"Can't fit Into My Corporate Clothes Anymore":Liposuction or Tummy Tuck?

Talk Show Host Wendy Williams Had A Liposuction and Tummy Tuck

I don't know about you but there's no better eye-candy in the the workplace than women and men in well fitted suits, shirts, trousers, skirts...
That's why getting out of shape after getting married or having kids may cause some staff to become sort of reserved.

Yes there's diet and exercise which we will be talking about regularly but I want to be a bit adventurous and look at tummy tuck ... What's that all about? What's liposuction? What's the difference? We just assume we know but getting more knowledge won't hurt.

Here are the views on some specialists on what liposuction/tummy tuck is and which procedure is preferred:

"My medical philosophy is to do the least invasive procedure first, whenever possible. It is pretty well established that tumescent liposuction of the abdomen (using only local anesthetic) has far fewer risks for the patient that a tummy tuck procedure (larger surgical procedure done under general anesthesia). 

When considering liposuction vs. tummy tuck, many patients mistakenly think that they have to choose either one or the other. I give them a third option - do a simple liposuction first, and move on to an invasive tummy tuck later, only if truly necessary.
I let my patients know that the two procedures are complimentary, and are commonly performed together - for example, during a tummy tuck surgery a surgeon may first perform liposuction to remove excess fat and then move on to removing excess skin and tighten muscle, if necessary.

My advice: split the liposuction-tummy tuck surgery into two:
Part 1: tumescent liposuction.
Part 2 (only when necessary): tummy tuck. 

I encourage my patients to start with the less invasive, less risky, safer procedure first. I tell them to choose tumescent liposuction, which is the safest way to perform liposuction.
Having taught liposuction for years at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, I know that tumescent liposuction is effective and has a remarkable safety record, especially when compared to the alternatives. Tumescent liposuction is done with the person awake, using local anesthetic, and avoids the risks associated with general anesthesia.

Liposuction can remove a substantial amount of fat and can dramatically improve a person's shape and silhouette, especially in the stomach area. More often than not, this is enough to solve the main concerns of many of my patients. Their shape improves and they look better in and out of clothes.

For those few patients who are not fully satisfied and truly need abdominal muscle tightening and skin resection - they can move on to Part 2 -the more invasive part involving general anesthesia, a lengthy scar, and a much longer recovery time. 

Should Part 2 really be necessary, the patient will not have lost any ground by having the liposuction done first. With the fat already removed, the skin removal and muscle tightening may actually be done faster.

In short, the two part approach gives patients the option of starting with a safer, less invasive procedure, and moving on to a major surgery only if necessary."
Ilya Reyter, MD

"Which one is best for you- liposuction versus tummy tuck- depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Liposuction is a great way to get rid of fat, but will not get rid of stretch marks or extra skin, and will not bring together stretched apart abdominal muscles. (Liposuction in the wrong candidate can actually make you look worse!) A tummy tuck can get rid of extra lower abdominal fat, skin, some (occasionally all) stretch marks, and bring together the abdominal muscles to get you back to a pre-pregnancy figure.

Which option is better for you really depends on your exam and your goals and expectations. Each procedure has it's own risks and recovery time. I would recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon to see if you are a good candidate for surgery, and if so which option is best to get you the results you want."
Anita Patel, MD

"In many cases both tummy tuck and liposuction done together give you the best result.
The key is the amount of loose skin and fat in the abdomen following pregnancy. If the problem is primarily loose skin with very little fat, then a tummy tuck alone will remove loose skin and tighten the tummy.

However, if there are significant amounts of fat then a liposuction will also be needed.
Another important issue is whether the loose skin is below the belly button. If it is then a mini tummy tuck may be all that you need.

New laser assisted liposuction also tightens skin as well as remove fat. In cases where loose skin is minimal and small pockets of fat are the main concern, then the laser liposuction may be all that is needed.

If a full Abdominoplasty or Tummy Tuck is done, adding Liposuction can increase the risk and should be done before the Tummy Tuck."
Brooke R Seckel, MD,FACS 

I see both procedures as more corrective than cosmetic; especially where there is excess skin from even regular weight loss.


If you have a tummy that seems to be "unresponsive" to diet or exercise you can talk to your doctor and specialist in this area. Hey, what's the big deal?