What is The Difference Between Liposuction and a Tummy Tuck?

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Liposuction and a tummy tuck are both highly effective body-contouring procedures that can improve the appearance of the abdomen. The desired result is a more contoured and flatter abdomen with tauter skin. Despite some similarities, liposuction and a tummy tuck are very different procedures that address various aspects of the abdomen.

What is liposuction?

Liposuction, also known as Lipo, is a highly effective, minimally invasive surgical technique for removing excess body fat from specific areas, resulting in a more sculpted, contoured body shape. There are many different techniques used for liposuction; however, the most effective and safe method uses vibration energy, also known as power-assisted liposuction, to mechanically disrupt the fat cells before they are extracted from the body using a negative-pressure vacuum device. Liposuction can target both the lower and upper parts of the stomach, but can also treat these areas separately if desired. Lipo is one of the most effective ways to get rid of hard-to-lose fat deposits in the stomach and can also be used to eliminate unsightly muffin tops and saddlebags. Liposuction, however, is not a treatment for weight loss and is most effective in patients who are at or near their ideal body weight, have good skin elasticity, and have adequate muscle tone. Liposuction can target subcutaneous fat, the fat just below the skin surface; however, it cannot tighten the skin or abdominal muscles.

RELATED: Can I combine liposuction with a tummy tuck?

What is a tummy tuck?

Tummy tuck surgery, also known as abdominoplasty, focuses on removing redundant sagging skin and simultaneously tightening the underlying abdominal musculature. It is not uncommon to develop excess loose skin following dramatic weight loss. The accumulation of extra fat results in stretching of the overlying skin envelope. When that weight is subsequently lost by eating sensibly and exercising regularly, the stretched skin cannot return to its original tightness. As we all age, the body’s stores of collagen and elastin begin to diminish, resulting in loss of skin elasticity, skin sagging, and the appearance of wrinkles. Older people are particularly affected by even modest weight loss, which can lead to wrinkly skin in the abdominal area.

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The procedure of tummy tuck is extremely popular and commonly requested by women who have had multiple pregnancies and may have had a Caesarean section. Pregnancy results in saggy skin and stomach muscles that have lost their tone. The abdominoplasty procedure can retighten these tummy muscles and is the best treatment for diastasis recti, a midline gap that develops between the abdominal muscles as pregnancy progresses, with the overlying muscle stretched by the growing uterus. In many cases, a tummy tuck is an effective treatment for permanently removing stretch marks. When loose skin is removed, stretch marks in this area are often removed along with the excess skin.

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Can liposuction and a tummy tuck be combined in the same procedure?

Our surgeons regularly perform liposuction in conjunction with a tummy tuck in appropriately selected patients, also known as a Brazilian tummy tuck or Brazilian abdominoplasty. Your surgeon will examine you to determine if you are a suitable candidate for a Brazilian tummy tuck.

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Liposuction and a tummy tuck can be performed together in a single procedure, and these procedures are also performed in conjunction with lipo in other areas of the body. Mummy makeover surgery commonly involves a tummy tuck in conjunction with some form of breast surgery, such as a breast uplift. In many cases, a mummy makeover may also include a vaginal rejuvenation procedure such as a vaginoplasty, also known as vaginal tightening surgery. These procedures restore the female body to its pre-pregnancy appearance.

Lipo and abdominoplasty are not performed only on women; men are increasingly seeking these procedures and deriving immense benefits.

Tummy tuck surgery is typically performed in a single surgical procedure. On the other hand, liposuction may be performed in several sessions, especially if the treated areas are large and multiple. Liposuction and tummy tuck are types of cosmetic surgery procedures, and as with any surgical procedure, there is always a potential risk of complications occurring. Compared with other cosmetic surgeries, abdominoplasty carries a slightly higher risk profile. Your surgeon is ideally placed to give you clear and detailed information on the risks associated with abdominoplasty surgery. However, in expert hands, abdominoplasty is a safe procedure routinely carried out as a day-case procedure at Centre for Surgery in London.

Are liposuction and tummy tuck results permanent?

Abdominoplasty and liposuction treatments can produce permanent results. However, as with all types of cosmetic surgery, it’s essential to follow your surgeon’s post-operative instructions in full to maintain the results of liposuction and tummy tuck over the long term.

Your surgeon will recommend focusing on core-strengthening exercises after you have fully recovered from your tummy tuck, around six weeks. The most common types of exercises include abdominal crunches, pelvic floor exercises and Pilates. Regular cardiovascular exercise helps to condition the heart and lungs and strengthen the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This will help to optimise the results of tummy tuck surgery. All patients should ensure that they adhere to eating a healthy and nutritious diet and avoid certain lifestyle habits such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption. Patients who gain significant weight after a tummy tuck or lipo often find that the results of the original procedure may be adversely affected. This could necessitate a second revision procedure to restore the results obtained after the first procedure.

Liposuction and tummy tucks are body contouring procedures and are not recognised treatments for weight loss. They are ideally performed on patients at or near their target body weight. Women who plan to have more children in the future should defer having liposuction and especially abdominoplasty until they have completed their family in full. Women who become pregnant after abdominoplasty may find that the skin and abdominal musculature stretch again, potentially reversing some or all of the benefits of the previous tummy tuck.

What are the best techniques for lipo and abdominoplasty?

At Centre for Surgery in London, our expert plastic surgeons regularly deploy cutting-edge liposuction and abdominoplasty in combination to achieve dramatic body contouring results for women who have developed a significant loss of self-confidence as they see their body size and shape change over time. Our surgeons offer a full range of tummy tuck procedures, including mini tummy tuck, full tummy tuck, Brazilian abdominoplasty, fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty, extended tummy tuck, and belt lipectomy. Tummy tuck carried out without liposuction is rarely performed nowadays at the Centre for Surgery as our surgeons believe the results are inferior to liposuction combined with tummy tuck, also known as lipoabdominoplasty.

We are also proud to offer the full range of liposuction techniques, including traditional suction-assisted liposuction, MicroLipo, SmartLipo, power-assisted liposuction, BodyTite lipo and SAFElipo. For women concerned about the appearance of cellulite, we offer the highly effective CelluTite procedure for permanent removal.

If you want to learn more about the different liposuction and tummy tuck options, please contact one of our friendly and knowledgeable patient coordinators on to book a face-to-face consultation with an expert Plastic Surgeon at the Centre for Surgery in London.

Call or fill in the form below. A patient coordinator will call you within one working day to book your consultation with the consultant best matched to your enquiry.

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Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated private hospital on London’s Baker Street, delivering plastic and cosmetic surgery through GMC-registered specialist surgeons. Our expertise spans facial procedures including rhinoplasty and facelift surgery, breast surgery, gynaecomastia surgery for men, and body contouring procedures such as liposuction and tummy tuck surgery. Patient safety, surgical excellence and natural-looking results sit at the heart of everything we do.

Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated private hospital on London’s iconic Baker Street, offering plastic and cosmetic surgery led by GMC-registered consultant surgeons.

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