When considering body contouring and sculpting, you may wonder whether you should choose a tummy tuck vs. liposuction. While both methods are well-known for removing belly fat, neither are weight-loss procedures and differ significantly.
A Tummy Tuck Restores Muscles While Removing Fat And Skin
After childbirth or losing a large amount of weight, you may experience a separation of the abdominal muscles, sagging skin, and stubborn fat. Unfortunately, these changes are only sometimes resolved with diet and exercise.
A tummy tuck is one of the few surgical procedures that effectively restores a sculpted, toned stomach by resolving the following concerns:
- Excess, sagging abdominal skin
- Weakened stomach muscles
- Stubborn abdominal fat
Ideal candidates for a tummy tuck are people who:
- Adhere to a healthy diet and exercise regimen but haven’t noticed an improvement in their midsection
- Struggle with sagging skin from weight loss or pregnancy
- Have distended stomachs from previous pregnancies
- Have had a C-section and currently have a bulging scar
At Core Aesthetics, we offer three tummy tucks:
- Standard, which addresses the upper and lower sections of the abdomen
- Mini, which only addresses the lower portion, from the navel and below
- Circumferential, which treats all areas of the stomach, waistline, flanks, and back
Which type of tummy tuck is best depends on how much excess skin is removed.
Liposuction Removes Fat For A Sculpted Stomach
Liposuction can help people who are fit and healthy combat stubborn pockets of localized fat. The procedure involves creating a tiny incision at the treatment site through which a cannula extracts the excess fat cells. Those cells are either discarded as waste or preserved for a future fat transfer procedure.
Removing stubborn belly fat with liposuction is an excellent way to achieve a slimmer belly, but it will not treat loose skin or drooping muscles. However, liposuction is often combined with a tummy tuck and other body sculpting treatments to maximize body contouring results.
The best candidates for a tummy tuck are people who:
- Are already at a stable weight
- Are mentally and physically healthy with no uncontrolled medical concerns
- Have good skin elasticity but are struggling with localized fat
- Are non-smokers
Dr. Kiwanuka has pioneered Functional Aesthetics, a modern and cutting-edge approach to aesthetic surgery, including liposuction. This treatment philosophy optimizes holistic outcomes by fusing beauty, wellness, fitness, and nutrition. The following modalities may be included as part of your liposuction treatment:
- EmSculpt, which produces targeted muscle contractions to disrupt stubborn fat and reshape the torso
- J-Plasma pairs radiofrequency energy with cold helium plasma to regenerate collagen
- VASER Hi-Def lipo uses potent ultrasound energy to restore contour definition
Tummy Tuck Vs. Liposuction: Which Is Best?
Both body contouring techniques produce long-lasting results. To compare the two:
- Liposuction removes fat from your midsection for a flatter stomach, while a tummy tuck creates a more toned and firm abdomen
- Liposuction recovery is five to seven days, while a tummy tuck requires up to three weeks of healing
- Liposuction is less expensive than a tummy tuck
- A tummy tuck addresses loose skin, but liposuction does not
At Core Aesthetics, we can help you determine which procedure best accomplishes your aesthetic goals. We cater to fitness-minded individuals who seek results-oriented treatments to elevate their self-care. They value their health and desire a holistic, balanced approach incorporating nutrition and athletics for unparalleled well-being.
