Liposuction and Tummy Tuck: Can You Do Both at Once?

Combining liposuction with a tummy tuck is an effective way to achieve a smoother, more defined figure. Aging, weight changes, and pregnancy can affect your proportions, resulting in droopy pockets of skin and fat that impact your self-esteem.

These stubborn fat deposits and drooping skin pockets commonly form on the abdomen, as this is one of the body’s main fat storage sites. Liposuction can effectively reduce fat in this area, but it can potentially leave sagging skin. Fortunately, combining liposuction with a tummy tuck is a popular and proven way to effectively sculpt a smooth, toned abdomen in one surgical session.

At Metamorphosis Plastic Surgery, we customize each procedure for your unique goals. Our team is well known for transformative body contouring treatments, including liposuction 360, which includes liposuction around the waistline and tummy tucks. Dr. Daniel Markmann is known for his artistic approach, which has helped many patients improve their self-confidence with the results they dreamt of.

Contact our Baltimore office online or call (410) 465-3600 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Markmann and learn more about how you can benefit from combining liposuction and a tummy tuck.

About Liposuction, Tummy Tucks, and Combining the Two Procedures

Liposuction

Liposuction is a body contouring procedure that removes pockets of excess fat with gentle suction. Addressing excess fat with exercise and dieting can be difficult, and some fat deposits are especially resistant to these lifestyle changes. With liposuction, Dr. Markmann can permanently remove excess fat and sculpt your figure. Patients emerge from a liposuction procedure with a smoother, leaner physique, emphasized curves, and balanced proportions that improve their self-esteem and expand their clothing options, permanently.

Dr. Markmann uses a “Wet to Super-Wet” technique for liposuction procedures. This technique combines the use of a tumescent fluid—a mixture of saline, lidocaine, and epinephrine that swells fat cells, numbs tissues, and constricts blood vessels to facilitate easier fat removal—with less bleeding and bruising and to more effectively remove fat.

Tummy Tucks

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is a procedure that removes excess skin from the abdomen. These procedures are among the most popular procedures performed throughout the world. In 2023, specialists performed more than 170,000 tummy tucks to help patients enhance their figures. (1) For patients experiencing a condition called diastasis recti, or the separation of the abdominal muscles, Dr. Markmann can tighten these muscles during a tummy tuck. (2,3) This will dramatically flatten your abdomen and help to slim your waistline.

Dr. Markmann can perform several types of tummy tucks depending on how much excess skin needs to be removed.

  • Mini: A mini tummy tuck will remove a smaller amount of excess skin from the abdomen through a smaller incision. This technique is used when your loose skin is only below the belly button.
  • Full/Traditional: A traditional tummy tuck will remove a moderate amount of excess skin, typically all of the skin from your belly button to your pubic region. This will allow for the repair of separated underlying rectus abdominus muscles.
  • Extended: An extended tummy tuck can remove a significant amount of excess skin and fat while also addressing loose muscles. Extended refers to the scar extending to the back area for patients with loose, droopy skin on their sides. These procedures are best for patients who have lost significant amounts of weight or have undergone pregnancy and are left with loose skin around the entire abdomen and waistline
  • Circumferential: In this technique, the scar goes all of the way around the waistline, following your typical Bikini line so that it is well hidden. This is done in cases where someone has loose skin of the entire torso, both front and back. It also lifts loose droopy skin of the buttocks and thighs.

Dr. Markmann is also experienced in performing men’s tummy tucks. A male tummy tuck removes excess skin with different goals than a female tummy tuck. A female tummy tuck emphasizes a woman’s curves, while a male tummy tuck aims to enhance muscle definition and create a more masculine appearance.

Combining Liposuction with a Tummy Tuck

The goal of combining liposuction with a tummy tuck is to remove stubborn abdominal fat and love handles, and also address the loose skin that remains after fat is removed. By combining procedures, patients can achieve the results they desire without having to go through separate recoveries.

Candidates

Candidates may be anyone who has excess abdominal skin and stubborn fat deposits. While patients who undergo this combined procedure have often lost a significant amount of weight or have experienced pregnancy, these factors are not required for one to be considered an eligible candidate. Prospective patients should be in good overall health and hold realistic expectations about what can be achieved with the procedure. A consultation with Dr. Markmann will help to determine candidacy further.

