Abdominoplasty is a cosmetic surgery used to flatten and sculpt your abdomen. The procedure involves removing excess fat and skin and tightening muscles. Liposuction is another process that involves dissolving and removing excess fat from various parts of the body. Here’s how liposuction is used during an abdominoplasty:
Remove and Redistribute Fat
An abdominoplasty or tummy tuck focuses on removing excess skin and tightening your abdominal muscles, while liposuction permanently removes unwanted fat. A surgeon uses liposuction to dissolve and suck out fat before removing the skin and tightening muscles. Liposuction helps to remove localized fat deposits from the flanks or love handles, upper abdomen, and below the belly button. Excess fat removal allows your surgeon to achieve a smooth, sculptured abdominal profile. They also redistribute the fat to other areas for a more natural appearance.
Surgeons use techniques including tumescent, ultrasound-assisted, laser, and super-wet liposuction. Tumescent liposuction involves a saline solution of adrenaline and anesthesia to loosen the fat and numb the area. Ultrasound-assisted lipectomy uses sound energy to emulsify the fat, while laser-assisted liposuction uses laser and heat energy. Super-wet liposuction is another cosmetic surgery similar to tumescent liposuction. For super-wet liposuction, the amount of solution matches the fat being removed. Tumescent liposuction injects more fluid than the fat being removed. Liposuction is usually done before abdominoplasty to enhance the contouring process.
Minimize Surgical Procedures
Surgical procedures typically involve cutting tissues to create incisions and separate structures. Performing liposuction before an abdominoplasty helps to reduce these procedure times. The procedure involves making a tiny incision through which a tool is inserted. Some surgeons use power-assisted tools that move back and forth to speed up fat removal and reduce manual labor. Liposuction also reduces the need for extensive undermining, preserving your blood vessels.
Undermining is a surgical procedure used to separate the skin and fat from the soft tissues beneath them. Liposuction loosens fat cells before suctioning them, resulting in less steps and reduced need for undermining. Extensive undermining can cause trauma to surrounding cells and tissues, resulting in swelling, bruising, and other risks. Liposuction lowers the risk of such complications and supports quick recovery and healing. Reducing the undermining also leads to smaller scars that fade away faster.
Reduce Process and Recovery Time
Traditional abdominoplasty usually involves post-surgical processes to remove excess fluid buildup. Performing liposuction and abdominoplasty in the same session reduces the need for such drains. Liposuction permanently removes excess fat and reduces the space where fluid accumulates, which helps to manage fluid levels. The surgery stimulates your lymphatic system, allowing your body to flush excess fluid from tissues. Your surgeon also addresses exercise-resistant fat, loose skin, and muscle separation in one session, eliminating the need for a second procedure. Handling everything at once eliminates the need for separate treatments under anesthesia and reduces the number of incisions.
You can expect a shorter recovery period and a smoother surgical procedure. If done separately, you’d need time to recover from the first surgery before undergoing another procedure. Combining the two methods is more cost-effective because you pay for one-time use of anesthesia, operating rooms, surgeon fees, and other expenses. Your surgeon makes one incision, which costs less to dress and care for than two. A single session also means fewer follow-up appointments.
Find Trusted Cosmetic Surgery Today
Experienced surgeons can combine procedures into a single session to provide more benefits from surgery and reduce risks. Combining liposuction and abdominoplasty during surgery allows you to remove excess fat and skin and achieve a more balanced, natural appearance. Contact an experienced plastic surgeon today to learn more about cosmetic surgery procedures.
