Abdominal liposuction and tummy tucks are both elective (optional) cosmetic procedures used to improve your appearance. According to the Mayo Clinic, a tummy tuck also is known as abdominal reduction; liposuction also is called body contouring or lipoplasty.
Features
A tummy tuck is performed to remove loose tissue, skin and fat, according to the Mayo Clinic. This typically occurs after pregnancy or gastric bypass surgery. Liposuction only involves fat removal.
Procedure
During a tummy tuck, skin and fat between your belly button and pubic region are removed. Your doctor will make various incisions and reposition your skin around your belly button, the Mayo Clinic reports. For liposuction, your surgeon will inject a local anesthetic into your skin, make a small incision in your stomach and insert a suctioning device to remove your fat.
Recovery
The Mayo Clinic says that you will wear an abdominal binder (a supportive elastic brace) for four to six weeks after tummy tuck surgery and abdominal liposuction. This serves to support your tissues and prevent fluid retention.
Risks
The risks for both a tummy tuck and liposuction include infection and blood or fluid retention under your skin. The Mayo Clinic reports that a tummy tuck can elevate your chances of skin death (necrosis) and cause you to develop numbness or tingling around your stomach or thighs. Abdominal liposuction may cause skin sagging, blood clots in the lung or legs and unevenness of your body shape.
Surgeons
Surgeons involved in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery perform abdominal liposuction and tummy tucks.
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