What is the Difference Between a Tummy Tuck and Liposuction?

Are you looking for treatments that help get rid of the last layers of stubborn belly fat? Perhaps you’ve been on a strict diet and exercised over the last few years, but this one layer of fat won’t go away? Or, you’ve ended up with loose skin around your stomach after losing lots of weight. Either way, you may be interested in either a tummy tuck or liposuction. Both treatments offer similar results, but they differ from one another.

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Tummy Tuck versus Liposuction: Similarities

A tummy tuck is also referred to as abdominoplasty. It is a surgical procedure that gets rid of stomach fat and extra skin, and frequently repairs the abdominal wall muscles. This also helps remove excess skin and creates a more slender figure. Liposuction is also a surgical procedure, though it’s minor in comparison. The aim is to suck out stubborn fat from an area of your body.  As you can see, there’s a clear similarity between both treatments. While the methods are different, they both aim to rid excess body fat from an area of your body. A tummy tuck and liposuction will also require some recovery time after the treatment.

Tummy Tuck versus Liposuction: Differences

While both treatments are similar in their aims, the processes are wildly different. For starters, a tummy tuck involves more complex surgery than liposuction. Dr. Brenman will skillfully eliminate excess fatty tissue and lower abdominal skin, and when necessary tighten the abdominal muscles in a tummy tuck. He also has to stitch up the stomach and usually creates a new place for the belly button.  By comparison, liposuction involves smallmincisions with tubes inserted into them. The tubes will suck out the fat – though you may find different techniques used as well. Some liposuction is done using ultrasound or lasers to obliterate the fat. Additionally, liposuction can be performed on different areas of the body, while a tummy tuck is only on the stomach. 

Benefits of Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck will provide you with a much flatter and firmer stomach. One of the main benefits is that it gets rid of excess skin and additional fatty tissues. It will also repair the abdominal walls, making this a highly beneficial treatment for anyone that damaged theirs due to pregnancy or excessive weight gain. The results are almost immediate – you will notice a difference soon after your tummy tuck. However, it can take up to 6 weeks before you see the full results.  

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Which Procedure Am I a Candidate For?

Tummy tucks are suitable for people who have lost a lot of weight but still have a ‘pouch’ of fat around the abdomen. It also suits people whose abdominal walls have collapsed or been damaged. You’re more suited to liposuction if you only want to remove a bit of fat from an area of your body. A tummy tuck is more about reshaping and flattening out the abdomen. Dr. Brenman will help you figure out which procedure suits your needs at your consultation.   “After losing 87 pounds I decided I would treat myself and get a tummy tuck that I have been wanting for some time. I researched and thought Dr Scot Brenman would be best. Well suffice it to say I am not thrilled with my results. Ultimately my tummy is flatter which was what I wanted but my belly button is 2 inches above the incision line which I hate! He promised lipo which til this day I’m betting he didn’t do! Also his aftercare was thee WORSE! He never followed up with me after the removal of my drains! No way will he receive another one of my hard earned dimes!” *