Posted February 06, 2024 in Tummy Tuck, Liposuction
Most people wish they had a flatter, firmer tummy, but have trouble achieving that on their own, even with strict diet and exercise. That’s because they may have stubborn fat or loose skin along their midsections that adds unwanted volume to their figures. If you are interested in a cosmetic procedure to help trim down your abdomen, below, Dr. Scott Green breaks down the two most common surgeries for improving the stomach so that you know which is appropriate for you.
Do You Have Surplus Belly Fat?
Both men and women store excess fat in their bellies, and unfortunately this fat can be harder to lose than fat stored in other areas. If your primary complaint is that you have stubborn fat deposits in your midsection, you are likely a good candidate for liposuction. While liposuction should not be confused for weight-loss surgery, it is a good way to permanently remove some fat cells for trimmer contours. As long as you maintain a steady weight moving forward, your results are considered indefinite.
Do You Have a Muffin Top?
Another cosmetic concern is loose skin around the abdomen. Loose skin can develop due to a few factors, including age-related skin laxity, weight loss, and pregnancy. Unfortunately, if your skin is no longer elastic enough to fit snuggly around your smaller frame, it may hang out and create a “muffin top” that makes your figure look wider than it is. To make matters worse, diet and exercise are completely powerless when it comes to stretched skin. What does work is tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty. This skin tightening procedure removes loose skin so that the remaining skin drapes closely along the actual size of your stomach.
Do You Have Both Fat and Loose Skin?
An oversized midsection is sometimes attributable to both fat and loose skin. If this describes your current situation (which Dr. Green can help determine with an examination), you may be a good candidate for combining tummy tuck with liposuction. In many cases, it does not make sense to remove fat with liposuction if your skin is not going to be elastic enough to retract. Combining surgeries can help to cut down on certain costs and allows you to overlap your recovery time.
Decide Whether Cosmetic Surgery Is a Smart Choice for You
Ultimately, your decision as to whether to have plastic surgery is your own. However, Dr. Green, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Sacramento, is happy to help make your decision clearer by answering your lingering questions and giving you all the information that you need to feel confident in your choice. To meet him virtually or in person, please schedule a consultation.