Does a tummy tuck actually remove fat cells, yielding the same result as lipo?

Liposuction and a tummy tuck are really different procedures. A tummy tuck does remove fat cells, but it also removes excess abdominal skin too. It can if needed, tighten the abdominal wall muscles. It can also be combined with liposuction to sculpt a much better abdominal contour without risking creating new extra skin. Liposuction does remove fat cells permanently and can sculpt a new abdominal wall contour, but will not tighten skin. The scars of tummy tucks usually fade with time, but it usually will take a year. At that time if there is still an issue with the scar it can be treated as well. I always place the scar as low as I can which is below the bikini line, so while the scars can be long they are usually thin and hidden with any clothing and most swimsuits. A mini tummy tuck with liposuction should still be less money than a full tummy tuck, but really cost should not be the deciding factor, it should be the desired result you are looking for, as anything less, you may come to regret. I suggest seeking a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon that does both liposuction, tummy tucks and mini tucks to discuss the options. Sometimes the best choice isn't the shorter scar and recovery.

Tummy tuck and liposuction of the abdomen are vastly different procedures, and do not yield the same results. Tummy tucks tighten the skin, and liposuction removes fat and does not tighten the skin. To ask if a tummy tuck removes fat cells, the answer is yes, but only along the area of tissue that is removed (the lower abdomen), where it is removed along with the skin. This is not at all the same as liposuction. A tummy tuck scar can heal in a way that it is hard to notice, and easily hidden beneath bikini bottoms. How well or poorly the scar heals will depend on the surgeon's technique, whether or not you follow the postop instructions, and your own body's intrinsic healing properties (your genetics and condition of the tissue). If there is any skin laxity, the improved contour you can achieve with a tummy tuck is not comparable to the results achieved by liposuction alone. Lipo can leave the skin looking looser, though the overall contour would be flatter than before. If there is no loose skin, then liposuction alone is a great option, and can improve the contour with only tiny incisions. A mini tummy tuck is not necessarily less expensive than a full tummy tuck. (Different surgeons have different definitions of a mini tummy tuck. Some still do all of the internal tightening one would do with a full tummy tuck, just through a smaller incision. This would not be less expensive and could potentially take longer since you have limited visibility compared to a longer incision. Other surgeons only tighten below the belly button for a mini tummy tuck, and this would take less time and may be less expensive.) Regardless of a surgeons definition of a mini tummy tuck, when you add lipo to it, the combination would be unlikely to be cheaper than a full tummy tuck. Be wary of seeing a doctor who only offers lipo- Since lipo is their only tool, that is all they can offer even if it is not the best option for you. Without seeing you, or seeing photos, it is impossible to know which one would be a better option for you. Please see a board certified plastic surgeon (certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery) for a full consultation, to see what you are a good candidate for.