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Liposuction or Tummy Tuck: Which Is Right for You?

July 27, 2020 L.A. Vinas
Liposuction or Tummy Tuck: Which Is Right for You?

Your body is miraculous. Did you know the human nose can detect one trillion smells? Your stomach also has an important job in digesting food and producing energy. The gut is the largest hormone-producing organ, and this is part of the reason why eating can be so pleasurable. You need a healthy stomach to survive, but many people wish they had a flatter stomach for cosmetic reasons.

About 24% of men and 20% of women are satisfied with their weight. This leaves the vast majority of people unsatisfied with the way they look, and this can greatly lower their self-esteem and quality of life. Two procedures that can get rid of belly fat and give you a tight hourglass shape.

L.A. Vinas Plastic Surgery provides liposuction and tummy tucks to patients living in West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie, and Okeechobee, Florida. Here we explain the difference between the two so you can decide which is right for you.

When diet or exercise don’t work

You probably know diet and exercise are the keys to slimming down. But sometimes no matter how hard you work out or eat right, you still can’t get a flat tummy. There are many reasons this may occur like going through pregnancy or losing a  lot of weight. Some people’s genetics make it hard to lose fat, and this makes having a washboard stomach nearly impossible.

Luis Vinas, MD, is recognized as a top surgeon among South Floridians for his surgical expertise. If you’re looking for dramatic fat loss that’s resistant to dieting and exercise, Dr. Vinas may suggest you undergo liposuction or a tummy tuck.

Liposuction

Liposuction is a procedure that removes fat deposits from the abdomen, tummy, hips, or thighs. About 258,560 liposuction procedures were performed in 2018, making it the second most popular cosmetic treatment. It is a predictable outpatient procedure that carries minimal risks.

During liposuction, Dr. Vinas administers local anesthesia to keep you comfortable during your procedure. Next, he makes incisions in your fat pockets and uses a cannula to loosen them up. Lastly, he suctions out the fat cells and gently wakes you up from your procedure.

Do you have stubborn fat deposits but a good skin tone overall? If you answered yes, liposuction may be just what you need to get the bikini-ready in no time. Liposuction is a good option for people who:

  • Are within 20 lbs of their weight loss goal
  • Haven’t gone through pregnancy
  • Weren’t obese at some point
  • Don’t smoke
  • Are healthy overall

Most patients need two weeks to recover before they can return to work. By the sixth week following your treatment, most of the swelling and bruising resides to reveal your full results.

Tummy tuck

Significant weight gain or undergoing a pregnancy may cause sagging abdomen skin. In this case, a tummy tuck is needed to remove excess fat and skin. Tummy tucks are a more complicated procedure than liposuction, and 130,081 procedures were performed in 2018.

When you come in for your tummy tuck with Dr. Vinas, you can be comfortable and confident knowing you’re in good hands. Dr. Vinas starts your procedure by administering local anesthesia to put you to sleep.

Next, he makes an incision in the skin across your abdominal wall and may sew the abdominal muscles together if they’ve stretched. Dr. Vinas will pull the skin taut over your tummy and remove excess skin before closing off the incision with sutures.

Do you have sagging skin tone and bothersome fat in your abdomen? If yes, a tummy tuck may be a good option to get the flat stomach of your dreams. You may be a good candidate for a tummy tuck if you:

  • Don’t smoke
  • Have lost a lot of weight
  • Are healthy
  • Have excess fat in your stomach region
  • Are done having kids

Tummy tucks are more complicated than liposuction and generally take six weeks of recovery time. You’ll need to come in for several follow-up appointments with Dr. Vinas to make sure your incisions heal properly.

The bottom line

If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your stomach, undergoing liposuction or a tummy tuck can boost your confidence like never before. Those pesky fat pockets that have been resistant to diet and exercise can successfully be removed through one of these procedures with Dr. Vinas. The results are permanent, making it a cost-effective way to get the flat, sexy stomach you’ve always wanted.

Contact us to schedule your liposuction or tummy tuck consultation with Dr. Vinas.

Call your dermatologist or contact us to request an appointment if you notice any of these signs.
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