LIPOSURGERY VS. TUMI-TUCK (ABDOMINOPLASTY)

Many patients are confused as to which procedure is "right" for them, a Tumi-tuck (abdominoplasty) or Liposurgery. The confusion arises when a patient visits several doctors and one, usually a Lipo surgeon suggests Lipo surgery, and another, usually a Plastic Surgeon, suggests abdominoplasty. It may be that both doctors are correct and that either procedure may benefit the patient.

The patient may be further confused if one of the doctors, usually the Plastic Surgeon, says that Lipo surgery would be of no benefit and that abdominoplasty is the only alternative for the patient. This is often not true.

It is a question of "relative benefit", cost, recovery, and "risk/reward". Both procedures will remove the fat and thin the abdomen to an equal result. In some cases abdominoplasty may result in tighter skin but at what cost?

Anesthesia

Abdominoplasty, which usually requires general anesthesia and associated costs, will run 2 to 4 times the cost of an average liposculpture procedure. A patient can usually have their abdomen, hips, waist and thighs treated with liposculpture for less than abdominoplasty of the abdomen.

Risks

The risks are much less with liposculpture. Both Tumescent Liposculpture and Smart Lipo can be performed with local anesthesia and/or intravenous sedation (twilight) anesthesia. Abdominoplasty surgery usually requires general anesthesia which significantly adds to the cost and risk of the procedure.

Complications

Serious complications, such as bleeding problems, hematoma, seroma formation, infection, and pulmonary emboli, are much more common with abdominoplasty surgery. This is not to say that abdominoplasty is not a safe surgery under a competent surgeon. It is, but the relative risks should be considered when choosing a procedure.

Recovery

Abdominoplasty is a major surgery compared to liposculpture. The recovery will naturally be more arduous and prolonged with abdominoplasty surgery as compared to lipo surgery. You can expect to return to work in just a few days with Tumescent Liposculpture or Smart Lipo.

Results

The cosmetic results are also important. As mentioned earlier, liposculpture and abdominoplasty are equal in removing fat and slimming the abdomen. Abdominoplasty may have an advantage of tightening loose skin but look at these pictures.

(Click on images to enlarge)

The picture on the left is "pre-treatment". Notice how loose the skin is. Imagine how loose it should be after removal of her fat. She is 55 years old and had about 4 inches of fat in her thickest area. She was told, by another surgeon, that she needed a tumi-tuck and that liposuction would not work for her. She was treated at the O'Neil Skin and Lipo Medical Center with a combination of Tumescent Liposculpture as well as Smart Lipo. Her fat was thinned to ½ inch across her upper and lower abdomen with the Tumescent Liposculpture. A Smart Lipo laser was used to tighten her skin. Her waist, hips and inner thighs were treated as well. It is possible that abdominoplasty (tumi-tuck) might have tightened her skin a little better but she was quite pleased by this less invasive solution. She was also happy to not have a large scar across her lower abdomen, as she would have had with abdominoplasty. She was also pleased to have her abdomen, waist, hips and inner things reshaped, all for about ½ the cost she was quoted for abdominoplasty.

(Click on images to enlarge)

This patient above was told she needed a tumi-tuck by her Lipo Surgeon and by several Plastic Surgeons. She refused abdominoplasty because of the scar and cost. She was treated at the O'Neil Skin and Lipo Medical Center with a combination of Smart Lipo laser and Tumescent Liposculpture, and her results were excellent. She knew she could get more skin tightening with abdominoplasty, but chose the less invasive alternative and was very pleased with her results. Her hips, waist, and back are sculpted at the same time, all for much less than her abdominoplasty cost quotes.

Summery

In summarization, patients need not always choose the most dramatic procedures. Other factors such as risks, cost, scars and recovery time must be considered when choosing the appropriate procedure. And after reviewing all the variables it is still your choice.