Liposuction or a Tummy Tuck?

• Posted on: Feb 15 2018
• By: sharpnet
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Most of us, unless you’re 21, have some issues with our lower abdomen, you know, our tummies. Whether it’s due to pregnancy and childbirth, weight gain and loss, or the simple sagging that comes with age, a stomach pooch is anything but rare. The question is — how do you get rid of the pooch, without calling the dogcatcher?

At Snodgrass and Robinson, we use two different procedures, depending on your particular circumstances — liposuction or a tummy tuck. While both procedures have the same goal, a tighter, more contoured stomach, they go about creating it in vastly different ways. Let’s see which one is right for you.

Liposuction could be all you need

Fat in the abdominal area is incredibly difficult to target. You could do one million crunches, planks, and other exercises. You could buy every device you see on late night infomercials promising “rock hard abs.” For most people, it does no good.

Liposuction targets these stubborn pockets of fat such as love handles, spare tires, and muffin tops. People like liposuction because, while it is invasive, it doesn’t demand the recovery periods of full surgery. The ideal liposuction candidate should be within 10% of his or her ideal body weight and have tried both diet and exercise to get rid of stubborn areas of fat. Liposuction is best for patients who also still have good elasticity in their stomach skin because their skin can easily adapt to the new slimmer contours created by removing the fat.

Or a tummy tuck could be the answer

If your skin and muscles in your abdominal area have been stretched for a long period, they usually can’t return to their former degree of tautness. Think of a rubber band that has been wrapped around a large item for a long time. When removed, it is permanently stretched. This happens with your abdominal skin and muscles. Your muscles can become separated. A tummy tuck improves the appearance of the midsection by removing loose, hanging abdominal skin and tightening the abdominal muscles for a well-contoured abdomen. This is particularly the case for women who have had children and others who have gained and lost large amounts of weight.

Or maybe both procedures are right for you

If you have issues with both excess fat and skin laxity in the abdominal area, we combine both liposuction and a tummy tuck as part of your body-contouring plan. Tummy tuck procedures often include some degree of liposuction because it is a more effective way to remove fat pockets.

Have to lose the weight on your own

It’s important to remember that neither liposuction nor tummy tucks are weight loss procedures. Drs. Snodgrass and Robinson want their patients for liposuction or tummy tuck procedures to be within 10 percent of their ideal body weight.

Don’t waste your money on the latest infomercial guaranteeing “rock hard abs.” Call us at Snodgrass and Robinson Plastic Surgery Specialists instead, (706) 622-4941, and set up a consultation.

Posted in: Liposuction, Tummy Tuck