Tummy Tuck vs. Liposuction
If you deal with unwanted fat and excess skin, you may have considered treating it with surgery. But with so many treatment options available, it can be overwhelming trying to decide which body contouring procedure is right for you.
In this post, we will outline the differences and benefits between tummy tucks and liposuction. Both procedures result in tighter, flatter, more contoured figures, but it helps to understand the key differences so that you can make a better-informed decision about your body.
Proudly serving the areas of New York City and Englewood, Dr. Abramson’s practice will help you unlock the body you always intended to have.
Click here to schedule a consultation, or call (212) 774-1828 for the NYC office, (201) 731-3134 for the Englewood office, or (201) 731-3134 for our Franklin Lakes office.
Keep reading to learn more about your body contouring options at Abramson Surgery.
What Is a Tummy Tuck?
Tummy tucks are procedures that aim to give contour to the midsection, making it thinner, tighter, and firmer through the surgical removal of excess skin and fat and the subsequent tightening of the abdominal wall’s muscles and connective tissues.
Tummy tucks are ideal if you experience saggy excess skin and tissue around the stomach, along with any excess fat. Recent mothers are prime candidates for tummy tucks.
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a surgical fat-removal process that aims to eliminate problematic fatty areas of the body by using a hollow tube attached to a suction device that punctures the skin and sucks the fat out through strategically placed incisions. Studies have shown that liposuction has provided plastic surgeons with a safe and effective way to sculpt the human figure.[1] Lipo one of the most popular procedures in plastic surgery globally,[2] and it is ideal for people with stubborn areas of fat that won’t go away through proper diet and exercise.
Benefits of a Tummy Tuck
- Narrower waistline and flatter abdomen
- Better fitting clothes
- Eliminates loose, sagging skin
- Gets rid of stretch marks
- Improves posture
- Corrects hernias
- Reduces stress urinary incontinence
- Increased self-confidence & self-esteem
Benefits of Liposuction
- Enhances proportion, shape, and contours the body by eliminating problem areas
- Can help remove lipomas (benign fatty tumors)
- Treats gynecomastia (hormone imbalance in men causing swollen breast tissue)
- Treats lipodystrophy syndrome (metabolic disturbance causing excessive fat in certain areas of the body and none elsewhere)
- Immediate results
- Inspires patients to maintain healthier lifestyles
- Increased self-confidence & self-esteem
Candidates
Both lipo and tummy tuck appeal to people with similar goals, but it’s important to note their differences.
Liposuction
Lipo is ideal for removing small fatty areas, usually on the hips, thighs, buttocks, or midsection. Lipo is not for losing weight. The right candidate should have an average weight and decent skin laxity.
Tummy Tuck
Tummy tucks are ideal for those who want to get rid of excess skin and fat. It is excellent for recent mothers or anyone who has shed a lot of pounds. A flat and contoured midsection is the end goal.
If you think you’d be the right candidate for lipo or a tummy tuck, please reach out to Dr. Abramson, and we can get you set up with a consultation.
Personal Consultation
As with any surgical procedure, a consultation with your doctor is essential.
Dr. David L. Abramson understands that many patients have concerns that need to be addressed, and he encourages both his patients and their families to talk with him about those concerns upfront.
In addition to working at Lenox Hill Hospital, Dr. Abramson also has an affiliation with the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, which gives his patients more options when arranging their procedures.
Click here to schedule your consultation, or call (212) 774-1828 for the NYC office, (201) 731-3134 for the Englewood office, or (201) 731-3134 for our Franklin Lakes office.
Preparation
Liposuction
To prepare, you may be asked to:
- Get a medical evaluation.
- Quit smoking.
- Avoid anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, and herbal supplements
- Take certain medications, or adjust your current meds.
Lipo must be performed in a hospital, a licensed ambulatory surgical center, or an accredited office-based surgical facility.
Arrange for a friend or loved one to pick you up and drive you home after your procedure.
Tummy Tuck
Tummy tucks involve the same level of preparation as a liposuction procedure.
They must also be performed in a hospital, a licensed ambulatory surgical center, or an accredited office-based surgical facility. You will also want to be driven home afterward.
Procedure
Dr. Abramson performs both procedures since they require the use of anesthesia and incisions.
