What’s the Difference Between a Tummy Tuck and Liposuction?
Although there are some similarities between the tummy tuck and liposuction, they are two very different treatments. The tummy tuck is designed to flatten the stomach. During this procedure, fat and skin tissue is removed, and the muscles are re-shaped. On the other hand, liposuction is solely used to remove fat from the patient’s body.
While the tummy tuck is a very specific treatment for one area of the body, liposuction is performed on many body parts. The aim is to get rid of stubborn pockets of fat that don’t disappear even though the patient is leading a healthy lifestyle and is no longer overweight. Sometimes, the two procedures are combined to achieve the desired results.
The Tummy Tuck
After childbirth or menopause, many women no longer have the smooth, flat stomach of their youth. The tissue in the abdominal area is particularly prone to sagging, and many people experience loose skin or stubborn pockets of fat they can’t get rid of with diet or exercise. The tummy tuck in Kansas City is the perfect treatment for these people because it smooths out the stomach.
Every procedure is unique, and we’ll discuss your cosmetic concerns during your initial consultation. If you have a small amount of tissue, we might opt for a mini tummy tuck, which only addresses issues below the belly button. On the other hand, we might offer you a full tummy tuck if you’re worried about the entire abdominal area. This involves re-positioning the belly button, removing excess skin and fat, and re-shaping the muscles.
What Is the Treatment Like?
The operation takes between two and four hours, depending on how much tissue is removed. General anesthesia isn’t usually necessary, so you’ll likely be conscious during the operation. We start by numbing the treatment area and marking the incision sites. Then, we carefully remove any excess tissue, put permanent stitches in your abdominal muscles, and close the incisions.
You need to take several weeks off work to recover from your treatment. If you have a desk job, you might be able to go back after a week or two, but if your work involves physical activity, you might need to stay at home for three weeks or more. During the recovery process, you wear a compression garment every day. In the beginning, you won’t be allowed to move around much, but as time goes by, you’ll slowly return to your regular exercise routine.
Who’s a Good Candidate?
Contrary to popular opinion, the tummy tuck isn’t a weight loss measure. We can’t remove more than a few pounds of tissue from your stomach. If you’re obese or overweight, you might not be a good candidate because you’re still far from your target weight. Use holistic measures like dietary changes and regular exercise to lose weight first. Once you’re close to your goal, you can come to the clinic and ask us about the tummy tuck.
This treatment is ideal for people who have lost a lot of weight or had a baby and are now struggling to get rid of extra skin and fat on their stomachs. Patients who are in good general health and don’t have serious health issues are eligible. The tummy tuck in Kansas City is only suitable for women who are done having children because pregnancy affects the shape of the stomach. If you have another baby after the procedure, your results might be lost.
Expected Results
Because the excess tissue is cut away, you’ll immediately notice that your body looks different after the tummy tuck. However, the body needs several weeks to adjust to the new situation, so your shape will continue to change. Wear your compression garment during the first three to six weeks, since it helps your tissues to stay in place while your body is recovering from the operation.
The results from the tummy tuck are permanent, as long as you maintain a healthy diet and avoid gaining a lot of weight. Because some of your fat cells have been removed, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever struggle with the shape or size of your stomach again. However, it’s important to take good care of your body and lead a healthy lifestyle since your results might change if you fail to maintain your weight.
Liposuction
When people lose a lot of weight, they expect excellent results. Unfortunately, they are often disappointed. Although it’s possible to lose hundreds of pounds, the body sometimes has trouble adjusting to the new situation. Some stubborn pockets of fat are likely to remain, even though the patient has spent months eating right, exercising, and working with healthcare professionals to improve their lifestyle.
If you’ve lost a lot of weight but aren’t able to shift those last few pounds, liposuction could be the perfect solution for you. During this treatment, excess fat tissue is removed from the body. We can remove up to eight pounds of tissue per operation. Liposuction is often performed on the arms, legs, waist, buttocks, and stomach.
What Is the Treatment Like?
