Should You Add Liposuction To Your Tummy Tuck?

You’ve decided it’s time to get a tummy tuck (also known as an abdominoplasty). But now you’re wondering if you should also add liposuction to the procedure.

“As a board-certified plastic surgeon, I get quite a few patients who wonder the same thing. There are a few things to consider when making this decision,” says Yoav Kaufman, MD, FACS, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic.

Your Body Contouring Goals

A tummy tuck on its own removes excess skin and tightens abdominal muscles. If you have stubborn fat around your middle that you want gone, a tummy tuck alone will not achieve this. Liposuction can remove pockets of subcutaneous fat that make up love handles, back rolls, and belly fat.

If, on the other hand, you have excess skin and weak abdominal muscles from childbirth or extreme weight loss that you want to tighten up, liposuction is likely not necessary. A tummy tuck should achieve the smooth, toned abdomen you’re looking for.

“Combining the two procedures is called lipoabdominoplasty and is the best choice for you if your goals are to remove fat and tighten your abdominal area,” explains Dr. Kaufman.

During the procedure, liposuction is used first to eliminate excess fat. A small tube is inserted through tiny incisions in the abdominal area, and fat cells are removed with an aspirator. Then the tummy tuck is performed to remove any excess tissue and skin, and to tighten abdominal muscles. This involves making two larger incisions in the abdomen to lift the skin and reposition it.

Benefits of Adding Liposuction

Other than the obvious benefit of eliminating fat and loose skin simultaneously while repairing abdominal muscles, other benefits of adding liposuction to your tummy tuck include improved contouring of the waist, back, and thighs and the fact that fat extruded during liposuction can be harvested for fat grafting procedures in the buttocks, breasts, and other areas.

Still not sure if liposuction with a tummy tuck is right for you? The team at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in Houston is here to help. Schedule a consultation today.