Each year, plastic surgeons in the U.S. perform over 130,000 tummy tucks, making it one of the five most popular cosmetic procedures. Because the tummy tuck can fix cosmetic and medical concerns, it’s no wonder that it is such a sought-after cosmetic procedure.
For patients with an excessive amount of extra, loose skin surrounding their abdomen, the tummy tuck can remove this skin and provide a tighter, more aesthetically pleasing waistline. The procedure also tightens stretched abdominal muscles, which increases the structural support to the abdominal organs and spine. This improves posture, relieves back pain, and reduces other medical complications like hernias.
At his gold-standard plastic surgery practice in Newport Beach and La Jolla, CA, Dr. Tim Sayed is often asked how tummy tuck results can be further improved.
One way to dramatically improve the results from a tummy tuck is by combining the procedure with liposuction. Here, Dr. Sayed discusses the different motivations patients have for undergoing a tummy tuck and how liposuction can be a beneficial addition to the operation.
Why Do Patients Choose a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck is performed either out of choice, to improve the abdomen’s aesthetic appearance, or out of necessity to solve medical complications caused by excess skin and tissue.
Aesthetic Tummy Tuck
Most tummy tuck patients choose the procedure for aesthetic reasons. After pregnancy or significant weight loss, the skin surrounding the lower abdomen can become stretched, loose, and unsightly, which motivates patients towards a tummy tuck. (In fact, two of the fundamental procedure in a mommy-makeover are the tummy tuck and liposuction!).
Combining liposuction in the right patient can help enhance the waistline, improve the flatness of the abdomen, reduce extra bulges around the flanks, and add definition to the skin surface, in some cases simulating a more fit-appearing, muscular abdomen. For some patients, getting high-definition liposuction will further improve the results.
Liposuction in certain zones of the abdomen must be done with caution, especially if patients with higher body mass index (BMI) and in the upper central area, due to blood supply and wound healing precautions.
Partner with a Body Contouring Expert
Adding liposuction to your tummy tuck can significantly improve the results of either aesthetic or medical procedures. If you are still unsure whether you should combine the procedures or not, please reach out to Dr. Tim Sayed in Newport Beach or La Jolla, CA, at (858) 247 2933 or via this online form to arrange an in-person or virtual consultation today.
