of stretch marks, especially those located below the navel
- Improves your self-esteem and general confidence
- How long you maintain your abdominoplasty benefits tends to be limited only by how well you take care of your body following surgery.
- Under the proper conditions, the results of an abdominoplasty surgery can last for many years