Tummy Tuck or Liposuction? Or maybe a combination of the procedures? Which one will give you a flat stomach and beach-ready body? Here is a short compendium on qualifications for abdominal improvement procedures to help you find more than just fat removal. We will answer the most frequently asked question: Will liposuction give you a flat stomach?

Many patients that come to our clinic often ask about the best method to deal with an unappealing belly caused by excess skin. Pregnancy, health issues, and other life events can take a toll on our bodies’ transformation in the most unexpected ways. Because of the various situations and circumstances seen with patients, it’s difficult to provide the best solution over a phone call. Your initial consultation with a certified plastic surgeon will entail a thorough assessment of your body composition, which provides us with the possibilities and indications for a given method. 

LIPOSUCTION

Whenever we talk about liposuction surgical procedures, we always mention that it is not a weight-loss method, but rather a body contouring approach. It allows for the removal of localized excess fat cells in areas such as the abdomen, chin, waist, inner or outer thighs, which can often lead to an attractive, flat stomach. Here are some before and after examples. You will lose weight by doing the fat transfer, but it will be up to you to maintain results, implementing a healthy diet and exercise.

THE FAT REDUCTION PROCESS

Usually, liposuction is performed under local or intravenous anesthesia, enabling the patient to go home the same day. After the procedure, tiny scars may remain, becoming virtually invisible with time. Usually, the recovery period does not exceed a few days, with swelling and bruising staying for up to two weeks, and the post-treatment pain is comparable to the annoyance of bruising after a fall. Many patients find relief from a compression garment after removing fat to reduce swelling and discomfort.

Depending on the liposuction method and the patient’s age, we can perform tumescent liposuction, smart lipo, or lipo 360 – all innovative treatments of body enhancement and contouring. Smart Lipo is laser liposuction with simultaneous skin shrinkage, giving the effects of fat removal and skin tightening all at the same time. However, tightening the large excess of loose skin that remains after liposuction may not be achievable even with laser beams and requires additional surgical correction. The solution to that problem is abdominoplasty, commonly referred to as Tummy Tuck.

 

ABDOMINOPLASTY

Abdominoplasty, or Tummy Tuck, is performed when the abdominal tissues are very flabby and there is virtually no chance of skin tightening with a laser. An abdominoplasty can simultaneously correct other postoperative scars and treat hernias so there are multiple benefits to the tummy tuck procedure. Since cuts are made in the suprapubic area and around the navel, the flap is dissected, and excess skin with adherent fatty tissue is removed from the lower abdomen—horizontal scar forms in the lower abdomen that is usually easy to hide with underwear. Abdominoplasty is performed under general anesthesia with a more demanding recovery time than in the case of liposuction. All efforts, such as strength training, lifting, and other strenuous activities should be avoided for the next several weeks after the surgery due to post-surgery weak abdominal muscles.

Combining Weight Loss & Tummy Tuck

As you can see, both methods of abdominal correction aim at the same effect – a beautiful and flat stomach. However, each of them enables the reduction and improvement of slightly different defects. In many cases, Tummy Tuck is combined with liposuction, which indeed gives spectacular results. The downside of this will be less minimal scarring and a lengthier recovery time. Because neither one of them is designed for weight loss, proper nutrition, regular exercise, and regulating all issues related to hormones and metabolism is essential before the procedures so you can enjoy the beautiful body and… health for as long as possible. Nothing is more important than the safety of patients while they achieve a flat stomach.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF THE COMBO TREATMENT?

Liposuction and Tummy Tuck allow you to achieve excellent visual effects – a noticeable reduction of excess abdominal fat and consequently, an improvement to the entire silhouette. After the procedure, patients experience a significant boost in confidence, life satisfaction, and joy, becoming more active in both their social and professional lives.

Although plastic surgery brings immediate results, every patient should be aware that further abdominal modeling is possible only by incorporating the proper diet and exercise into their daily routine.

WHEN ARE THE EFFECTS OF LIPOSUCTION AND TUMMY TUCK VISIBLE?

Abdominoplasty combined with liposuction is a highly effective method of body contouring. Unfortunately, like any surgical procedure, the combination of liposuction and Tummy Tuck is often associated with a lengthy recovery period. The final effects will be noticeable only after the wounds are completely healed.

CAN I GET A FLAT STOMACH WITH LIPOSUCTION ONLY?

While the most appropriate answer to this question would be “it depends”, liposuction alone can undoubtedly give you a flat belly. Laser liposuction, or Smart Lipo, can be particularly helpful in reducing fat while promoting skin tightening at the same time, providing life-changing results. The beauty of liposuction in the abdominal area lies in sculpting and shaping your belly without intruding on the aesthetically pleasing curves in the rest of your body, but sometimes there is too much excess skin to rely solely on the liposuction performed.  In these situations, most plastic surgeons will recommend a tummy tuck procedure in addition to your belly fat removal for the ideal results.

Every one of us has some amount of subcutaneous and visceral fat, and the exact amount depends on many factors, including genetic predispositions, nutrition habits, age, and physical activity. Subcutaneous fat is the target of liposuction – pinch your stomach, and you can feel how much of that excess fat is present in your abdomen. Visceral fat lies inside your abdomen cavity and can only be eliminated through proper exercise and diet. For those reasons, rigorous physical activity and adequate nutrition are sometimes unable to combat the unappealing belly that forms due to the subcutaneous abdominal fat.

Summary

Removing excess fat and excess skin is a viable method of achieving a flat stomach, assuming the issues lie in the subcutaneous fat. Liposuction is often the best way to obtain a flat stomach, but schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area to find out. 

Feel free to read our article on how much does liposuction cost in NYC?