The procedures aiming to correct sagging skin or eliminate adipose tissue are among the most requested plastic surgery interventions in the United States. The most popular ones are tummy tuck and liposuction. At first sight, they might seem like one and the same thing – a procedure that can help you get rid of fatty tissue and redefine your tummy, but they are actually very different interventions in terms of the surgical techniques used and the results achieved.

The indication for one procedure or the other depends on the profile of the patient and his goals. Let’s have a look at the details:

What makes a good candidate for lipo versus an abdominoplasty?

The tummy tuck is also known in medical terms as “abdominoplasty”. The procedure is recommended for patients with excess skin on the tummy and loose abdominal muscles. Good candidates for the tummy tuck are people who lost a considerable amount of weight suddenly and are now left with loose skin. Women who had one or multiple births are also potential candidates for this procedure. The main characteristic of a good candidate for the tummy tuck is the excess skin that can only be corrected surgically. In some cases, the saggy skin can cover partially or entirely the pubic area, and it can even form what we call a belly “apron” or “pouch.”

Liposuction is recommended for people with an excess of adipose tissue in certain areas of the body. The intervention can be performed on one or several areas of the body at the same time. With this procedure, we can target the chin, hips and thighs, the abdomen, buttocks, and even the chest and the back. The ideal candidate for a liposuction intervention has good skin tonus.

For patients with sagging skin and an excess of fat in the abdominal area, the right intervention might be a combination of liposuction with a tummy tuck. When the procedures are performed together, the plastic surgeon can eliminate both the excess fat and the excess skin, and the results are much more impressive.

What happens during each procedure?

While liposuction is a procedure that can be performed in an hour (more or less), a tummy tuck can take up to five hours. Liposuction entails small incisions in the target area. The incisions are often around 3-4 mm in diameter. The plastic surgeon uses them to insert a cannula (hollow steel tube) under the skin. The excess fat is dislodged and suctioned in the medical vacuum device connected to the cannula. During a liposuction procedure, it is safe to eliminate up to five liters of fat.

On the other hand, the tummy tuck is one of the most complex plastic surgery procedures performed nowadays. There are different types of tummy tucks that can be performed, depending on the anatomy of the patient.

1.      The mini tummy tuck entails a small incision on the suprapubic area.

2.      The classic abdominoplasty needs an incision on the lower part of the abdomen that can go from one hip bone to the other and another incision around the belly button.

During this procedure, the plastic surgeon will detach the skin and fat tissue from the abdominal muscles and lift it up to the level of the rib cage. The abdominal muscles are strengthened with sutures to ensure a firm and flat tummy. The skin is then redraped over the muscles, and the excess is removed. The circular incision is needed when the belly button is repositioned. The incisions are then sutured, and drain tubes are inserted in each side of the tummy to prevent fluid accumulation.

How do the cosmetic results differ between liposuction vs. tummy tuck?

Many people wonder how much weight they can lose with liposuction or a tummy tuck. The reality is that these procedures are no quick fixes for people who need to lose weight. The general recommendation is for the patient to have a normal weight before undergoing plastic surgery procedures. Gaining weight, as well as losing weight after liposuction or a tummy tuck, can negatively affect the results of the intervention, so a stable weight is an important criteria to determine if you are an eligible candidate for the procedure.

After liposuction, you can expect the results to be more visible in a mirror than on a scale. You will look thinner, and your waist will be smaller. Keep in mind that the results are not visible immediately after the procedure, as it can take a few days or weeks for the post-operative swelling to subside.

The tummy tuck should completely redefine your abdominal area. After the surgery, your tummy will be firmer, flatter, and your overall aspect will be much improved. Some patients can even drop a size or two in clothes after undergoing the procedure.

How long does it take to recover from liposuction vs. a tummy tuck?

The recovery time after each plastic surgery procedure is dependent on the health condition of the patient, but also on the complexity of the intervention. Most patients recover much sooner after liposuction than after a tummy tuck surgery. The recovery time for liposuction can be of a few days compared to a few weeks after an abdominoplasty.

More than this, a few months after the liposuction, there will be little to no sign that the patient had the procedure done. The incisions left behind after the tummy tuck surgery are larger, and they won’t disappear in time. The good news is that they are positioned in the folds of the skin and barely (if at all) visible when wearing underwear.

Summary: Tummy Tuck vs. Liposuction

The two procedures can be complementary, but they can’t substitute each other. Liposuction is a less invasive procedure with a shorter recovery time that can help you get rid of a few inches from the abdominal area. But liposuction can only be performed on patients with a good skin condition.

If you are confronted with sagging skin on the inferior part of the abdomen, have loose abdominal muscles, and need a drastic improvement in the tummy area, the chances are that you need a tummy tuck surgery. The tummy tuck procedure is more complex, and the downtime is longer, but the results can be spectacular as the whole abdominal area is redefined. Make sure to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon if you have more questions about what procedure is recommended for you.