{"id":12625,"date":"2020-01-03T13:34:23","date_gmt":"2020-01-03T21:34:23","guid":{"rendered":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/?p=12625"},"modified":"2024-02-29T10:05:13","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T18:05:13","slug":"tummy-tuck-or-liposuction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/tummy-tuck-or-liposuction","title":{"rendered":"Tummy Tuck vs. Liposuction: What\u2019s the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Changing the appearance of your midsection is not easy. From stubborn pockets of fat that just won’t go away to sagging skin that can’t bounce back to its original appearance, it can sometimes feel like the stomach is one area of the body that’s impossible to change. Oftentimes, no amount of exercise or dieting, no number of nonsurgical options—like Emsculpt<\/a> or CoolSculpting<\/a>—can get us the streamlined waist we’ve been after, which is when surgery becomes a more appealing option. <\/p>

Liposuction<\/a> and abdominoplasty<\/a>—better known as tummy tuck—are two of the more common choices for improving the appearance of the abdominal area. However, it can be difficult to know which procedure is right for you without understanding the key differences between the two. We tapped New York City board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Darren Smith<\/a> and Las Vegas board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Roth<\/a> for a full breakdown of each surgery. <\/p>

Interested in tummy tuck?<\/small><\/div>Find Doctors Near You<\/a><\/div>

What is the difference between a tummy tuck and liposuction?<\/strong><\/h2>

While the goal of abdominal liposuction and that of a tummy tuck are generally similar—to alter the appearance of the midsection—they’re two very different procedures. “<\/strong>A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a procedure designed to improve the contour of the abdomen,” says Dr. Smith. It includes removal of tissue—specifically fat and skin—and surgically stitching together separated abdominal muscles in order to sculpt the midsection. Tummy tucks address muscle separation issues, especially for patients who are post-pregnancy, to create a smoother, firmer abdominal area that’s free of any bulging or excess skin.   <\/p>

On the other hand, liposuction’s main purpose is fat removal. “Liposuction is the removal of fat cells using a cannula instrument—[which is a long, thin tube]—that is attached to a suction machine,” says Dr. Roth. The fat cells are physically removed from the body by suction, through the cannula, and are deposited into a canister. With liposuction, surgeons can remove fat from virtually any area of the body—not just the abdomen—and the procedure is often paired with a tummy tuck for those who have stretched out skin [in the abdominal area] that won’t retract once fat is removed.<\/p>

Related: 10 Doctors Give Their Best Liposuction Advice, in 10 Words or Less<\/a><\/em><\/p>

What happens during a tummy tuck versus liposuction?<\/strong><\/h2>

The surgical process for a tummy tuck and liposuction are very different. <\/p>

Tummy tuck<\/h3>

Warning: graphic content<\/em><\/p>

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Tummy tuck removes lax skin in the lower abdomen resulting from weight loss or from pregnancy. #tummytuck #plasticsurgery #cosmeticsurgery #abdominoplasty #instabeauty #picoftheday #video #wow #skin #amazing #transformation #drplano #plano #texas #christmas #wish<\/a><\/p>

A post shared by Dr. Plano ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐<\/a> (@drplano) on