When deciding between a tummy tuck and lipo, the first thing to keep in mind is that they are highly complementary procedures. Many patients choose to have liposuction simultaneously with a tummy tuck. Here at Centre for Surgery, most of our patients combine a tummy tuck with liposuction for even greater body contouring results. When lipo is combined with a tummy tuck, the lipo is performed first, followed by excess skin removal. If you would like liposuction in a different area, such as the chin or arms, a separate procedure would be scheduled. Stomach liposuction is most commonly combined with a tummy tuck. There are several key differences between a tummy tuck and lipo, each with its pros and cons, as discussed below.
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Liposuction vs Tummy Tuck
Tummy tuck and liposuction are often combined in a single procedure, although they are distinct procedures designed to achieve specific aesthetic goals. Tummy tuck surgery is designed to remove excess skin from the abdomen and tighten weakened abdominal muscles caused by pregnancy or weight gain. Several factors, including significant weight loss, pregnancy and childbirth and the natural ageing process, can cause excess skin. Many women and men are concerned about the appearance of loose, sagging skin on the belly because it can limit clothing choices or interfere with physical exercise and other daily tasks. Having loose skin around the abdomen can lead to discomfort from rubbing against clothing and skin irritation. People with severe sagging skin can develop low self-esteem and withdraw from certain social situations.
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As part of a tummy tuck, the surgeon will perform an incision in the lower portion of the abdomen from hip to hip. Once the incision has been made, the surgeon will carefully separate the abdominal skin from the underlying tissue, then pull the skin down and trim excess skin from the bottom half. The abdominal muscles will be tightened if they are responsible for causing a bulge. The abdominal muscles often separate, a condition known as diastasis recti, often caused by pregnancy or weight gain. The belly button will be surgically repositioned. The incisions will then be closed, and you will have two surgical drains to get rid of excess fluid, which will be removed three days after your procedure.
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Liposuction is designed to remove stubborn areas of excess fat that are resistant to regular physical exercise and a healthy diet. Many patients often tried for years to get rid of stubborn fat with no success. The most commonly affected areas include the abdomen, thighs, chin, back and flanks. In those with good skin elasticity, liposuction can safely and effectively contour these areas without the longer scars of a tummy tuck. Liposuction involves inserting a small-diameter cannula into the subcutaneous fat to extract fat. Moving the cannula back and forth whilst connected to vacuum suction will help to break up the fat before its extraction. The incisions will then be closed with dissolvable sutures, followed by the application of a sterile dressing.
When deciding between a tummy tuck and lipo, your treatment goals will determine the final decision. Some people will seek to remove well-localised pockets of excess fat but otherwise good skin quality. Others will have loose skin affecting their abdomen and have been unable to improve sagging skin with diet and exercise alone. Excess skin affecting the abdomen is best treated with a tummy tuck. Well-defined areas of excess fat affecting the stomach, thighs, back or arms are best treated with liposuction. Many people can have both procedures, and a mummy makeover UK often involves a combination of both liposuction and a tummy tuck with a breast augmentation or breast lift.
Patients should be in good physical and mental health for either procedure and should be at or near their ideal body weight. It is important to remember that liposuction is designed to contour and sculpt the body, not to promote weight loss. The procedure should be considered only if you have failed to eliminate stubborn pockets of fat despite a healthy diet and regular exercise.
What is the difference between a tummy tuck and liposuction?
There are several differences between abdominoplasty and liposuction, including what results they can achieve and the best candidates for each procedure. It is best to discuss your wants, needs, and ideal outcome during your consultation so your surgeon can recommend the best method for you.
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A tummy tuck is better suited to those with excess skin or significant stretch marks. Liposuction can be performed alongside a tummy tuck. This is suitable for people who have excess skin, such as after significant weight loss, and may also have excess weight.
Liposuction removes only fat, not excess skin. Liposuction will not alter the appearance of any stretch marks and could even make them worse, as the skin will be looser. Liposuction is more suitable for patients with excess fat but still firm abdominal skin, as the skin will shrink after the procedure. Patients now have access to a highly effective treatment for stretch marks, Morpheus8, which our non-surgical practitioners offer at Centre for Surgery in London.
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If you are not keen on the idea of having scars from abdominoplasty surgery, Centre for Surgery also offers a ‘scarless tummy tuck’ utilising the innovative BodyTite platform. A BodyTite tummy tuck utilises minimally invasive bipolar radiofrequency to tighten the skin along with Morpheus8 RF microneedling. By combining BodyTite and Morpheus8, your surgeon can address mild to moderate skin laxity in a minimally invasive manner, without the downtime of a traditional abdominoplasty. A BodyTite abdominoplasty can be performed under local anaesthetic (with or without oral sedation) in properly selected candidates.
Your surgeon may also wish to combine the BodyTite/Morpheus8 combination with a mini-abdominoplasty to extend the benefits of partial skin excision. In this case, the procedure would be performed with TIVA anaesthesia.
Should I get a tummy tuck or lipo?
The most appropriate choice depends on what you were trying to achieve from the treatment. For patients with small areas of localised fat and good skin elasticity, liposuction can be an ideal treatment to eliminate excess fat permanently. Patients with severe abdominal skin laxity are best treated with a tummy tuck. In most cases, patients combine liposuction with a tummy tuck, which is known as a Brazilian tummy tuck.
Is a tummy tuck more painful than lipo?
We commonly get asked about the potential pain after a tummy tuck. Although the recovery after a tummy tuck is more prolonged than liposuction, your surgeon injects local anaesthetic into the area of surgery to make the early part of your recovery as comfortable as possible.
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Compared with liposuction, a tummy tuck involves longer incisions, leading to larger tummy tuck scars and a longer recovery. However, the dramatic improvements achieved with a tummy tuck can make it well worth it. Liposuction is a minimally invasive procedure involving small incisions that heal well, leaving virtually invisible scars. Most people can return to work after a few days, although they will still need to wear a compression garment for six weeks after the procedure.
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How long do tummy tuck results last?
As long as patients maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating sensibly and exercising regularly, both a tummy tuck and liposuction can produce permanent results. If a patient gains weight by eating unhealthy foods and living a sedentary lifestyle, this can affect the results of both procedures. The skin may again stretch after a tummy tuck, and fat can return after liposuction.
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Why choose Centre for Surgery for a tummy tuck?
If you are undecided about a tummy tuck or liposuction, get in contact with us today to schedule an in-person consultation with an expert plastic surgeon at Centre for Surgery in London. Our surgeons have many years of experience performing both tummy tuck and liposuction, with hundreds of procedures performed annually. View our before-and-after gallery below. You can get a good idea of the results achievable with a tummy tuck in London.
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