Are you one amongst the millions who have tried everything under the sun – from strict dieting to a gruelling exercise regimen – and yet are not able to get your dream figure. This may be due to stubborn fat deposits. As they say, where there is a will, there is a way. With the increase in the number of people wanting to get the perfect body shape, there has been an equal increase in the number of surgical interventions that promise the same.
Some of the most common plastic surgery procedures around the world like tummy tuck surgery, liposuction and body sculpting focus on this specific need of the people. But, the most important thing to keep in mind is, whether you are looking at liposuction surgery or tummy tuck, these are not weight loss procedures. They simply help you to get a better body shape, by removing the excess fat from specific parts of your body.
Do you want to know more about these specific procedures, before making up your mind, whether or not they are right for you? Below is a simple introduction to both the procedures
Liposuction
The liposuction procedure works on the principle of sucking out the excess fat from deposits in specific areas in the body like the thighs, buttocks, hips and abdominal area. It is an invasive surgical procedure and works only on the targeted area. During the liposuction surgery, your surgeon will give you an intravenous general anaesthesia.
After numbing the target area, the surgeon will make small incisions around the targeted deposit. Using these incisions, they will insert a small tubular device that will suck out the fat, like a liquid is sucked out using a straw. Once done, the incisions will be closed.
The results of Liposuction are generally permanent, however, if you gain weight post your surgery the fat deposits may reappear. The deposits may not reappear in the original fat deposit location. The biggest advantage of Liposuction is that since it is a targeted procedure, the results are generally great. Getting your desired body shape is now easily within reach.
Tummy Tuck
Tummy tuck is another body shaping procedure which is sometimes also performed together with liposuction. The biggest difference is that during the tummy tuck surgery, apart from the fat deposit, the excess skin is also removed by the surgeon. This is especially beneficial for people whose body shape has changed significantly in the past, for example post pregnancy or after losing lot of weight, the skin becomes sagging and loose. Tummy tuck helps to get rid of this excess skin and is therefore, one of the most sought after body shaping procedures.
Like liposuction, even tummy tuck is an invasive surgical procedure and must be performed only by a qualified surgeon. During the tummy tuck procedure, your surgeon will first administer general anaesthesia to you. Then, they will make an incision in the lower abdominal wall and expose the muscles. They will sew the muscles, cover it with the skin and remove the excess skin before closing the incision. The results of a tummy tuck are permanent in nature.
It is important to remember that a tummy tuck procedure is suggested only for those who cannot lose the excess fat deposit with diet or exercise. There are some conditions in which the patient is advised against going for tummy tuck. These conditions include but are not limited to
- A person having a BMR or more than 30
- The persons who are trying other methods to lose weight such as by dieting or exercising
- Ladies who intend to become pregnant in the future
- Patients suffering from other chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes etc.
Which is the Right Option?
It is quite clear from the above descriptions that even though the end goals for both liposuction and tummy tuck are similar, there is a marked difference between both. If you are looking to only remove fat deposits from certain areas for a more toned and contoured figure, liposuction is a better choice. However, if you intend to get rid of excess skin along with toned muscles, tummy tuck surgery is the way to go.
