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Tummy tuck surgery removes excess fat on the lower stomach, but it does not address the surrounding areas, such as the upper abdomen, hips, buttocks, and thighs.
Only liposuction can effectively remove pockets of fat from the neighboring areas.
Woman relaxing on the beach and showing off her toned midsection.
Liposuction is commonly performed alongside tummy tuck surgery to enhance the results of your tummy tuck.
What Does Tummy Tuck Accomplish?
Tummy tuck surgery is performed for men and women with abdominal laxity.
This surgery tightens abdominal muscles, trims excess skin, and removes fat on the lower abdomen (often the area below the belly button).
This surgery is performed through an incision made across the lower abdomen from hip bone to hip bone, where it can be concealed beneath underwear and bathing suits.
What Does Liposuction Accomplish?
Liposuction permanently removes unwanted fat cells from localized pockets of fat.
These pockets can develop anywhere on the body, including the abdomen, love handles, waist, thighs, and buttocks.
Small incisions are made near the desired treatment area through which the cells are vacuumed out through a thin, hollow tube.
When Should These Be Performed Together?
While it is not required, most patients find the benefit in combining liposuction of the midsection with their tummy tuck to tighten the surrounding areas and maintain a balanced appearance.
Tummy tuck surgery is most commonly performed after pregnancy or significant weight loss.
Both of these situations contribute to the formation of fat cells on the lower abdomen, but they also contribute to fat growth on the upper abdomen, hips, thighs, and buttocks.
By performing this combination, there will be a smooth transition between the lower abdomen to the upper abdomen.
When Can Tummy Tuck Surgery Be Performed Without Liposuction?
Liposuction benefits nearly every tummy tuck procedure.
Tummy tuck surgery without the combination of liposuction is only recommended for specific circumstances.
One of these circumstances is when tummy tuck surgery is chosen solely to repair diastasis recti.
Diastasis recti is the separation of the abdominal muscles that is often experienced during or after pregnancy.
The abdominal muscles are separated into two sections—a left and a right. Healthy abdominal muscles are usually spaced a few centimeters apart.
During pregnancy, the expanding uterus pushes against the two sides of the ab muscles.
Occasionally, this pressure causes a rupture (or tearing) of the abdominal muscles, and this rupture does not repair itself when the uterus contracts back to its usual size.
This condition develops as a stomach pooch on the lower abdomen.
This pooch is strictly due to skin and muscles—it has nothing to do with fat—and therefore, liposuction would be of little benefit.
Find Out More
For more information or to find a tummy tuck or liposuction near you, contact PREMIERE Center for Cosmetic Surgery by calling (813) 400-1465 or by filling out our online contact form.
PREMIERE Center offers body contouring procedures for patients in Tampa, Florida, and its neighboring areas.