If you’ve experienced rapid weight loss, pregnancy, or extreme hormone fluctuations, you might be carrying an excess of loose skin, sagging tissues, and separated abdominal muscles. In order to fix these issues, surgery is likely the ticket––but which procedure is best for you? This blog compares two key body contouring procedures, tummy tucks and lower body lifts, so you can determine which is best for you.
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Differences Between a Tummy Tuck and a Body Lift
What Is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is one of the most popular body contouring procedures performed today, as it provides remarkable results unlike any other procedure. A tummy tuck has three main objectives: surgically remove excess skin and fat, redrape and contour tissues for a more appealing shape, and surgically tighten loosened abdominal muscles.
During a tummy tuck, your surgeon makes an incision that runs horizontally along the lower abdomen, usually from hip to hip, as well as another around the navel. Through these incisions, loose abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) are tightened and sutured together, resulting in a flattened, taut surface. Liposuction may be used to remove fat pockets, and the skin is redraped to create a more pleasing contour; Any excess is trimmed away.
The result is a flatter, stronger abdomen, without loose skin detracting from its appearance. Candidates for a tummy tuck are often patients who have lost a significant amount of weight quickly, as major fluctuations can make it impossible for the skin to return to its regular shape. Post-partum women are another key group of candidates, as pregnancy stretches the abdominal wall, sometimes beyond repair via diet and exercise.
What Is a Lower Body Lift?
A similar procedure is the lower body lift, which also targets large amounts of excess, sagging skin resulting from massive weight loss. Unlike the tummy tuck, which focuses on the abdomen only, the lower body lift treats the lower back, flanks, buttocks, and thighs.
During a body lift, the surgeon makes incisions around the circumference of the body, around the belly button, and horizontally across the lower hips. Excess skin is removed, and the underlying tissues are reshaped to create a more pleasing and youthful contour. Some plastic surgeons, like Drs. Martin and Adam O’Toole of Pasadena Cosmetic Surgery, include stomach muscle tightening, but many do not.
For patients who have experienced extreme weight loss and are thus burdened with significant loose, hanging skin, a lower body lift may be the ideal procedure to reveal the figure underneath.
Tummy Tuck and Lower Body Lift: Pros and Cons
While these two procedures have similar objectives and results, one usually suits you better than the other. Let’s weigh the pros and cons below.
Tummy Tuck
Pros:
- Ideal for abdomen-centered issues
- Smaller incision
- More targeted approach to treating loose skin and fat
- Multiple techniques for customization (traditional TT, mini, and extended)
Cons:
- Potentially visible scar
- Only treats the midsection
- Recovery from abdominal repair can be challenging
Lower Body Lift
Pros:
- Most comprehensive approach to loose skin throughout the body
- Ideal for patients with severe sagging skin
- Helps post-weight loss patients enjoy their new bodies
- Can be performed in one surgical setting
Cons:
- Surgery can last between 4 and 6 hours
- Long incisions run the risk of noticeable scarring
- Recovery is substantial, as the circumference of the body is treated
Which Procedure Is Right for Me?
Abdominoplasty and lower body lift both have strengths and weaknesses, just like any cosmetic procedure. However, what it really comes down to is your current physical condition and your goals.
For example, if you have excess skin on your abdomen, lower back, and flanks, then an abdominoplasty will not be sufficient; you’ll need a lower body lift. But if your concerns are centered on your midsection only, and you also present with symptoms of diastasis recti, then abdominoplasty will likely be ideal.
Additionally, you may benefit from combining procedures if other areas of your body need attention, such as the arms or thighs. These areas are also susceptible to loose, hanging skin after weight loss and aging, making an arm lift or thigh lift a logical addition to your surgical plan.
Above all, the best way to determine which procedure is right for you is to schedule a consultation with your body contouring specialist, so they can assess your condition, examine your body, and listen to your goals. Dr. Martin O’Toole and Dr. Adam O’Toole are well-respected and talented plastic surgeons with decades of experience treating post-weight loss patients via abdominoplasty, lower body lifts, and more. They will listen to your goals and present you with multiple options, so you can consider the pros and cons and make a decision together.
With guidance from knowledgeable sources like Drs. Martin and Adam O’Toole, you can rest assured that you’re making the best choice that is not only safe but satisfying. Just take a look at the before and after gallery to see some of their amazing tummy tuck and lower body lift transformations.
Want to Learn More About Body Contouring Procedures in Pasadena, CA?
Your dream body is in reach—Call Pasadena Cosmetic Surgery today at (626) 449-8910 or fill out the contact form to schedule a consultation.