It is quite common that when women go in for their liposuction consultation, they are told they need a tummy tuck. In addition, many women think they need a tummy tuck when they really only need liposuction. These two procedures are drastically different, and in this article, we are going to make it easy for you to know which one is right for you.
What is diastasis Recti?
The muscle on the surface of our stomach is called the rectus abdominis. The rectus abdominis the muscle that gives us that 6 pack look. When women become pregnant, the rectus abdominis is stretched severely. In most women, the muscle is able to retract back to its original form after childbirth.
With multiple childbirths and in women who are less physically fit, this retraction becomes challenging and sometimes, the muscle is stretched so much that it becomes permanently torn. The tearing of this muscle is called diastasis recti. Women who have diastasis recti appear to have a bulging and soft stomach even if they have gotten back in shape after pregnancy. In fact, 33% of mothers have diastasis recti according to a recent medical study (https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/50/17/1092).
What is excess skin and how does it occur?
When someone loses a significant amount of weight, regardless of gender, they are often left with excess skin around the midsection. This is especially common when a patient has lost over 100 pounds in less than 5 years. This loose skin cannot be burned off with diet and exercise like fat can. This is often frustrating, as a patient has finally achieved their goal weight but is still embarrassed to take their shirt off or wear a bikini because they have saggy skin making them look 20 years older.
What does a tummy tuck treat?
During a tummy tuck, any excess skin from weight loss or pregnancy is surgically removed. At the same time, the surgeon stitches together the torn rectus abdominis caused by childbirth. A tummy tuck is ideal for most women who have had multiple children and find that they are unable to achieve a youthful-looking midsection with diet and exercise alone. Once the excess skin is removed and these muscles are repaired, a flat and hard stomach is possible once again.
If you are interested in having a free consultation with a specialized tummy tuck Michigan surgeon, feel free to contact us at 855-248-2220 or request a consultation on our website and a specialist will contact you to discuss your goals.
What is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes fat from the body, during liposuction, fat is broken down and sucked out of the body using a tool called a cannula. Excess skin cannot be treated with liposuction. In addition, liposuction cannot repair a case of diastasis recti.
It is very common that as we age, fat accumulations can become resistant to diet and exercise. Most people have one or two “troublesome areas” where they are genetically inclined to store fat. This can often be the abdomen after pregnancy or the lower back and sides in men. Liposuction is very effective at eliminating this fat and making it hard for the body to store fat in the treated area again, since fat cells have been destroyed in the area.
Conclusion
Now that you have a deeper understanding of both tummy tucks and liposuction, it should be a much clearer choice as to which one is the right procedure for you. For some patients, both a tummy tuck and liposuction are needed to reach their goals. If you are interested in discussing your situation with a specialist over the phone, feel free to give us a call. If you are ready to have a consultation with one of our plastic surgeons, you can request a consultation with SurgeonGate on our website and a specialist will contact you shortly. (https://g.page/surgeongatett)
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