Between a tummy tuck and a liposuction, many people will be hard-pressed to say which one they will choose if there’s only one choice to be made. To make the choice easier, here are a few more things to know about these cosmetic surgery procedures.
Expected Results
While both a tummy tuck and liposuction at Smart Lipo can lead to permanent results, the desirable outcome can still be changed with significant weight gain after their completion. Patients are then well-advised to keep their weight in check to maintain the results over the long-term period.
With a tummy tuck, the results are permanent with the excess skin, which has been removed, not returning unless certain conditions are met. These conditions include significant fluctuations in weight or a subsequent pregnancy that stretched out the muscles and skin again.
With liposuction, the jury is still out. On one hand, doctors say that the results are permanent; the abdomen also becomes flatter, as well as more proportioned with none of the bulges caused by excess fat. On the other hand, some studies also suggest that fat deposits can reappear in as little as a year; the fat deposits, however, may reappear in other areas of the body.
As with a tummy tuck, the fat deposits may also reappear with weight fluctuations. The importance of adopting a healthy diet, exercise and lifestyle program cannot be overemphasized in maintaining the results in both procedures.
Recovery Process
The recovery process between these two procedures are also different.
With a tummy tuck, your incision will be covered in and protected by surgical dressing. You will also be provided by your surgeon with a belly binder, a compression garment, as well as provided with instructions on changing the dressing several times during the recovery period.
You should be walking, albeit with assistance, within one day after the operation; doing so prevents blood clot formation. You will also take antibiotics and painkillers to prevent bacterial infections and decrease the pain, respectively. You will also be instructed about how to deal with the surgical drains, which may be in place for about two weeks or less.
The typical recovery period for a tummy tuck is six weeks. You will also undergo several follow-up appointments, as well as avoid certain positions and activities within the recovery period.
With liposuction, you should be able to resume most of your normal activities 48 hours after the procedure. But you shouldn’t engage in strenuous physical activities yet until your doctor gives the go signal for safety reasons. Your actual recovery period will then on the size and location of the treatment areas, as well as your need for additional liposuction.