Abdominoplasty (also called a “tummy tuck”) and liposuction are two different surgical procedures that aim to change the appearance of your midsection. Both procedures claim to make your stomach appear flatter, tighter, and smaller. They’re both performed by plastic surgeons, and are considered “cosmetic,” so they aren’t covered by health insurance.

​In terms of the actual procedure, recovery time, and risks, there are some key differences between the two. Keep reading to learn more.

​Who is a good candidate?

​Liposuction and tummy tucks often appeal to people with similar cosmetic goals. But there are some important differences.

​Liposuction

Liposuction may be a good fit if you’re looking to remove small fat deposits. These are commonly found on the hips, thighs, buttocks, or stomach area.

The procedure will remove fat deposits from the targeted area, reducing bulges and improving contour. However, liposuction isn’t recommended as a weight loss tool. You shouldn’t get liposuction if you’re obese.

​Tummy tuck

In addition to removing excess fat from the abdomen, a tummy tuck also removes excess skin.

Pregnancy or significant shifts in your weight can stretch out the skin that surrounds your stomach. A tummy tuck can be used to restore the look of a flat and contoured midsection. This procedure may involve bringing the rectus abdominus, or sit-up muscles, back together if they’ve been stretched or separated by pregnancy.

​You may want to reconsider a tummy tuck if:

• your body mass index is over 30

• you’re considering getting pregnant in the future

• you’re actively trying to lose weight

• you have a chronic heart condition
   

What is the procedure like?

​Liposuctions and tummy tucks are both performed by a plastic surgeon and require incisions and anesthesia.

​

Liposuction

You may be intravenously sedated for this procedure. In some cases, your surgeon will apply a local anesthetic to your midsection.

Once the area is numb, your surgeon will make small incisions around the site of your fat deposits. A thin tube (cannula) will be moved underneath your skin to loosen the fat cells. Your surgeon will use a medical vacuum to suction out the dislodged fat deposits.

It may take several sessions to achieve your desired result.

​Tummy tuck

Your surgeon will put you to sleep via general anesthesia. After you’re sedated, they’ll make an incision at the bottom of the skin that covers your abdominal wall.

​Once the muscles are exposed, your surgeon will sew the muscles in your abdominal wall together if they have become stretched out. They will then pull tight the skin over your abdomen, trim off excess skin, and close the incision with sutures. A tummy tuck is done in one procedure. The entire surgery typically takes two to three hours.

What are the expected results?

​Although liposuction and a tummy tuck both claim permanent results, significant weight gain after either procedure can alter this outcome.

​Liposuction

People that have liposuction on their abdomen tend to see a flatter, more proportioned midsection once they have recovered from the procedure. These results are supposed to be permanent. But at least one study Trusted Source disagrees. According to this study, up to a year after the procedure, the fat deposits reappear, though they may show up elsewhere on your body. If you gain weight, fat will reaccumulate in your body, though not typically in the areas that were suctioned.

​Vaser Liposuction
Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that removes fat deposits from under your skin. VASER liposuction refers to a type of liposuction that breaks apart fat cells and loosens them from your deeper tissues so that fat can more effectively be removed during the treatment.

​VASER liposuction is considered a more controlled and gentle kind of cosmetic procedure, and it requires a skilled and experienced provider to do it right. You may be a candidate for liposuction if you’re a healthy person who doesn’t smoke or have a history of bleeding conditions.

​Liposuction isn’t considered a weight loss tool. People who have the best results with VASER liposuction, or any type of liposuction, are already within 15 pounds of their ideal weight. This procedure is for people who are trying to spot-treat fat deposits and reveal muscle tone underneath.

​Results from VASER liposuction can be permanent. But the way your body looks after recovery is partially up to you. After getting liposuction, you’ll need to keep up your diet and exercise routine so that your body doesn’t regain the fat deposits that were removed.

​Also, keep in mind that there’s no way to eliminate all the visible signs of aging. Weight fluctuations, inflammation, and simple gravity can all change the way your results look over time.

​Tummy tuck

After a tummy tuck, the results are considered permanent. Your abdominal wall will be more stable and strong. The excess skin that has been removed won’t return unless fluctuation in weight or a subsequent pregnancy stretches out the area again.