If you would like to attain a firm, flat tummy, but have had difficulty achieving that goal with diet and exercise, you may be a good candidate for plastic surgery. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Galiano offers a variety of procedures that can help his patients improve their midsection, with the two most popular being liposuction and tummy tuck. In this blog, he explains the differences between these surgeries so that you can make an informed decision about your care.
How Are Liposuction and Tummy Tuck Different?
Liposuction removes excess fat cells from targeted areas of your body, but it should not be confused with weight loss surgery. It is much more effective at helping patients who are close to their goal weight but have found a small amount of persistent fat. By suctioning out this fat, patients can finally achieve the contours they have been trying for with diet and exercise. Although liposuction may be used in many areas of the body, it is especially popular around the abdomen since fat storage is common in this region.
Meanwhile, tummy tuck (or abdominoplasty) focuses on removing the loose skin around the midsection. While sagging skin (sometimes called a “muffin top”) may be mistaken for fat, the truth is that no amount of diet and exercise can get rid of excess skin. By removing some of the skin and draping the remaining skin tightly around the stomach, Dr. Galiano can achieve impressive contours for his patients. He also reconnects abdominal muscles that have separated to give the stomach firm definition.
Which Is the Right Surgery for Your Abdomen?
Ultimately, the answer to this query depends on your cosmetic issues. If you have fat that is adding girth to your belly, then liposuction is the better option. If you have slimmed down with a healthy lifestyle or after a pregnancy and find that skin that previously stretched no longer fits snuggly around your new contours, tummy tuck is the better option.
During a consultation, Dr. Galiano will assess your midsection to determine whether loose skin or extra fat is the main culprit for your wider contours. Having a respected, professional plastic surgeon weigh in is the best way to achieve fantastic results.
Combining May Be the Best Option
Since some patients have both fat and loose skin around their stomach, Dr. Galiano often finds it appropriate to combine liposuction and tummy tuck for maximum effect. He is experienced at performing these surgeries at the same time for a thorough and natural-looking transformation. After all, there is no reason to remove excess fat if loose skin is just going to obscure your newly thinner frame.
Schedule a Consultation
To learn more about body contouring procedures like liposuction and tummy tuck, please make an appointment with Dr. Galiano, an elite plastic surgeon in Chicago. Call 312-926-4382 to arrange a time that is convenient for you.
