Let’s talk Lipo & tummy tuck.
Specifically, should I get the liposuction tummy tuck procedure?
This is an extremely common question at Schulman Plastic Surgery. Patients who know they want to get a tummy tuck are unsure whether to tack on liposuction as well.
The first thing to know here is that, in nearly all of the tummy tuck procedures we perform, at least a little bit of liposuction is also performed. So, it’s very normal to opt for this combination of liposuction tummy tuck.
At the same time, most patients naturally want to minimize the amount of surgery they have. Some might also be on a budget. So, a lot of patients aren’t sure whether they want to add liposuction to the already invasive tummy tuck procedure.
Of course, the absolute best way to know if this combination of procedures is right for you is to schedule a consultation with us. Dr. Schulman will perform a physical exam, ask about your specific goals, talk about the 5 stages of tummy tuck recovery, and give you his recommendations.
For now, though, we can provide the following pros and cons to help you decide between just a tummy tuck or a liposuction tummy tuck combination procedure.
Pros and Cons of a Liposuction Tummy Tuck Combination Procedure
Pro: You’re getting surgery anyway, so why not get rid of some excess stubborn fat at the same time?
The truth is, most patients who are interested in tummy tuck surgery — which aims to get rid of excess skin — also have a little bit of excess fat they could afford to get rid of too. This is completely normal — even if you’re super fit and in shape. The bottom line is, if you have excess skin, you probably have a little bit of underlying excess fat as well.
Therefore, if you reason that you’re going to get even better results if you add liposuction to your tummy tuck procedure, it might be a good idea for you. As stated previously, in many of the tummy tuck procedures we perform, liposuction is a common addition. The combination of tummy tuck & lipo can give you that smooth, trim look that most patients are after.
Con: Combination surgery is more expensive …
If you know for sure that you want to get a tummy tuck, but you’re on a budget, you may want to just opt for the tummy tuck and not add the liposuction. This is because, naturally, adding any additional work to your surgery is going to increase the price.
In terms of overall benefit, if we start with the presumption that you do have excess skin and some excess fat on your abdomen, you’re going to get far greater results from a tummy tuck alone than you would otherwise.
Pro: … But it’s almost never as expensive as getting the two different surgeries at separate times.
Getting a combination liposuction tummy tuck procedure will, indeed, be more expensive than just getting a tummy tuck. However, getting the two procedures together at the same time will also be less expensive than if you were to get the two procedures separately at two different times.
In other words, if you only need to make one surgical appointment, only have to have anesthesia administered once, only need to pay certain surgeon’s fees once … you’re going to have reduced costs overall, even if you have two surgeries performed.
In fact, many of the fees and charges that make up the cost of tummy tuck are related to the event itself. Therefore, having more work done at the same time won’t be like doubling everything. It will simply be the addition of the select necessary fees.
In the end, if you think you may end up deciding to get liposuction in the future, you might as well consider adding it to your tummy tuck now to reduce costs.
Con: Recovery may be longer with more discomfort …
The recovery period after a tummy tuck will naturally mean some discomfort, swelling, bruising, and downtime. Patients will need to take time off from work or school. They’ll have to stop exercising or doing anything physically active for at least three or four weeks — maybe longer. This can be difficult for patients, especially when they’re used to being active and enjoy going out with friends and doing a lot of activities in their lives.
So, if you have a Liposuction Tummy Tuck surgery, all of these recovery side effects are going to be slightly more intense because you’ve had more work done. More incisions are generally necessary, and your body may need to recover more overall as opposed to when you’ve only had a tummy tuck.
Pro: … But you’ll also only have to go through it once.
While the single recovery period that will accompany combination surgery may be more difficult than just a single tummy tuck, it may be better to “get it over with” all at once. If you do plan on ultimately getting both procedures, for some patients, it’s actually better this way.
Now, recovery from liposuction is different and less intense than recovery from tummy tuck surgery. So, your discomfort and other symptoms will probably increase only slightly. Still, it really depends on your preferences, how well you tolerate pain, and what your schedule looks like as well. A lot of patients aren’t able to take time off from work or school on two separate occasions, so they may prefer to do everything at once for this reason.
Want to Learn More? Schedule a Consultation!
Have you scheduled your tummy tuck consultation appointment with Dr. Schulman yet? If not, do so today to get more information on this matter. At your consultation, you’ll not only be able to discuss liposuction tummy tuck cost, but you’ll also get a chance to ask whether adding liposuction is a good idea for you.
Make your appointment today, and we look forward to meeting with you!
References
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/liposuction
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/tummy-tuck