Consultation

At your consultation, we will examine your loose skin, fat deposits, and overall anatomy to determine the most effective treatment plan to meet your unique desired outcomes. Please come prepared to discuss your aesthetic goals, lifestyle, medications, and medical history. By assessing your goals and medical history, Dr. Markmann can determine if liposuction and a tummy tuck can be performed simultaneously or if you would be better served by undergoing these procedures separately. If there are other concerns you wish to address, you can discuss additional treatments at this time.

Schedule your consultation today by submitting our online contact form. If you have any further questions or prefer to schedule over the phone, please call us directly at (410) 465-3600.

Preparation

To help you prepare for liposuction and/or a tummy tuck, Dr. Markmann will provide specific instructions based on your treatment plan. You will be advised to stop smoking temporarily for 6 weeks and stop taking medications and/or supplements that thin the blood for approximately 1-2 weeks prior to your surgery. You should also avoid drinking alcohol for 24 hours before and after your procedure. You should also arrange for someone to drive you home and care for you for the first 1-3 days after your procedure.

Recovery

Your recovery process will depend on your personalized treatment plan. After your procedure, you must refrain from strenuous exercise for several weeks. Many patients experience swelling, soreness, and mild bruising. These will fade and can be managed with rest, OTC, and prescription medication. You will also need to wear a compression garment to help your body heal and improve circulation for 4-6 weeks.

Most patients can return to work after 1-3 weeks, depending on the physical demands of their job and the tummy tuck procedure they had.

Results

Patients generally enjoy a smooth, toned, and athletic physique after their liposuction and tummy tuck. Because Dr. Markmann makes adjustments with surgical techniques, you can enjoy long-lasting results. Many patients report enhanced self-esteem and confidence with their new figure. Since Dr. Markmann makes discreet incisions, scarring is easily hidden and will fade as you continue to heal.

Corresponding Procedures

Thigh Lift

A thigh lift addresses droopy, excess skin on the thighs. With an incision along the inner or outer thighs, Dr. Markmann can lift and tighten the thighs to sculpt a more contoured leg shape.

Lower Body Lift

A lower body lift addresses excess skin and stubborn fat around the lower abdomen and lower body. Dr. Markmann can transform the lower body with carefully placed incisions for a defined, more athletic look. This is a comprehensive procedure often incorporating liposuction, a tummy tuck, thigh lift, buttock lift, and more.

Upper Body Lift

An upper body lift is a treatment that improves your upper body contour by removing excess skin from the upper back, chest, and arms. If you have droopy skin that affects the upper body, addressing it with a comprehensive lift can help you achieve a tighter look.

Cost of Liposuction and Tummy Tucks in Baltimore

The cost of your treatment will depend on your personalized plan and whether or not you receive additional procedures to achieve your desired look. Dr. Markmann will provide an all-inclusive quote during your personal consultation after assessing your goals and establishing a treatment plan. Metamorphosis Plastic Surgery also offers financing options to help make treatment more accessible.

Do not hesitate to schedule a consultation and learn more about how Dr. Markmann can enhance your figure! Contact our Baltimore office online or call (410) 465-3600 to start planning your liposuction and tummy tuck procedure.

FAQ

Can I have a tummy tuck and liposuction at the same time?

Yes! We can perform both procedures during a single appointment to help you achieve your desired figure.

How do I know if liposuction or a tummy tuck is better for me?

If you would like to address droopy skin on the abdomen, a tummy tuck may be better. Liposuction is ideal for addressing pockets of excess fat.

Can I receive liposuction or a tummy tuck if I am planning to lose weight?

If you plan to lose weight, we recommend waiting to receive treatment until you are close to your weight loss goals, since weight fluctuations can affect your results.

If I am planning to become pregnant, can I have liposuction or a tummy tuck?

If you are planning to become pregnant, we recommend waiting because changes to your body during pregnancy can affect your results.

How long will the results of a tummy tuck and/or liposuction last?

If you take good care of your body and prevent weight fluctuations, you can enjoy results for several years.

References

  1. American Society of Plastic Surgeons ® Endorsed Partner. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/news/statistics/2023/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2023.pdf
  2. Saariniemi KMM, Salmi AM, Peltoniemi HH, Helle MH, Charpentier P, Kuokkanen HOM. Abdominoplasty Improves Quality of Life, Psychological Distress, and Eating Disorder Symptoms: A Prospective Study. Plastic Surgery International. 2014;2014:197232. doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/197232
  3. Orr Shauly, Goel P, Gould DJ. Painless, Drainless Lipoabdominoplasty: A Retrospective Study of Pain Following Lipoabdominoplasty Utilizing Liposomal Bupivacaine and a Modified Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2022;4. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/asjof/ojac049
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