Stomach liposuction is safer and more affordable than abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck.
Abdominal liposuction can successfully remove stubborn fat cells, providing results for men and women without the need for general anesthesia or the expenses incurred with abdominoplasty. If you’re worried about liposuction scars on your stomach, there’s no need. Other than a few canula marks which usually heal well, no scars will be seen.
LOCATION
South Yarra Day Surgery
BACK TO WORK
2- 3 days
ANAESTHETIC
Mild sedation & local anaesthetic
BACK TO GYM
3 weeks
PROCEDURE TIME
1-2 hours
FULL RECOVERY
4-6 months
Benefits of abdominal liposuction over a tummy tuck…
- less downtime
- fewer chances of complication
- far less expense
- successful tightening -with the skin contracting after the procedure
Tummy/Stomach Liposuction: Before & After Photos
The ‘before and after’ photographs on Dr Joni Feldman’s website illustrate examples of the types of procedures Dr Feldman provides, along with the results received. Results may vary, depending on the individual. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Read more about surgical risks here. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
This information has been medically reviewed by Melbourne-trained cosmetic physician Dr Joni Feldman, M.B.B.S (MELB), F.F.M.A.C.C.S. Read more about Dr Feldman here >
The liposuction procedure
The liposuction procedure on the stomach does not require general anaesthetic. The procedure can be performed in our accredited day clinic in South Yarra. Along with the injected local anaesthetic, patients usually only require a light sedative to help them relax. If you would prefer more sedation, Dr Feldman can discuss the option of twilight sedation.
After the procedure
After your stomach liposuction procedure, you’ll be sent home within a few hours and given a compression garment to wear for up to four weeks. Tummy lipo recovery is comparatively quicker than abdominoplasty. However, liposuction is a surgical procedure and, as with all surgery, requires adequate care and healing time. You must carefully follow Dr Feldman’s instructions during this time.
Potential liposuction risks
All surgery carries risks. It is essential you understand all the risks involved with liposuction to make an informed decision before proceeding.
Complications associated with liposuction may include asymmetry, skin rippling, excessive loose skin, poor scarring, abnormal skin pigmentation, bleeding, infection, seroma formation (fluid accumulation under the skin), deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications, swelling, poor wound healing, bruising, and a potential need for revision surgery. Dr Feldman will discuss all potential surgical risks with you at your initial consultation. She will be happy to address any concerns or questions so that you are fully informed before proceeding with your surgery.
Read relevant liposuction articles from our blog…
Abdominal Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck/Abdominoplasty
Many people think they need a tummy tuck to remove belly fat, only to discover they can get the desired results with stomach liposuction. If you think you may also require a tummy tuck, we recommend you have the stomach liposuction procedure first. Then wait three to six months before deciding to proceed with further surgery.
With any surgical procedure, you must consider the pros and cons. With abdominal liposuction, certain factors need to be considered, including your gender; age; amount of fat, wrinkling and sagging on your tummy; stretch marks; history of repeated weight gain and loss; and (if female), the number of pregnancies.
Pros and cons of stomach liposuction & the tummy tuck
The pros and cons of stomach liposuction and tummy tucks will need to be discussed carefully with your doctor to determine the best procedure for you. Both procedures have their place.
Choosing stomach liposuction over tummy tucks…
Pros
- Less expense
- Fewer risks
- Less downtime
Additionally, the skin often contracts back into shape considerably.
Cons
- Liposuction will not remove stretch marks or excessively sagging skin (e.g. after severe weight loss or several pregnancies)
Choosing a ‘tummy tuck’ (abdominoplasty) over liposuction…
Pros
- A good option for those with excessively stretched and sagging skin with a lot of stretch marks
- The procedure surgically removes stretched, scarred skin that cannot be cosmetically altered by simply removing fat cells
- Tightens tummy muscles – excellent for those with excessively stretched abdominal muscles after pregnancies
Cons
- Can be quite an involved procedure which always requires general anaesthetic
- Large scars may be permanently visible without clothing
- When the largest segment of lower abdominal skin is removed, the belly button requires surgical repositioning and reconstruction
- Often, a surgically altered naval does not have a natural look
- Tummy tucks are far more dangerous with potential complications, such as blood clots or pulmonary embolism
- Abdominoplasty costs are roughly 2 to 3 times more expensive than liposuction of the tummy area
- Recovery time is typically 2 to 4 weeks longer than liposuction
If you’d like both cosmetic surgery procedures done
Many cosmetic physicians are so confident of the benefits of liposuction that they suggest you have the liposuction performed first, then wait six months before the tummy tuck. After this period, many patients are happy with their liposuction and decide not to pursue abdominoplasty, saving them considerable expense, time and discomfort.
For those who wish to continue with plans for a tummy tuck, as the liposuction has already been performed, the procedure takes less time and is hence less stressful on the body. The shorter surgery time also makes the surgical procedure safer.