Whether you have lost a significant amount of weight or given birth, there is a chance that you have loose abdominal skin. To restore your figure, you may be considering either a tummy tuck or a liposuction. While each procedure is a great way to smooth out your midsection, they aren’t exactly the same. So, which one is right for you? To help answer this question, let’s look at the differences between the two procedures.
Liposuction
If you are looking to remove pouches of fat resistant to diet and exercise without a long recovery, liposuction may be a great choice. With liposuction, Dr. Elisa Burgess can remove stubborn abdominal fat using a less-invasive technique. Sometimes, Dr. Burgess is able to do VASER liposuction. This is an ultrasonic technique that sonicates the fat into smaller particles for gentle removal. Although it does require some recovery time, it is much shorter than recovering from a tummy tuck. On average, most patients are able to return to work after just a few days to a week of rest with minimal scarring. Unfortunately, liposuction does not help in tightening skin so a patient with a lot of loose skin prior to surgery may not be a great liposuction candidate.
Tummy Tuck
For those who have excess skin around their abdomen, the tummy tuck may be a better option. Also known as an abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that removes loose skin and excess fat from the middle and lower part of the abdomen. During the procedure, Dr. Burgess also tightens the underlying muscles, giving you a more contoured look. Though recovery from the procedure can take several weeks, it is well worth it for the results. Compared to liposuction, a tummy tuck will leave a larger scar, extending from hip to hip.
Combining the Procedures
While each of these procedures are great, many patients choose to have both at the same time. This is ideal for patients who want to achieve dramatic results by tightening their skin and abdominal muscles, removing stubborn fat, and sculpting their overall figure. Liposuction can also be performed on other areas of the body including back, and inner & outer thighs.
Schedule Your Body Contouring Consultation Today
If you want to know more about our body contouring procedures, call Burgess Plastic Surgery today at 503-699-6464 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Burgess. We are proud to serve patients living in Portland, Lake Oswego, and surrounding Oregon communities.
