A beautifully sculpted abdominal area is a dream for many of us. A dream not so easy to achieve with diets and exercises for some of us, especially when we are not in our 20s anymore. One or multiple pregnancies, weight gain, and even the natural aging process can have a significant impact on our looks. And we all know that fat just loves to accumulate around the waist and love handles, making the midline look aesthetically not pleasing. This is more common than you know, even for women with a normal body weight. So, how do we get rid of love handles and belly fat?

Diet to get rid of fat deposits

We did mention before that diets and exercises don’t always provide the desired results when it comes to getting rid of love handles and the fat that accumulates on the tummy. What happens is that these two methods are efficient in helping you get rid of excess weight. This means that if you are overweight, you should definitely give them a try and be consistent with them as the chances are you will get to a normal weight in time.

However, having love handles and belly fat is not necessarily a sign of being overweight. You can still have a normal body weight, and you can even be considered on the slim side and have love handles and even a belly pouch. When this is the case, when you try diets, the chances are that you will lose more weight, but there are no guarantees that the fat on the midline will be the first to go. You could lose weight from the level of the breasts, the face, the buttocks, and legs before getting rid of the love handles. Each and every one of us has a different weight loss pattern, and usually, the fat on the tummy is the last to go.

Liposuction to get rid of love handles and belly fat

If you have a normal weight, but the midline lacks definition, and you are unhappy with the aspect of the tummy, you might need a localized weight loss. Liposuction is not a weight-loss method, but it could help you get rid of unwanted fat deposits from certain areas of the body. One of the most commonly performed procedures is abdominal liposuction. Liposuction is a minimally invasive plastic surgery procedure that has been performed for decades on both men and women. The results achieved with the intervention can be spectacular when a talented and experienced board-certified plastic surgeon performs the intervention.

What results can be expected after abdominal liposuction?

When liposuction on the tummy is performed, the plastic surgeon makes small incisions in the area. Through these incisions, a hollow steel cannula is inserted. With back and forth movements, the surgeon dislodges the fat that is suctioned into a vacuum-like medical device. Liposuction addresses the layer of fat that is directly under the skin. This means that the procedure is only recommended for people with a superficial layer of fat on the tummy. Liposuction can’t be used to treat visceral fat (the fat inside the abdominal cavity).

After liposuction is performed, the patient can expect a few days or even weeks of swelling and bruising in the area treated with the procedure. After this, the final results of the intervention will show up. The tummy and midline are better defined, and the fat layer is minimal. However, liposuction might not be enough for patients experiencing diastasis recti or loose skin on the tummy.

Correcting the imperfections of the tummy with abdominoplasty

As mentioned above, liposuction is a minimally invasive procedure that addresses the layer of fat under the skin. But the procedure is only recommended for patients with a good skin tonus. Otherwise, the skin might not be able to retract on the new contours of the tummy, and saggy skin can occur.

At the same time, for women who had one or multiple pregnancies, there might be another obstacle in their way to get a firm and flat tummy. In medical terms is called diastasis recti – a condition that is characterized by a gap developed between the right and left abdominal muscles. This can happen during pregnancy when the growing uterus can determine this gap between the abdominal muscles. Diastasis recti can only be fixed surgically, so just an abdominal lipo doesn’t help to get a flat and firm tummy.

Results to be expected after a tummy tuck

The tummy tuck is probably the most complex plastic surgery intervention to be performed at the level of the tummy. It addresses both the skin on the tummy and the abdominal muscles; however, it doesn’t have an effect on the underlying layer of fat.

When a tummy tuck is performed, the plastic surgeon can eliminate the excess of saggy skin and also strengthen loose abdominal muscles for a firmer, flatter aspect of the tummy. If the patient also has belly fat, the plastic surgeon might recommend combining liposuction with a tummy tuck in the same operative setting. This means that the surgeon will reduce the layer of belly fat using lipo, then continue to suture together weak abdominal muscles and eliminate excess skin on the tummy. The results are truly impressive, and the waist is redefined and recontoured.

Final words

If you’re concerned about love handles and belly fat, it’s important to know that plastic surgery can definitely help. The most suitable procedure for your particular case – whether it would be abdominal lipo or a tummy tuck – is recommended by the plastic surgeon after an initial consultation.

You can schedule a consultation with Dr. Essie Yates, our board-certified plastic surgeon at the Yates Institute for Plastic Surgery, here in Fort Lauderdale to get are one step closer to the firm and flat tummy of your dreams. Are you ready to say goodbye to love handles and belly fat now?