Liposuction vs Tummy Tuck?

 

Answer by Dr. Khalifeh:

One of the most common questions I get asked is what is the difference between liposuction and a Tummy Tuck.  Patients want to know if liposuction is enough.  Sometimes it is, and other times it isn't.

If you havent' had children, haven't had massive weight loss, and have good skin tone, liposuction alone is usually sufficient.

If you have had children or massive weight loss, your skin and muscle layers may have been weakened by the process.  Laser liposuction will usually tighten the skin more than traditional liposuction.  If you have loose skin and loose muscles, you will probably benefit from a tummy tuck.  Laser liposuction may tighten the skin a little bit

I perform many corrective tummy tucks to patients that received liposuction instead of a tummy tuck on a regular basis.  Typically, these patients have not been seen by a board certified plastic surgeon.  Typically, their procedure was performed by an ill qualifed provider who only performs liposuction, and he or she has told them that somehow magically their skin will tighten.

 

Below is an example of a patient that came to Dr. Khalifeh for corrective  surgery in washington dc, having had liposuction elsewhere with dissatisfactory results: