Liposuction and Tummy Tuck
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Houston and Katy, TX
Many patients require both skin-tightening and fat reduction in problem areas, especially after pregnancy or even following weight-loss. The combined liposuction and abdominoplasty procedure offer comprehensive contouring for patients seeking life-changing results. We specialize in skin tightening surgery and post-bariatric body contouring.
Contact us in Houston, Texas, to learn more about your body contouring options. Call us at (281) 579-5638.
Contents
Comprehensive Body Contouring
Dr. Bonnor has years of expertise in post-bariatric body contouring, a field of cosmetic surgery concerned with removing excess skin and fat from formally obese patients who have lost massive amounts of weight.[1] Mothers who wish to recover their “pre-baby” bodies might also be interested in a combined tummy tuck and liposuction procedure.
Can Liposuction and Tummy Tuck Be Done at the Same Time?
Yes. Abdominoplasty and liposuction can complement one another for truly transformational results.[2] A tummy tuck removes loose, excess skin, while tightening what remains. Under the skin, however, pockets of stubborn fat at the upper abdomen, under the bra line and flanks can undermine the sleek contours of your abdominoplasty.
Benefits of Liposuction
Liposuction is a relatively low-impact surgery, compared to abdominoplasty. When it is performed on its own, it can reduce stubborn pockets of fat from targeted areas and have patients mostly back to their regular routines within a week. Liposuction is not intended to be a weight loss procedure. However, patients who are near the end of their weight loss journey have successfully included liposuction in their aesthetic strategy to eliminate problem spots that are resistant to diet and exercise.[3] However, liposuction is not able to correct any lax and sagging skin that may remain after the procedure.
Benefits of Abdominoplasty
Our abdominoplasty procedure is also commonly known as a tummy tuck.
Tummy tucks are a more complex surgery than liposuction because it involves removing and repositioning loose, sagging skin and tightening muscle around the trunk of the body.[4] Patients who have had their skin overstretched because of dramatic fluctuations in weight, or because of a previous pregnancy, will see the best results from abdominoplasty.
A tummy tuck has a longer period of recovery than liposuction. It can take several months for the swelling to completely recede. But the results of abdominoplasty’s comprehensive contouring are truly transformative. The procedure is somewhat limited, however, when it comes to fat removal. This is where liposuction can enhance the results of abdominoplasty, by providing a smooth, sculpted area.
Qualified Candidates
Candidates for Liposuction
Liposuction patients seek to remove small, yet stubbornly persistent fat deposits from sections of the body that are resistant to the benefits of diet and exercise. Liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure.
Candidates for Abdominoplasty
Women who have been pregnant may struggle with lost “baby weight.” Skin that’s been stretched beyond its capacity to retract to a taut position hangs unflatteringly. Obese patients who have worked so hard to lose dozens of pounds may also face that same challenge.
Contact us to get the conversation started. You can schedule a consultation by calling our Houston offices at (281) 579-5638.
The Advantages of a Combined Procedure
Combining liposuction and abdominoplasty into a single body contouring procedure can create enhanced outcomes for patients who want transformative results. The two surgeries complement one another, with a tummy tuck providing essential skin tightening and liposuction sculpting and refining the body’s underlying shape.
Tips for a Smooth Recovery
- Fill prescriptions ahead of surgery
- Wear the recommended compression garment
- Have a trusted family member or friend assist you during the first days of recovery
- Stay well hydrated pre and post surgery
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need a tummy tuck or liposuction?
Both of these procedures have their advantages, and they are often performed together for an enhanced outcome. Liposuction is less involved and invasive than abdominoplasty. During liposuction, troublesome pockets of fat are removed from specific areas. Liposuction can contour a smooth silhouette by reducing bulges from the flanks, thighs, stomach and elsewhere—but liposuction does nothing to address the lax skin that frequently remains after fat removal or massive weight-loss. Abdominoplasty, on the other hand, is intended to address excess skin. During a tummy tuck, the sagging skin around the patient’s abdomen is carefully cut away. Then, the skin and muscles are tightened to fit snuggly about the body. When combined, a lipoabdominoplasty leaves a smooth shape that optimizes results.
Are the liposuction and abdominoplasty procedures similar?
Both abdominoplasty and liposuction are body contouring procedures. They sculpt and shape the body according to a patient’s goals. For patients who have undergone massive weight-loss, or for women who have been pregnant, either procedure may offer a remedy to unattractive rolls and folds of fat and skin. The surgeries are quite different in their approach, however. Abdominoplasty tightens skin and muscle around the trunk. Liposuction removes stubborn pockets of fat from discrete areas of the body.
References
- Regan JP, Casaubon JT. (2019). Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck). StatPearls Publishing, Treasure Island (FL). PMID: 28613712. Retrieved from: https://europepmc.org/article/NBK/NBK431058
- Venkataram J. (2008). Tumescent liposuction: a review. Journal of cutaneous and aesthetic surgery, 1(2), 49–57. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-2077.44159
- Hoyos A.E., Guarin D.E. (2020). High-Definition Body Contouring Using VASER-Assisted Liposuction. Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction pp 203-211. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26875-6_13
- Bellini, E., Grieco, M. P., & Raposio, E. (2017). A journey through liposuction and liposculture: Review. Annals of medicine and surgery (2012), 24, 53–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.10.024