Love is something we all look forward to having and sharing with others. “An excess of everything…”, an ancient proverb reminds us, “..is bad”. This is true with love, and what is true with love is also true with "love handles". Love handles are body fats that protrude where they should not be. They are areas of the skin that extend outward, particularly in the hips. Thus, we hide our curves.
Another thing that really does hide our curves is the excess loose skin and fat we incurred after a significant weight loss or after we gave birth to our children. During this period, our skin becomes loose and the fat really does affect our shape and sometimes our confidence. Because wearing those swimsuits or wearing tight clothing can make these flabs more visible.
If you are considering undergoing plastic surgery, you might wonder which one might work best for you. Is it a tummy tuck or liposuction? While these two might sound the same, their effects and the intended group in which they will be more pronounced and last longer are vastly different. This article aims to show the difference between the two, their target group, and the recovery period required for each plastic surgery.
What is Liposuction?
Liposuction takes good care of the unwanted "love handles" or "bulges". Liposuction is a form of plastic surgery that deals with the removal of minor fat deposits around the buttocks, thighs, hips, and stomach. It is ideal for those that have elastic skin as it helps contour the said areas.
Something to keep in mind is the line of distinction between weight loss and body contouring. Liposuction is a body contouring method that is most effective for aiding in the so-called diet-resistant areas. The primary purpose of liposuction is to enhance the body shape, particularly beneath the treated areas. To illustrate, if a female patient decides to have this plastic surgery and has hip curves that are hardly noticeable because of the overlying fat, the liposuction intends to contour this area, thus making the curve more visible. Unlike tummy tucks, an advantage of this surgery is that since liposuction is less invasive to the body, its recovery period is faster, allowing its patients to return to their daily activities in a few days.
What is a tummy tuck?
Let's face it, there is really a substantial weight change during pregnancy. This significant weight change can stretch out the skin around your abdomen. A tummy tuck aims to eliminate both the loose skin and the fat while also providing an opportunity for the abdominal wall muscles that experience being overstretched during a woman's pregnancy. During this time, the surgeon might suggest we be near our desired weight for around six to twelve months to ensure lasting results and prevent you from undoing the contoured shape created by the surgery.
When talking about results, tummy tuck results are permanent. Unless the patient's body experiences another significant weight change, Compared to liposuction, tummy tuck surgery is more invasive to the body. This makes tummy tuck recovery longer, usually around a week or months. Doctors usually estimate it will take 4 months before the swelling completely heals. To compensate for this concern, the patient who undergoes this plastic surgery can have a helper and a couch during the early parts of recovery. Having a helper and a coach can ensure fast recovery.
Key Takeaways
The key takeaway is that the major difference between the two is that liposuction removes volume but not skin. This is ideal for those that simply want to enhance their shape, making it more prominent. It is ideal for those who have tight skin. These are the people that did not undergo any significant weight loss. Because if the skin is not that tight, in the aftermath of the surgical operation, the loose skin will become looser. On the other hand, a tummy tuck takes away both the fat and the loose skin with it. This is especially vital for those that have lost a significant amount of weight or those that have children. Careful consideration of your body state, weight , and health condition are the things we can look into for us to choose which operation will better suit our needs. Lastly, Exercise and eating a healthy diet can ensure lasting effects on any of these plastic surgeries.
