Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck: Why Both Is Often Best

Do you need liposuction or a tummy tuck? The surgical procedures address very different concerns. As body contouring specialists who use advanced techniques developed and honed at The Wall Center, our unique approach often combines those procedures to create exceptional results that set our practice apart from other plastic surgeons.

Comparing Tummy Tuck and Liposuction Procedures

If you’re a good liposuction candidate, you may not need a tummy tuck. But tummy tuck surgery is often combined with liposuction to produce stunning results.

Tummy tuck surgery is recommended if you have loose, sagging skin, such as after pregnancy or significant weight loss. SAFELipo® liposuction on its own is best if your skin remains firm and you want to sculpt more attractive contours.

What Is SAFELipo Liposuction?

SAFELipo uses a 3-step process to remove the maximum amount of fat without creating the contour deformities many other liposuction techniques generate.

SAFELipo 3-Step Process:

• Separation: The surgeon gently separates fat globules from each other using a vibrating cannula in power-assisted liposuction. This approach avoids damage to blood vessels and adjacent tissue. It also doesn’t pose the risk of burns that may result when using laser, ultrasound, or radiofrequency energy to “melt” fat.
• Aspiration: The thinner, smaller cannulas used with SAFELipo leave behind a thin, healthy layer of fat. This approach is less traumatic and keeps blood vessels intact, which minimizes or eliminates bruising, decreases post-op swelling, and prevents excessive internal scarring.
• Fat Equalization: After the surgeon removes targeted fat globules, the remaining layer of fat provides a barrier preventing the skin from attaching to the underlying muscle fascia. This is the key to creating smooth results without dimpled, wavy, or uneven skin.

A December 2016 study in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, the journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, demonstrated the efficacy and safety of SAFELipo.

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A Next-Level Tummy Tuck With SAFELipo®360

Abdominoplasty—usually called a tummy tuck—performed at The Wall Center does much more than remove excess abdominal skin. That’s because we typically combine a tummy tuck with SAFELipo®360, an innovative liposuction technique developed by Dr. Simeon Wall Jr. Combining SAFELipo360 with a tummy tuck not only removes excess skin but also contours and shapes the back, waist, hips, buttocks, and thighs at the same time, creating an ideal silhouette that can’t be matched using traditional techniques. In an earlier blog post, we wrote about why combining a tummy tuck with SAFELipo is so effective.

Attention to Detail

The incision location and the appearance of the belly button after a tummy tuck are often overlooked when patients view before and after photos. But they are critical factors in producing successful results. The incisions made by our surgeons result in scars that are remarkably low—so low that they’re concealed by even the skimpiest of bikini bottoms. The Wall Center surgeons also close incisions using an advanced technique that minimizes tension, further reducing the appearance of scars. We also provide detailed aftercare instructions that, when closely followed, help ensure your incisions heal nicely.

Tummy tuck surgery also involves creating a new opening for the umbilical stalk, where surgeons create a new belly button. The techniques used by our surgeons ensure the results look beautiful and natural, avoiding the slit or circular results that some surgeons produce.

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Liposuction vs Tummy Tuck Recovery Time

The gentle nature of SAFELipo minimizes swelling and bruising after the procedure, and our liposuction patients can generally expect to return to work after just a couple of days. They typically feel back to normal in less than a week. A tummy tuck is more invasive and requires a longer recovery. The downtime is a bit longer if the surgeon tightens abdominal muscles during the procedure. Most of our body contouring patients return to normal activities 3 weeks after the surgery.

Take the Next Step

Our surgeons offer patients a path to the best possible results, which look harmonious and beautiful from all angles. Often, the best approach involves combining procedures, including tummy tuck and SAFELipo.

To get started on your enhanced body contouring journey at The Wall Center, please request a consultation using the online form or call us at (318) 795-0801 to schedule an appointment.