For the most part, people who are looking to reduce fat in their stomachs inquire about liposuction or a tummy tuck with their doctor. While these are both effective in reducing stomach fat, it is important to understand the difference between the two. Although they are often mistaken for being the same thing, these procedures are very different from one another.
Excess weight gain, weak stomach muscles, pregnancy, aging, massive weight loss, and so on, are all factors that play into having a large abdomen and/or loose abdominal skin. Liposuction focuses entirely on fat deposits. The object of liposuction is to create a smoother contour of the area being performed; it should not be considered an alternative to diet and exercise to lose weight.
During liposuction, the surgeon makes tiny incisions in the abdomen in areas where stubborn fat does not usually respond to diet or exercise. Through these incisions, a cannula is inserted and the fat is “sucked out”. The fat cells are broken up by the cannula then vacuumed out. Liposuction is not only performed on the stomach, but other parts of the body, including the neck, upper and lower arms, buttocks, thighs, knees, calves, and ankles.
The ideal candidates for liposuction are those who are in good health, but have a difficult time losing weight in specific areas of their body. Those with firm, elastic skin are the best candidates, because their skin will heal and look more contoured post-procedure. Patients are usually those who have lost a large amount of weight, but still have areas on their body that will not respond to a healthy diet and exercise routine.
An abdominoplasty, also referred to as a tummy tuck, is the process of surgically removing excess skin and fat from the abdomen. In conjunction with removing the skin and fat, the abdominal wall’s muscles are also tightened. The objective of a tummy tuck is to reduce the appearance of a protruding abdomen and loose abdominal skin.
Candidates for a tummy tuck are those who are in good health and shape, but have fat deposits and loose, hanging skin on and around their abdomen. Most people who get a tummy tuck are women and men who have a large amount of skin and fat in their abdominal area that do not respond to diet or exercise. In addition, women who have had one or more pregnancies that have changed the contour of their stomach are common tummy tuck contenders.
Sometimes a tummy tuck and liposuction are conjoined to create a contoured, smaller look to the waist and stomach. Every patient is different, so every procedure is determined by the individual’s needs and desires.