If you’re carrying extra weight around your midsection that you can’t seem to lose, you may be considering plastic surgery to help you get the lean physique you’re after. Lipo and tummy tucks are two popular procedures to address these concerns, but what are the differences between the two surgeries? In this post, we’ll talk about the differences between the two and how to tell which is right for you.
First, it’s important to know that these are not weight loss surgeries. Both liposuction and a tummy tuck are meant to sculpt the body, not reduce your weight.
What is Involved in a Tummy Tuck
During a tummy tuck, Dr. Ortiz will make a horizontal incision across your hips, between your pubic area and belly button. This incision allows him to repair the muscles by pulling them together and stitching them with medical-grade nylon.
Once the muscles are repaired, excess skin is trimmed away and the remaining skin is sutured together. The result is a flatter, smoother stomach with a faint scar across the hip area. The results of a tummy tuck can be permanent with proper diet and exercise. Substantial weight gain will undo the results of your tummy tuck.
Tummy tucks are more intensive procedures than liposuction. While lipo only removes excess fat, a tummy tuck reconstructs the muscles of the abdomen and removes excess skin.
Who is a Tummy Tuck For?
Tummy tucks are ideal for healthy people who have stubborn fat on their midsection that they cannot lose with diet and exercise. If your abdomen is sagging or protruding due to age, pregnancy, weight loss, or prior surgeries and you have no other health conditions, you are likely a good candidate for a tummy tuck.
What is Involved in Liposuction
Liposuction is a far less invasive procedure than a tummy tuck. It can be performed on almost any part of the body that has excess fat: the stomach, back, arms, legs, and even under the chin.
During the procedure, a solution of saline, water, and anesthesia is injected into the fat cells to be removed. Then, using a cannula similar to an IV needle, the fat is sucked out. The result is a more sculpted figure.
Unlike a tummy tuck, liposuction does not remove excess skin. This is why it is best suited for removal of small fat deposits. In addition, it’s important to know that liposuction is not a weight loss surgery and you will not lose drastic amounts of weight with this procedure.
The removal of the fat cells is permanent, but lipo does not prevent you from gaining weight in the future. You will need to maintain your new figure with diet and exercise.
Who is Lipo For?
Like a tummy tuck, a healthy person with stubborn fat deposits that do not respond to diet or exercise is likely a good candidate for liposuction.
Which is Right For Me: a Tummy Tuck or Lipo?
If loose skin is a concern for you, a tummy tuck will give you the best results.
If you simply have small pockets of fat around your midsection that you’d like to address, liposuction is probably the best option for you.
Let Dr. Ortiz Help You Decide Which Procedure is Right For You!
If you’re ready to take the next step toward getting the figure you’ve always wanted but need a little help deciding which procedure is right for you, we can help! Call us at (919) 532-2270 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your consultation today!