Tummy Tuck
After administering anesthesia, Dr. Abramson will make a horizontal incision between the belly button and the pubic hairline. Once the skin has been lifted, the abdominal muscles are repaired. The skin is then pulled down, with excess skin being cut off, then sutured back together. Dr. Abramson then closes the incisions.
Liposuction
After administering anesthesia, Dr. Abramson will proceed to make a series of small incisions. Then, the cannula, a thin hollowed-out needle, is inserted into the incisions to remove excess fat in a back-and-forth motion. The loose fat is then suctioned out through a vacuum attached to the cannula.
Recovery
Recovery is similar in both procedures. Once you’re bandaged up, your doctor will give you instructions that may include when to follow up, what medications to take, and how to care for the treated area.
It can take a couple of months for swelling to fade. When it does, your new contours will continue to evolve.
Results
Tummy Tuck
Within a week or two, the swelling should fade. A flatter, firmer, more proportional stomach is your result.
Liposuction
It could take a few weeks to see the final result of your liposuction. As the swelling fades, your slim new profile forms.
Complementary Procedures
Studies have shown that liposuction can be safely combined with tummy tucks.[3]
CoolSculpting
CoolSculpting is a patented fat removal technique that freezes the patient’s underlying fat cells without harming the skin’s outer layer. It is FDA-approved and safe for all ages. This treatment is ideal for those who don’t wish to go under the knife.
Mommy Makeover
Mommy Makeovers restore a woman’s body to its pre-pregnancy glory through a combination of lipo, breast augmentation, and tummy tuck.
Facelift
A facelift restores shape and firmness to your face by trimming lax skin and repositioning facial volume to create a smoother, more youthful, and natural-looking complexion.
How Much Do These Procedures Cost in New York City?
The highly personalized nature of tummy tucks and lipo makes it impossible to establish generic costs for each procedure. For your financing needs, we offer the Alphaeon and Prosper credit plans.
To get a better idea of what prices would be, please set up a consultation with Dr. Abramson. He and his staff will discuss your procedure in full and answer any questions about costs and budget.
If you’ve enjoyed learning about the differences between tummy tucks and lipo, we recommend you check out the Abramson Blog. You’ll find all sorts of great content like FAQs, treatment comparisons, health and lifestyle advice, and much more. Also, be sure to check out our IG, @abramsonaestheticsurgery.
We look forward to becoming acquainted with you.
FAQ
What Is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that aims to give contour to the midsection, making it thinner, tighter, and firmer through the surgical removal of excess skin and fat.
Are Tummy Tucks Painful?
Typically, most pain is experienced post-surgery. Dr. Abramson can prescribe medications to treat the pain.
How Long Is Tummy Tuck Recovery?
Tummy tucks typically take about six weeks of recovery.
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a surgical fat-removal process that aims to eliminate problematic fatty areas of the body by using a hollow tube attached to a suction device that punctures the skin and sucks the fat out.
What Areas of the Body Can Liposuction Treat?
Liposuction can treat the abdomen, upper arms, buttocks, calves, ankles, chest, back, hips, thighs, chin, and neck.
Is Liposuction Painful?
Recovery can be painful once the anesthesia wears off.
How Long Is Lipo Recovery?
Pain and soreness fade away around a month after your procedure. Swelling can take months to subside.
Can I combine tummy tucks & lipo with other procedures?
Yes. You can combine tummy tucks with liposuction. You can also get a combination Mommy Makeover treatment, which combines breast augmentation, lipo, and tummy tuck.
References
- Lina Triana, MD, Carlos Triana, MD, Carlos Barbato, MD, Marco Zambrano, MD, Liposuction: 25 Years of Experience in 26,259 Patients Using Different Devices, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Volume 29, Issue 6, November 2009, Pages 509–512, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asj.2009.09.008
- Phillip J. Stephan, MD, FACS, Jeffrey M. Kenkel, MD, FACS, Updates and Advances in Liposuction, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Volume 30, Issue 1, January 2010, Pages 83–97, https://doi.org/10.1177/1090820X10362728.
- Trussler, A. P., MD, Kurkjian, J. T., MD, Hatef, D. A., MD, Farkas, J. P., MD, & Rohrich, R. J., MD. (2010). Updates and Advances in Liposuction. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 126(3), 1063-1074. doi:10.1097/PRS.0b013e3181e60537.
