Cutting out Fat for Mini Tummy Tuck Instead of Liposuction?

Both procedures will remove abdominal fat- in the case of the tummy tuck, the skin and fat is removed en-bloc, while a liposuction procedure removes fat discontinuously. Both procedures are effective at improving abdominal contour, but must be applied to the right patient.

I seldom see a good candidate for a "mini tummy tuck".  The surgeon who performed your operation removed fat directly as is always done with a full or partial abdominoplasty.  He might also have employed liposuction to enhance your results.  Ask him.

The way the fat is removed when sculpting the abdomen depends on where it is located.  In a mini tummy tuck, there is usually excess skin located in the lower abdomen.  A smaller incision than a traditional tummy tuck will allow removal of this excess skin as well as any fat in that area.  However, there is usually some excess fat located laterally in the love handle region as well as superiorly in the upper abdomen.  Liposuction is a good option in removing this fat since no further incisions would have to be made.  Most plastic surgeons will combine liposuction with a mini tummy tuck to give the best result.  However, the choice of fat removal is dependent on each patient's individual needs and anatomy.