Tummy Tuck or Liposuction: Which is Right for Your Muffin Top?

Belly flab is a common source of concern for both men and women. Even if you eat healthy and work out regularly, you may still struggle to trim down your muffin top. 

If you’re frustrated with your lack of progress toward a slimmer midsection, you may be considering plastic surgery. But when it comes to flatter abs, you may wonder which procedure is best: tummy tuck or liposuction?

You’re not alone with your question. Here at DiGeronimo MD Advanced Plastic Surgery in Miami, Ernest M. DiGeronimo, MD offers both procedures and wants to provide the answers you need to help determine which procedure is right for you. 

Thinking about liposuction

According to medical professionals, losing your unwanted fat requires you to burn more calories than you take in. But judging from your own experience, you know that it’s never that simple. Even if you’re at your desired weight, you may still struggle with stubborn pockets of fat — like the belly flab that makes it impossible to find a decent pair of jeans.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes those stubborn pockets of fat. So, if your muffin top is due to excess body fat that won’t budge, then this may be the procedure for you. Also, Dr. DiGeronimo is such a perfectionist when it comes to helping you achieve your aesthetic goals, that he uses the liposuction tool to literally sculpt your midsection into the perfect form you’ve already worked so hard to get. 

You may experience some swelling, bruising, and discomfort following your liposuction, but you should be able to resume most of your usual activities within 48 hours after your procedure. You can expect to be fully recovered from your liposuction within about two weeks, but it may take several months for the swelling to completely disappear so you can see the final results of your procedure. 

And once Dr. DiGeronimo removes the fat, it won’t come back. 

Considerations for a tummy tuck

Sometimes a muffin top is more than just unwanted pockets of fat. If you’ve lost a lot of weight or you suffer from diastasis recti (separation of your abdominal muscles) following your pregnancy, then your overhang may be a combination of skin, fat, and muscle. To fix your muffin top and flatten your belly in this case, you may be better off with an abdominoplasty, commonly known as a tummy tuck.

During a tummy tuck, Dr. DiGeronimo repositions and tightens the muscles that make up your abdominal wall while removing excess skin and fat to create a flat, tight, and toned midsection. 

After your tummy tuck, we dress your midsection in bandages and place drains to collect fluids. The tummy tuck is a major surgical procedure, and you will need to take some downtime to recover. In fact, it may take a week or two until you can stand upright following a tummy tuck. 

Once you’re able to stand upright, you should notice the improvement in your midsection. However, like liposuction, it may take several months for all the swelling to go down and for you to be able to see the final results. 

Despite the recovery time, many people who choose the tummy tuck find it a very satisfying procedure that gives lasting results. 

Could I need both?

Here at DiGeronimo MD Advanced Plastic Surgery, we want nothing more than to help you achieve your aesthetic goals. If your stubborn pockets of fat and excess skin are making it impossible for you to get the look you want, then you may benefit from both body sculpting procedures. Dr. DiGeronimo has an eye for aesthetics and will determine what procedures you need during your consultation.

For a consultation to learn more about your options for getting rid of your muffin top, contact DiGeronimo MD Advanced Plastic Surgery by calling our office or requesting an appointment online.

You Might Also Enjoy...

5 Common Goals of Rhinoplasty

5 Common Goals of Rhinoplasty

While rhinoplasty is typically considered a cosmetic surgery, it has medical applications as well. Here are five common goals a nose job can achieve.