The abdomen can be one of the most troublesome areas for men and women. A flat, toned stomach can be very difficult to achieve, even with the most dedicated diet and exercise. When everything you have tried won’t give you the figure you want, it’s time to consider getting some help from your plastic surgeon.

While there are a variety of cosmetic procedures that can be performed at once, body contouring has become an increasingly popular combined procedure performed. In fact, liposuction and abdominoplasty (more commonly known as a tummy tuck) are performed together so often this combination has its own name: lipoabdominoplasty.

What are the benefits of combining liposuction and tummy tuck cosmetic surgery? Rozina Ali, a top-rated surgeon, highly qualified in liposuction and fat transfer surgery, will walk us through the top advantages of combining lipo and tummy tuck surgery.

How does lipoabdominoplasty work?

During this combination procedure, liposuction is completed first to remove excess fat from the belly area. The fatty tissue under the skin is filled with a saline solution. The final step involves removing the fat cells using suction.

Next, the tummy tuck is performed to remove excess skin and tissue, which provides a flatter look to the stomach. Your abdominal muscles are tightened, to reduce the circumference of your waistline, before removing the loose skin in the abdominal region. The remaining skin is then brought together in a more aesthetically pleasing way.

Should you combine liposuction and abdominoplasty?

Combining liposuction with a tummy tuck is not only possible but it’s often recommended. As mentioned, abdominoplasty surgery tightens the underlying musculature of the tummy and then removes the excess skin and tissue. Liposuction can then be used to finely contour the body, which isn’t possible with abdominoplasty surgery alone.

Because both procedures target specific concerns, many patients find that one or the other will suffice to help them meet their treatment goals. However, skin sagging and stubborn pockets of fat often go hand in hand. Both concerns cannot be addressed in a single procedure. By combining abdominoplasty with liposuction, it will give you the most dramatic results and let you fully restore your slim figure.

Benefits of lipo-abdominoplasty

Less downtime. Undergoing abdominoplasty surgery usually requires two weeks off from minimal activity, and approximately one month off from vigorous activity. Additionally, liposuction patients need approximately five to seven days of recovery time, so combining these procedures will allow for overall quicker recovery.

For many of my patients – most of whom live active lifestyles – decreasing the time spent away from family, work or leisure can be of major benefit. If a patient were to first undergo abdominoplasty surgery, and then decided to undergo liposuction afterwards, he/she would have to wait at least six months to reduce the risk of any complications associated with each surgery. Which is a pretty long period of time.

Finally, when you combine a tummy tuck with liposuction, you can maximize your body contouring results in a way that really isn't possible with either procedure on its own. In most cases, excess fat and loose skin do go hand-in-hand, so treating both of these common cosmetic concerns at the same time is often the most efficient and effective approach. Maintaining your weight, eating well, and being consistent with exercise will help you keep your results for a long time!

At the end of the day, combining liposuction with abdominoplasty comes down to an individual choice. However, if you decide to do so, be sure to consult with a specialist qualified FRCS (Plast) surgeon and get the best recommendations.

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