Body Contouring Options – Liposuction vs Tummy Tuck

Body contouring is a way to sculpt the body curves into a more attractive profile. Whether you are looking to add a bit of curve to areas like the breasts or buttocks, or slim down areas like the hips or midsection, there are plastic surgery procedures to help you achieve your aesthetic goals. When it comes to getting rid of stubborn fat that will not respond to diet and exercise, you have a couple of good options available.

Liposuction

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that eliminates isolated pockets of fat from various areas of the body. Common locations for the procedure include the abdomen, hips, thighs and back. However, smaller fat deposits can also be removed from areas like the upper arms, neck and chin. There are a variety of liposuction techniques available, allowing the plastic surgeon to customize treatment to the patient’s specific needs and the treatment area.

Liposuction is a good body contouring option for the following reasons:

• Eliminate small pockets of fat that have not responded to diet and exercise
• Reduce extra bulges and rolls without an excess of loose skin
• Address isolated fat deposits on patients that have attained a healthy weight
• Done in conjunction with other procedures to enhance body contouring results

Liposuction is an effective method of body contouring, but it does have limits. This procedure can only remove around 11 pounds of unwanted fat; additional fat should be addressed through a different surgical procedure. Liposuction also does not address significant amounts of loose, hanging skin and may even make this issue more pronounced in some patients.

Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and tissue from the midsection, while tightening abdominal muscles that have become lax due to pregnancy and weight gain. The procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia and involves a longer recovery period than liposuction. However, the results are also more dramatic.

A tummy tuck may be the right choice for the following concerns:

• Significant laxity in the abdominal muscles due to pregnancy or significant weight gain
• Excess, loose skin caused by massive weight loss
• A protruding abdomen that is out of proportion with the rest of the body profile
• Stretch marks between the navel and the pubic area

Recovery after a tummy tuck usually takes 2-4 weeks, so it is a procedure you need to plan and prepare for. However, the results of this procedure will be dramatic and long-lasting. Like liposuction, a tummy tuck is not a weight loss procedure and is generally recommended to patients that have already achieved a healthy weight.

If you are ready to enhance your body contour, Dr. Rappaport can help. He offers a wide variety of body contouring procedures at his Houston office and will help you find the right treatment to meet your aesthetic goals. For more information, contact Houston Center for Plastic Surgery at (713) 790-4500.