Both the tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and liposuction procedures can offer big benefits to the body, especially in providing better contour and tone to certain areas. Many patients are often unclear about which procedure would better suit their individual needs.
While both can improve the contours of the abdominal area, they are not the same procedure at all. To understand which is right for your concerns, it’s important to learn the difference between these two body contouring surgeries. So, what will a tummy tuck do for you? And how does a liposuction differ?
What Does Liposuction Do?
The traditional liposuction procedure is performed to remove stubborn fat cells that remain collected in unwanted areas despite proper diet and exercise. It is typically performed using a thin tube called a cannula, which is inserted through incisions in the target area and maneuvered back and forth to break apart fat deposits. The fat cells are then suctioned up through the tube using a vacuum-like attachment and removed permanently from the body. Liposuction can be performed to improve the contour of many areas of the body, including the abdomen.
SmartLipo Triplex, a safer and less-invasive technique preferred by Dr. Rubinstein, performs this surgery in much the same way, with a few key improvements. During a SmartLipo procedure, laser fiber is attached to a small cannula, which is then inserted into the targeted area through incisions. Once inside, the laser fibers emit energy that liquefies the surrounding fat cells. These cells are then gently suctioned out. While the laser is working to melt away your fat, its energy also triggers collagen production in the nearby skin cells, tightening it gradually after your procedure is over. Some improvements are visible immediately, but your complete results will emerge gradually as your body heals. SmartLipo is also a procedure useful in many areas of the body, including the abdomen, back, breasts, buttocks, hips, knees, thighs, and upper arms.
Patients of SmartLipo procedures have a shorter recovery time, a reduced rate of complications, less pain and discomfort overall, minimized swelling, and faster results. Additionally, the tightening effect of the laser ensures there won’t be any loose skin left where fat once was.
Is SmartLipo Triplex Right for You?
Ideally, candidates for SmartLipo should be in good overall health, not smoke, and have realistic expectations for their surgical results. If you’ve been considering liposuction, it is a procedure that can be done on your abdomen as well as other areas of the body simultaneously. Many patients choose liposuction if they are only concerned with removing fat cells or if they want to melt away a little bit of fat from multiple trouble spots. Liposuction techniques of any kind will not help to tighten muscles or remove excess skin. While SmartLipo does have the added benefit of skin tightening while it works, this is not a good solution if you have large areas of loose skin which should be removed. Based on your own concerns, you and your plastic surgeon can discuss the benefits and limitations of SmartLipo Triplex to determine if it’s the right surgical fit for your body’s needs.
What Does a Tummy Tuck Do?
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a surgery designed to correct a protruding abdomen. During the procedure, excess fat and skin are removed, and weakened abdominal muscles are tightened. Because of the difficulty many men and women face trying to tone their abdomen with diet and exercise, the tummy tuck surgery is a highly popular choice. Women, especially, seek abdominoplasty after having children because of the strain and damage caused to this area by pregnancy and childbirth. Tummy tucks are also a popular choice among patients who have recently lost a significant amount of weight and discovered loose skin and fat deposits around their midsection.
The surgery begins with a U-shaped incision made along the pubic area, extending from one hip bone to the other. The skin is then separated from the abdominal wall, where the surgeon can access and tighten the underlying muscles with sutures. Excess fat is then removed from the area, sometimes using liposuction techniques. Your surgeon will then place a second incision around the navel, which is reconstructed in a more natural-looking location on your newly flattened tummy. Finally, the skin is replaced, the excess is removed, and drains may be placed in the area to help with fluid removal. The incisions are then closed and bandages are applied to the area. The entire procedure typically lasts from two to five hours and is performed under general anesthesia.
Is a Tummy Tuck Right for You?
If you have experienced loosened muscles and skin, as well as stubborn fat deposits, in your abdomen, a tummy tuck procedure can help you to address each of these issues with one surgery. Patients should be in good physical health and have a reasonable expectation of their tummy tuck results. This procedure is not intended for individuals who are planning or working toward future weight loss or women who intend to have future pregnancies. Results of the tummy tuck procedure can be affected by these drastic changes, so patients with these intentions will be asked to delay their surgery.
The tummy tuck procedure is different from liposuction in its multi-layered approach. Instead of just removing the fat to get results, this surgery goes deeper to improve the tone of the muscles and create a better contour to the entire abdomen. Not all patients need this extensive enhancement, but for the right patient, a tummy tuck can create amazing results.
Choosing Your Abdominal Procedure
Which body contouring procedure, or combination thereof, suits your needs the best? Find out by scheduling an initial consultation with a plastic surgeon specializing in these treatments. At Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists, Dr. Ran Rubinstein can help you to achieve your best results. With VECTRA 3D Imaging, your consultation will give you an accurate look at the projected results of your SmartLipo treatment.
Renowned facial plastic surgeon Dr. Ran Rubinstein at Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists of Newburgh, New York. Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists is the only specialty plastic surgery practice in the Hudson Valley area with an on-site joint commission certified surgical suite. To contact Dr. Rubinstein, please call 845-863-1772. Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists is located at 200 Stony Brook Court #2 in Newburgh, New York.
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