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By Emmanuel Asare, MD –
This is a question we get in our practices every week. And it’s a very good question. It’s difficult to know whether you’re a good candidate for a minimally-invasive procedure like SmartlipoTM, or if a major surgery like abdominoplasty is better.
Here are some tips to help you evaluate which one might be right for you. However, each patient is different and a physical exam by a plastic surgeon is necessary before landing at a final conclusion.
Is Laser Liposuction Better for Me?
If you have areas where stubborn fat has accumulated and is not responding to diet or exercise, this procedure might be better for you than a tummy tuck.
Laser lipo can resolve excess fat as well as mild to moderate loose skin in the treated areas. The way this is accomplished is through the heat emitted from the laser fiber.
The heat reaches the collagen layer in the skin, causing it to contract and producing a skin tightening effect. Many SmartlipoTM patients are able to avoid a mini or full tummy tuck because they do not have large amounts of loose skin.
If you have lost a large amount of weight or have had children, read on for information about why a tummy tuck might be a better option.
Is a Tummy Tuck Better for Me?
A mini tummy tuck addresses moderate to severe loose skin and muscle tissue below the belly button. In women who have had children or men/women who have lost a lot of weight, mini-abdominoplasty is sometimes the right way to go.
If you have handfuls of loose skin that hang down on your tummy or if you have separated stomach muscles that only affect the lower abdominal region, your plastic surgeon might recommend a mini-tummy tuck.
A full tummy tuck is ideal for patients with loose skin, separated muscles, and excess skin or fat that extends above the belly button region. The doctor will remove the excess skin, tighten up the muscles from the pubic bone to the bottom of the sternum, and reposition the belly button.
Looking for an Abdominoplasty Surgeon in NYC or Commack?
Come in for a free consultation with one of our Board Certified New York plastic surgeons to see if SmartlipoTM or a tummy tuck is right for you. With over 60 years of combined experience, they have made hundreds of patients happy with their results.
Call us today in Manhattan at (212) 206-0023 or in Long Island at (631) 499-1831.
SmartlipoTM is a trademark of Cynosure, Inc.
