Tummy Tuck, Liposuction, or Both: Which Abdomen-Flattening Approach is Right for You?

Belly flab is a common problem for both women and men, and it becomes even more common as we get older. A decline in metabolism, weight fluctuations, sedentary lifestyles, and hormonal fluctuations all take a toll as we age, and many other factors contribute, too.

While exercise and dietary changes can help, they’re not always enough to slim down a flabby belly and give you the flatter, smoother, tighter contours you’re looking for. The good news: state-of-the-art medical treatments, like liposuction and tummy tuck surgery, can help.

Rishi Jindal, MD, and the team at Rejuvenate Plastic Surgery offer both liposuction and tummy tuck surgery to help every patient get slimmer contours and achieve their unique aesthetic goals. If you’re considering slimming down your contours, here’s what you should know about how these two techniques compare.

Tummy tuck basics

Also known as an abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that improves the contours of your belly area by removing excess fat and skin and restoring muscle tone. While a tummy tuck does remove some fat, it’s primarily focused on eliminating extra skin and restoring muscles for a tighter, slimmer, sleeker result.

Abdominoplasty is a great choice if you’ve lost a lot of weight and wound up with sagging muscles and flabby skin. If your belly has changed shape as you’ve gotten older, a tummy tuck could be just what you need to restore tonicity.

It’s also ideal for women who’ve been left with excess skin and poor muscle tone following pregnancy or whose tummy muscles have separated as a result of pregnancy. Women having C-section deliveries can opt to have a tummy tuck at the same time.

Quick facts about liposuction

Liposuction uses a special surgical suction technique to remove stubborn pockets of fat from your belly or waist (or both). 

Dr. Jindal inserts the liposuction device (called a cannula) through small incisions near your belly and waist. The device gently breaks apart fatty deposits so they can be suctioned out. 

Although liposuction does remove fat tissue, like a tummy tuck, it’s not meant for significant weight loss. Instead, it’s a good choice for someone who’s already at or near their ideal weight and wants to get rid of isolated “patches” of fat.

In some instances, fat removed from your belly or waist may be used as part of a “fat transfer” procedure, like a Brazilian butt lift or a natural breast augmentation.

Making the choice

Both tummy tuck surgery and liposuction improve the contours and appearance of the belly area, but they do differ in some key ways.

Procedure 

Tummy tuck surgery and liposuction differ markedly in the techniques they use. Tummy tuck surgery is more invasive and usually takes 2-3 hours. During the surgery, skin and fat tissue are removed and muscle and other connective tissues are moved. Depending on how much tissue is removed, Dr. Jindal may reposition your belly button, too.

Liposuction uses smaller incisions and takes less time. Unlike tummy tuck surgery which addresses sagging skin and muscles, liposuction only targets fat, making it a better choice for people with good skin and muscle tone. 

Recovery and results

Because abdominoplasty is more invasive and more extensive, recovery is longer. While initial recovery takes a couple of weeks, it can be several months before the area fully recovers. Your activities are also limited during this time, particularly strenuous physical activities and heavy lifting. You can also expect larger scars following your surgery.

After tummy tuck surgery, you have more swelling and discomfort and need to wear a compression garment to minimize swelling. Most people can return to work within a couple of weeks, depending on the activities required by your job.

Liposuction has a quicker recovery. You can also expect some swelling after your procedure, and again, a compression agreement helps minimize discomfort and improve your final contours.

Most people return to light physical activity within the first week, avoiding heavy lifting and other strenuous activity for 2-4 weeks or so. Scarring is also minimal.

You don’t always need to choose

It’s important to note that while each of these techniques can offer amazing results based on your needs and goals, they can also be used together. As a combination treatment, liposuction and abdominoplasty offer comprehensive body contouring for significant improvements in your shape and your confidence.

Let us help you achieve your aesthetic goals

Don’t let a flabby belly take a toll on your self-confidence. To learn how we can help, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Jindal and the team at Rejuvenate Plastic Surgery in San Diego, California, today.