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Tummy tuck or liposuction?

Another question I get asked a lot is, “What is the difference between a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and liposuction of the abdomen?” The ideal candidate for liposuction is someone with isolated pockets of fatty tissue surrounding the stomach area and is looking to define and contour their waist line. This is for what the gym just can’t seem to accomplish!

The ideal canidate for a tummy tuck is someone who has excess skin on their abdomen and would prefer a tighter more defined stomach. A tummy tuck removes a football shaped piece of skin and fatty tissue between the belly button and above the pubic region. The tummy tuck is for someone who has a fair to large amount of fatty tissue and loose skin. The tummy tuck is also great for addressing stretch marks—because the skin is removed and the stretch marks go with it! Whereas with liposuction only the fat is removed. But each procedure is not independent of each other, some of the best results come from a combination of the two procedures—a tummy tuck to flatten the abdomen with liposuction of the flanks to really carve out and define the waistline. That should give you some idea of what the differences are between a tummy tuck and liposuction, however the best way to know which procedure is right for you is to come in and meet with Dr. Zemmel. You will discuss what your goals are and he will offer you the procedure that best suits your needs and will help you achieve the body you have been envisioning yourself in.