Liposuction & Tummy Tuck Surgery - What's The Difference?

Tummy tuck and liposuction are both surgical methods to enhance the appearance of the stomach. The goal of the procedures is to make your midsection smaller, flatter, and tighter. Since both these methods are considered cosmetic, they are carried out by plastic surgeons.

Difference between a tummy tuck and liposuction – 

1. Liposuction removes excess fat deposits from the body and improves body contour. Tummy tuck, on the other hand, corrects gaps between muscles below the navel and loose skin in the tummy.

2. It is suitable for healthy individuals with elastic skin. They should also be within 30% of their ideal weight range. Liposuction is best for women with loose skin due to multiple pregnancies. Tummy tuck is very helpful to reshape the tummy, whereas Liposuction is more useful to sculpt any body part.

3. Liposuction takes around two hours. A tummy tuck takes anywhere between 1 and 5 hours.

4. In Liposuction, small incisions are made and then the area is covered with saline and pain medication. A cannula is then inserted to dislodge fat and then suction it out.

In a tummy tuck procedure, the navel is separated from the abdominal wall and then the excess tissue is removed.

Benefits of Liposuction -

Liposuction can be used to combat certain problems in addition to its cosmetic benefit –

1. Gynecomastia – fat accumulation in a man’s breasts

2. Lymphedema – Accumulation of excess fluid in body tissues

3. Drastic weight loss after obesity – This can lead to excess skin which can be corrected with liposuction

4. Lipomas – fatty tumours

Benefits of a Tummy tuck -

1. It can help with urinary stress incontinence. Studies have indicated that women who have not undergone a C-section can benefit from a tummy tuck procedure.

2. If a woman has had multiple pregnancies and her stomach muscles have become loose, then this procedure can help. It can correct weak muscles and make the abdomen flat.

3. A ventral hernia can be corrected with a tummy tuck. This is primarily caused by weak abdominal muscles, something that this procedure can combat.

4. Discharge is given within two days in both surgeries, but tummy tuck removes excess skin so it's more useful for post pregnancy and post weight loss cases, rather liposuction is useful for tighter skin.

Both the procedures are aimed to improve how your tummy looks, but their results vary. Liposuction is a simple procedure whereas a tummy tuck is a more serious operation, so consult a doctor to determine which is suitable for you.