Some people don’t understand the difference between a tummy and liposuction.  They wonder why anyone would opt for the more involved procedure and recovery of a tummy tuck when they could get the same results with liposuction.

Not exactly. There’s a big difference between the two procedures; it comes down to fat pockets versus loose skin and sagging muscles.

Tummy tuck versus liposuction

These two procedures may target the same area, the abdomen, but they address different problems. Liposuction only removes pockets of fat. If your stomach pooch is mainly the result of fat and your skin is still taut and muscles tight, then liposuction can be a great solution to refine your contour.

But if you have sagging, loose skin and if your underlying muscles have been stretched or separated by pregnancy or gaining and losing a large amount of weight, a tummy tuck is the answer. A tummy tuck will remove pockets of fat, but its main goal is to remove excess loose skin and tightening and repositioning the underlying stretched muscles. That’s why a tummy tuck requires months of recovery versus liposuction’s days of recovery — a tummy tuck is much more involved surgically.

How is a tummy tuck done?

Dr. Smith makes two incisions in a full tummy tuck. One incision runs from hipbone to hipbone at the bikini line. The second incision is made at the belly button. Dr. Smith then separates the skin from the abdominal muscles, which he pulls together and stitches into place for a firmer, narrower waist. Next, he takes the skin flap and stretches it downward over the newly tightened muscles. Excess skin is trimmed, and the navel repositioned in many cases.

Tummy tuck recovery

Dr. Smith puts his patients in compression garments for two weeks to reduce swelling and help the body adapt to its new contour. Recovery times will last up to a few months, due to the incision locations and the muscle repositioning. Heavy lifting and exercise need to be avoided for at least six weeks.

Interested in losing the saggy stomach? Call Dr. Smith at 843-705-8940 for a consultation on a tummy tuck.