Many people nowadays are opting for procedures like liposuction and tummy tuck surgery for having a well-sculpted figure. What most people do not understand is the difference between these two procedures.
There is a common misconception in the population that both these surgeries mean the same thing. While there are certain minor similarities between these procedures, they are very different and have completely different purposes.
In this article, we will talk about liposuction vs tummy tuck and explain both these surgical procedures in detail. This will help you make a much more informed decision about these surgeries.
As the name suggests, liposuction is used to remove or ‘suction’ the excess fatty tissue that is present in a particular body part like the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, arms, or neck. But one thing that should be kept in mind is that liposuction is not a weight loss surgery. While it removes excess body fat from certain specific areas, it is done only to contour that area and make it more defined. It is usually done for people who have excess fat in a particular body part but otherwise have a stable weight.
Liposuction is done for that specific body fat that does not respond to diet and exercise. The most common problem areas include:
Apart from this, liposuction is also done as the treatment of choice for many medical conditions like gynecomastia and uncomfortably large breasts.
A liposuction is a good option if the patient is looking to remove concentrated fat from a small area. Other than that, there are certain requirements that they should fulfill to be considered a good candidate for a liposuction procedure. These include:
Before going in for the liposuction procedure, you will have numerous sessions with your doctor which will focus on your medical history, your expectations and concerns regarding the procedure, evaluating the area under question, etc.
Liposuction is generally done under general anesthesia, but can sometimes be also performed under local anesthesia. After sedating the patient or making the specific area numb, incisions are made and small, hollow tubes are passed inside, through these incisions. These tubes are known as catheters. These are responsible for suctioning and removing the excess fatty tissue that is present in the area.
It may take multiple sessions to get the desired results from the procedure
Because liposuction can be performed on an outpatient basis, liposuSwelling and inflammation in the operated area.tion recovery is usually a fast process. But the liposuction recovery depends on certain factors like the number of areas that were operated on, the overall health of the patient, compliance to medical advice, proper nutrition, etc.
You will experience certain post-op symptoms like:
You will be required to wear a compression belt for some time to reduce the swelling and hasten the process of recovery.
It is important to manage your expectations to have a good result from the liposuction procedure. Always remember that liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure. It is only for targeted fat removal.
This is because while the number of fat cells (adipose cells) is fixed in the body, the amount of fat they can contain can increase. So, if the patient undergoes liposuction but does not keep a check on their diet and exercise, they will gain weight again.
Since the adipose cells from the operated body parts have been removed permanently, fat deposition will not occur in those parts. Extra fat will be deposited in other parts of the body, giving the person a somewhat distorted figure.
The patient should also have at least a rough idea about the liposuction cost in Gurgaon so that they can appropriately prepare for the procedure.
There are certain risks and complications that are involved in getting liposuction done. These include:
Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is the procedure in which the excess loose skin is removed from the abdomen to give the abdomen a good contour.
With increasing age, the elasticity of the skin is lost. This makes the skin loose and wrinkly. Other conditions like pregnancy or losing a significant amount of weight also lead to the stretching of the skin over the abdomen that does not return to its normal shape. This loose and hanging skin over the abdomen can be a cause of distress for many people.
The tummy tuck procedure is done for people who want to get rid of this loose skin. During the procedure, the abdominal muscle is also stretched to provide more definition to the tummy.
Normally, a good candidate for a tummy tuck is a person who has loose and saggy abdominal skin and has the following qualities:
You will be put under general anesthesia before the tummy tuck procedure. After you are completely sedated, incisions will be made on your abdominal skin and the muscle will be repaired if that is also loose. Then the extra part of loose skin will be excised and the remaining skin will be stitched back together.
The tummy tuck procedure can be completed in a single sitting. A tummy tuck is often paired with liposuction.
Tummy tuck recovery is much longer than liposuction. Your incisions will be sutured and these will be covered with a dressing. These dressings need to be changed frequently. You will be required to wear a compression belt to decrease the swelling. Surgical drains are also sometimes placed for some weeks.
While you should mobilize within the first 24 hours to reduce the risk of formation of blood clots, you will be able to return to your daily activities only after about 6 weeks. You will also require frequent follow-ups with your doctor to monitor your tummy tuck recovery.
A tummy tuck has been shown to have more complications as compared to liposuction and other cosmetic surgeries. The risks and complications of a tummy tuck include:
This is a brief article on liposuction vs tummy tuck which is written to explain the differences between the two. For further information, contact a qualified professional who will be able to explain the details about liposuction vs tummy tuck better.
Both these surgeries should be performed only by skilled and experienced plastic surgeons who have a lot of knowledge about these procedures. Not doing so can lead to many complications in the patients.
Dr. BK Garg is a very famous plastic surgeon in Gurgaon who has years of experience in performing liposuction and tummy tuck surgery. He is considered one of the best surgeons for these surgeries in Gurgaon.