Everyone deserves to look and feel good but sometimes diet, exercise and your best efforts don’t prevent stubborn pockets of fat from forming.
Countless people struggle with excess fat in areas such as their stomach and thighs but thanks to advancements in cosmetic surgery, it is possible to achieve the shape you’ve always dreamt about.
If you’ve started searching for tummy tuck surgery details, you may be wondering whether abdominoplasty or lipectomy is a better option for you. This is what you need to know.
Abdominoplasty & Lipectomy – The Differences
While abdominoplasty and lipectomy are both surgeries that target excess fat, abdominoplasty is the most popular option.
Abdominoplasty eliminates excess fat and skin but it also tightens loose stomach muscles, which is why it’s known as the tummy tuck. Lipectomy is most commonly referred to as a thigh and buttock lift but excess fat can also be removed from the stomach.
By combining these two procedures, you would be undergoing a belt lipectomy, which is also known as a circumferential abdominoplasty. A belt lipectomy is different to other tummy tuck techniques because excess fat is removed from multiple areas of the body instead of just the stomach.
A Closer Look at the Procedure
By opting to undergo a combined procedure, the location and amount of excess fat that will be removed will differ to a traditional tummy tuck.
The procedure will be performed under general anaesthetic and your surgeon will start with the abdominal area. First, excess fat and skin will be removed from both the lower and upper abdomen, after which the stomach will be contoured. The incision that is made will extend around the waistline and over the upper part of the buttocks so that the hips and buttocks tissue can be accessed. Buttock contouring can be added to the mix for a more dramatic result.
If the abdominal muscles are loose, they will be tightened in order to create a flatter appearance. Once your surgeon has made the necessary adjustments, skin flaps will be created and the incisions will be sutured. Drains will also need to be placed under the skin to remove any excess fluid after the procedure.
The Cost Implications
Since a combined procedure is more complex, the cost of your surgery will be affected. If you feel that a belt lipectomy would help you achieve your desired results more than a traditional tummy tuck would, you will need to prepare to pay a higher fee for the surgery.
The average abdominoplasty costs anywhere from $8,000 – $13,000 but this depends on the surgeon as well as the location of the surgery. The average lipectomy costs anywhere from $6,000 – $8,000. By combining these two procedures, you’re looking at a minimum cost of $10,000.
There are a number of ways to reduce excess fat and contour the body but surgical procedures will always be the most effective. It’s up to you to decide whether the results will be worth the cost.