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Having a tighter, more toned tummy is a goal (or a dream) for many of us, but sadly, countless planks and a diet devoid of carbs isn’t exactly appealing — and it doesn’t always get us to the goal.
The good news: Liposuction and abdominoplasty (tummy tuck surgery) can help. The key is choosing the better option for your goals and needs.
Nicholas Evertson, DO, and our team at Luminary Dermatology offer both liposuction treatment and tummy tuck surgery to help both women and men achieve the results they’re looking for.
Here, learn how each procedure works and how to decide which is a better option for you.
The ABCs of abdominoplasty
Abdominoplasty, also called tummy tuck surgery, uses special techniques to slim down tummy contours by removing fatty tissue and excess skin before tightening up and repairing underlying muscles. Because it’s a surgical procedure, abdominoplasty is usually performed using general anesthesia, although intravenous (IV) sedation may also be an option.
The surgery
During the procedure, Dr. Evertson makes an incision in your belly between your navel and your pubic region. Then, he uses this incision to access and remove excess skin and fat and reposition tummy muscles so they’re more supportive.
If your abdominal muscles have separated (a common side effect of pregnancy), he repairs damaged muscle tissue, too, before closing the incision. In some instances, he repositions your belly button so it remains in a natural position once extra skin is removed.
Most people take about 6-8 weeks to heal following a tummy tuck. During the next few months, you’ll gradually return to normal activities. Until then, it’s important to limit your activity according to the recovery instructions we provide.
Ideal candidates
Tummy tuck surgery can be a great choice for anyone who has sagging tummy skin following pregnancy or weight loss or simply as a consequence of aging. It’s also a good choice for anyone with weak or separated abdominal muscles.
Liposuction for sleeker contours
Liposuction is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a special tool called a cannula to gently break apart and suction out unwanted fat. Like tummy tuck surgery, liposuction is performed using anesthesia or IV sedation.
During liposuction, the doctor makes an incision in your abdomen, then gently inserts the cannula to extract fatty tissue in isolated pockets of stubborn fat. Afterward, you have some temporary soreness, swelling, and bruising, and your healing and recovery take about 2-3 months.
While liposuction can be a good choice for getting rid of isolated bulges and fat deposits, it’s not intended for weight loss. In fact, it’s recommended for people who are within about 30% of their ideal weight.
Liposuction also doesn’t tone up loose, sagging skin, and it can’t repair weak or damaged muscles. In general, it’s a great solution for anyone who’s generally toned, has firm and elastic skin, and wants to get rid of defined fatty deposits.
Tummy tuck and liposuction combined
It’s worth noting that some people benefit from a combination of both abdominoplasty and liposuction to remove extra skin, repair weak muscles, and remove stubborn fat deposits in the tummy and waist areas. And, because our team offers both procedures, we can develop a treatment plan based on your specific goals to help you get the results you’re looking for.
If you’re ready to improve the contours of your tummy area, we’re ready to help. To learn more about both of these state-of-the-art procedures, book an appointment online or over the phone with our team at Luminary Dermatology. We have offices in Arcadia, Miami, Bradenton, Homestead, Sarasota, Venice, Longboat Key, and Northport, Florida, and Midwest City, Oklahoma.