Body Contouring: Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck

Men and women who are seriously interested in body sculpting know by now that, in many cases, diet and exercise alone can’t attain that coveted chiseled physique. While many individuals do experience significant weight loss and greater physical fitness by hitting the gym and watching what they eat, fat in certain areas and excess skin in the abdomen may not respond to such regimens. Therefore, in order to get a step closer to reaching that ultimate level of aesthetic perfection, body contouring surgeries such as liposuction and tummy tucks can help.

Tummy tucks are used to remove excess skin from the abdomen to give a flatter, more toned appearance. Skin around the stomach can be stretched out from pregnancy or weight gain and, in most cases, can’t be restored to its original tautness without surgery. If your belly protrudes significantly when you relax your abdominal muscles, a tummy tuck may be able to help. Likewise, if you have a small amount of excess skin just above your pubis line, you may benefit from a mini-tummy tuck.

Liposuction is another popular body contouring procedure. Like tummy tuck surgery, liposuction is often used to smooth and flatten the abdomen. However, liposuction isn’t limited to the stomach—it can also be used on the neck, upper arms, breasts, hips, back, thighs, buttocks and knees. Advanced liposuction technologies—such as laser assisted liposuction or ultrasound assisted liposuction—allows doctors to actually shape the fat beneath the skin to create natural looking contours, which is why liposuction is often called “fat sculpting.”

Depending on your situation, you may be able to achieve results from a tummy tuck, liposuction or a combination of both. For more information, contact a local plastic surgeon to discuss your options. Dr. William P. Aiello, a Newport Beach liposuction doctor, offers free consultations in person or online. Simply call to schedule an appointment or attach photos of the areas you’d like treated and email them to info@oceanplasticsurgery.com.