What are the differences between them?
By Kath Wong | January 8 2020
If you are wondering whether to go for either a liposuction or a tummy tuck, this is where you can find the solution that suits you the best. Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and liposuction may serve the same function as changing the appearance of your midsection, but they are two different surgical procedures.
Tummy tuck and liposuction have the same claim: to flatten your stomach, to make your stomach tighter and smaller. However, in terms of the actual procedure, recovery time and complications, they have significant differences from each other.
One important thing to keep in mind is that both treatments are not recommended to treat obesity.
The main differences
In short, a tummy tuck involves reshaping and repairing torn muscles below the abdomen area, while liposuction removes fat deposits in certain areas of the body which are not limited to just the midsection, such as hips, thighs, buttocks, stomach area, etc.
The procedure for liposuction mainly aims to remove fat deposits, reduce bulges and improve contour. Whereas for a tummy tuck, the main focus does not just stop on removing excess fat from the abdomen, but also to remove excess skin.
The reason why people go for a tummy tuck is mostly because of the excess tissue and skin that do not recover after childbirth. A tummy tuck can be used to restore the flat and contoured midsection appearance; the procedure may involve bringing the sit-up muscles back together in the case where they have been stretched or separated during the pregnancy.
The Procedures
Tummy tuck is operated with general anesthesia. An incision will be made at the bottom of your skin that covers your abdominal wall. The exposed muscle will be sewed together to pull the skin tighter over your abdomen and the excess skin will be trimmed off and the final step is closing the incisions with sutures. The entire surgery takes 2 to 3 hours and it is permanent in just one procedure.
For liposuction, local anesthesia will be applied to the targeted area for treatment. Once the area is numb, a small incision will be made for a thin tube (cannula) to be inserted underneath your skin to loosen the fat cells. The procedure follows the suction of fats out of the body. This treatment may take several sessions to achieve the desired results.
The Recovery Period
Tummy tuck takes longer to recover than liposuction. Within the next 48 hours after liposuction, you will be able to return to your normal daily activities except for heavy weight lifting and extensive cardio. A tummy tuck takes around 6 weeks for the initial recovery and follow-ups must be done for your doctor to check on the healing process.
With the piece of information above, it is easy to tell that tummy tuck holds slightly more complications after than liposuction as it is considered to be more of surgery than liposuction. Wound complications and infections were among the most common reasons for readmission of the tummy tuck patients.
Liposuction, on the other hand, would encounter complications depending on how big the treatment area is. The common minor complications for liposuction include numbness, contour irregularities and fluid accumulation.
In conclusion, whether to go for a tummy tuck or liposuction, truly depends on your body conditions and the determination to get whichever area treated.
Browse through our links to learn more about your opportunities to get the procedure:
Tummy Tuck @ Istanbul | Tummy Tuck @ Hungary | Tummy Tuck @ Geneva |
