Are the risks of tummy tuck same as liposuction?

Tummy tucks and liposuction of the abdomen share certain risks such as injury to the skin which can cause scarring, failure to get desired results, seromas (little fluid filled pockets), or even hematomas (pockets of blood).  Generally however, tummy tucks tend to cause more problems because you are decreasing the blood supply to the skin at the same time when you are pulling down on the abdominal skin tightly.  Tummy tucks can have much larger seromas or hematomas than liposuction.  They certainly have longer incisions, and therefore have a greater potential for scarring than liposuction.  Infections are rare in both tummy tucks and liposuction, but when they occur, they are infinitely worse in tummy tucks leading to a large skin damage,and at times a need for skin grafting.The good news is both tummy tucks and liposuction, if done by a well trained and experienced Board Certified plastic surgeon yield excellent results and minimum to no complications.  I'm assuming the reason for this question is that you have been offered both an abdominal liposuction or a tummy tuck to correct your dissatisfaction with that portion of your anatomy.  My recommendation is worry less about complications and more about the quality of the surgeon doing the surgery.  If you need a tummy tuck, you need a tummy tuck and liposuctions rarely yield the same excellent results as a tummy tuck when a tummy tuck is required.

Since
liposuction and a tummy tuck are very different surgeries in terms of both
results and complexity, the risks will vary as well. However, both surgeries do
share some of the same risks—bleeding, infection, adverse reaction to
anesthesia—that are possible side effects of any surgery. Tummy tucks have more
concerns related to seroma (fluid buildup) and scarring compared to liposuction
because they’re a more involved surgery overall. In the big picture,
liposuction carries fewer chances of side effects than a tummy tuck, but that
doesn’t mean lipo is always preferable because problems like loose skin and
separated abdominal muscles can only be improved with a tummy tuck. The choice
of which surgery will be better for you depends on your goals and your anatomy.

The potential complications and expected outcomes of these two procedures are very different.  The indications for a tummy tuck are also different from those for liposuction.  Liposuction will do little to nothing to correct loose, stretched skin of the abdomen, whereas a tummy tuck's primary purpose is to eliminate excess skin and flatten the tummy.  Although liposuction can complement a tummy tuck, it usually cannot replace it.  I recommend you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon who can spend time with you explaining these differences in greater detail to give you the outcome you are looking for.

No--the risks of an abdominoplasty are generally higher than that of liposuction.  Wound healing or blood flow problems after liposuction are exceedingly rare, whereas they can happen after abdominoplasty. Also, the risk of a blood clot problem is higher with abdominoplasty, especially if the rectus muscles are tightened in the midline.  Both can be done safely and in the correct patient, yield an excellent result. Most people are a candidate for one or the other, but not both.  Best regards,-Erik Hoy, M.D.