It might take us one to four hours to perform liposuction. We start by numbing your treatment site and injecting a substance that eliminates the most common side effects. Then, we insert cannulas and attach them to a suction device. Your excess tissue is removed from the body, and the incision is closed. You might have to spend a few hours at the clinic for observation, but it’s unlikely that you’ll have to stay overnight.
For the first two to three days after the procedure, you have to rest at home. Avoid any strenuous activities, and wear your compression garment. By the end of the first week, you’ll be able to walk around and do gentle stretches. After three to five weeks, you can resume most of your regular activities, although you might still have to skip high-intensity workouts.
Who’s a Good Candidate?
Like the tummy tuck, liposuction isn’t meant to replace a comprehensive weight loss program. Patients who haven’t reached their weight loss goals aren’t eligible. They might need to work with personal trainers, nutritionists, and weight loss specialists before coming to the clinic. Once they’re within 10-20 pounds of their target, they are good candidates for liposuction.
We carefully evaluate each person’s health records before approving them for surgery. People who have a medical issue like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or high blood pressure aren’t eligible. Those who aren’t willing to stop smoking can’t take part, and people who have an addiction or serious mental health issues might not be great candidates. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding have to wait until their child is older.
Expected Results
The recovery time of liposuction is similar to that of the tummy tuck. Right after treatment, you’ll notice that your treatment area looks different than before. However, it takes the body several weeks or even months to fully adjust to the new situation and to distribute the tissues correctly. We’ll ask you to come to the clinic several times for follow-up appointments, so we can check that the recovery is going as planned.
Adult bodies have a set number of fat cells. When some of them are removed, it’s unlikely that they will come back. However, the patient’s shape might change if they gain a lot of weight. That’s why people have to keep exercising and eating a healthy diet, even after they’ve undergone surgery. As long as they maintain their weight, the results of liposuction are permanent.
Can Both Treatments Be Combined?
Sometimes, patients suffer from a combination of loose tissue and excess fat. In this case, the two treatments can be combined. During the initial consultation, we discuss the person’s cosmetic concerns and their ideal results. Then, we determine whether one of these treatments is suitable or whether they should be combined.
If you want to get treatment in more than one area, we might ask you to come to the clinic several times. Usually, it’s possible to get liposuction in three to four body parts during one appointment. However, we can only safely remove a small amount of tissue, so treating all areas of the body at the same time is impossible.
Getting Liposuction or a Tummy Tuck in Kansas City
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you believe that liposuction or a tummy tuck could be right for you. We work with patients of all ages and backgrounds, and you might be eligible even if you’ve had medical issues in the past. The process starts with the initial consultation, during which we draw up a comprehensive treatment plan.
We offer a range of options at the clinic, so you aren’t limited to just the tummy tuck and liposuction. We can also augment your breasts, perform a Brazilian butt lift, and help you get rid of the visible signs of aging in the face.
What If I’m Not Eligible?
If you find out that you’re not a good candidate for the tummy tuck and liposuction, you might initially be disappointed. However, other treatment options might work well for you. We offer minimally invasive options, which don’t involve surgery and are therefore suitable for people with medical issues and those who can’t take time off work to recover from treatment.
At Mia Bella Donna Medspa, we regularly perform laser resurfacing and SculpSure. The former treatment tightens and tones the skin and slows down the aging process. The latter is a minimally invasive body contouring method that eliminates unwanted fat with the help of a laser device. It’s suitable for almost anyone because it doesn’t involve surgery or the use of abrasive chemicals.
Achieve Your Perfect Body Shape Now
Every year, thousands of patients get liposuction or a tummy tuck in Kansas City. The two treatments are similar in some ways, but they address different issues. While the tummy tuck is ideal for people who have excess skin and fat tissue on their stomach, liposuction removes stubborn pockets of fat in the arms, legs, buttocks, hips, and stomach. Get in touch with us at Aesthetic Surgical Arts/ Mia Bella Donna Medspa in Overland Park, KS to find out more.
