Choosing Between a Tummy Tuck and Liposuction

A young brunette woman smiling in a blue top

Even with consistent diet and exercise, loose skin and pockets of fat often won’t go away. Sound familiar? If you’re struggling with slimming down, a body contouring procedure might give you the boost you need.

Liposuction and tummy tuck are popular choices with our Idaho Falls and Jackson-area plastic surgery patients for this very reason. These treatments work best when patients are close to their goal weight but need a little help on those last stubborn bulges.

Liposuction and tummy tucks both create great results—our before-and-after gallery can attest to that. But how do you decide which option is best for you? Read on for a few helpful tips.

Tummy tuck benefits

A tummy tuck is used to create a flat, toned midsection. During surgery, the doctor creates a hip-to-hip incision to sculpt the body by removing excess fat and skin. Tummy tucks are especially useful for treating a condition known as diastasis recti, an issue common after pregnancy wherein the abdominal muscles separate, creating a permanent “belly pooch.”

A tummy tuck can:

  • Tighten loose skin
  • Remove sagging folds
  • Define the waist
  • Repair stretched abdominal muscles

Ideal candidates are close to their goal weight and have excess skin or diastasis recti. They should not be planning future pregnancies.

Liposuction benefits

Liposuction is a procedure that uses a thin tube (called a cannula) to remove excess fat from a target area. The cannula suctions out fat cells and permanently removes them from the body. Treatment can be used to sculpt multiple areas, such as the waistline, abdomen, thighs, and arms. Liposuction is also frequently paired with other treatments, such as a mommy makeover, to create a more dramatic transformation.

Liposuction is able to:

  • Remove stubborn pockets of fat
  • Sculpt and contour multiple areas of the body

Ideal candidates should be close to their goal weight, want to reduce targeted areas of fat, and have reasonable skin elasticity.

Creating a better result

Tummy tuck and liposuction are often used for the same area of the body: the midsection. When these two procedures are combined, patients can slim their waistlines while also sculpting multiple problem areas. Less recovery time is required when both treatments are performed at once. This one-two punch can be a more comprehensive approach, creating noticeable, dramatic results.

A tummy tuck can help remove loose skin that can’t be removed otherwise, while liposuction can sculpt areas of the body that a tummy tuck alone can’t address. Both mothers and people who have experienced significant weight loss can benefit from this combination.

Overall, both of these procedures are excellent ways to give the “finishing touch” to a weight loss journey. Discuss your options with a board-certified plastic surgeon to find out what approach is right for you. If you would like to learn more about your tummy tuck and liposuction options here in Jackson Hole, request a consultation online or call the practice at (208) 881-5351.

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