Study Says Combined Liposuction/Tummy Tuck Offers Best of Both Procedures

If you've ever wanted to shave a couple of pounds off of your mid-section, then you may have considered plastic surgery. For many who wish to reduce their waistlines, there are numerous surgical options, including tummy tucks and liposuction How do you choose between the two? Is one better than the other? Can you do both? Luckily, you can do both at the same time and achieve extraordinary cosmetic results—without the risk of increased complications.

A new study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open suggests that combining liposuction with tummy tuck procedures may offer patients the best of both worlds. Dr. Eric Swanson has been performing tummy tucks and liposuction for years. Recently, however, he performed a study of patients who received the tummy tuck and liposuction procedure simultaneously. His findings were that the combination of the two procedures resulted in high patient satisfaction rates and a low complication rate.

During the study, patients initially underwent ultrasonic liposuction to remove excess fat from the abdomen and hips. This procedure was then followed by a tummy tuck (also known as abdominoplasty). The tummy tuck removes excess skin and abdominal tissue, making the abdomen flatter and tighter than before.

The outcomes of the 150 patients who received the combined procedures were compared to the outcomes of 384 patients who underwent liposuction alone and 17 patients who chose just tummy tucks. The results were great and his patients reported better cosmetic results and even recovered quicker after surgery—an average of only 51 minutes in the recovery room. Even better, complications that often plague liposuction and tummy tucks were drastically reduced because of specific preventative measures taken by Dr. Swanson.

In the past, many plastic surgeons have left behind some of the abdominal fat when performing these procedures in an attempt to reduce a complication known as a seroma. A seroma is a collection of fluid underneath the skin. During the study, Dr. Swanson noted that after his procedures no liposuction patients developed seromas and only 5% of tummy tuck patients (5%) developed seromas.

In order to reduce the incidence of seromas, Dr. Swanson used shorter periods of ultrasound and eliminated the use of electro-dissection during surgery. He injected the tissues with fluid containing epinephrine to reduce the blood loss and to eliminate the need for cautery dissection. He also used total intravenous anesthesia without muscle paralysis, which greatly reduced the incidence of blood clots in the legs.

According to Dr. Swanson's report, plastic surgeons can greatly reduce the risks and complications associated with combined liposuction/tummy tuck procedures, by adopting safe preventative measures, such as the ones outlined above.

While combining liposuction and tummy tuck procedures is nothing new, there have been very few well-designed studies that have actually investigated the outcomes of combined procedures. With basic measures to reduce the risks associated with combined tummy tuck/liposuction procedures, excellent cosmetic results can be achieved with an extraordinary low complication rate.

Contact Pasadena Plastic surgeon Specialists

If you are considering a tummy tuck or liposuction, it is important to choose a plastic surgeon carefully. Pasadena men and women continue to choose Dr. Kevin Ruhge to perform their liposuction and tummy tuck surgeries because of the extraordinary care they receive. His personalized approach to plastic surgery means that his clients can contact him 24/7 after a surgical procedure.

If you would like to learn more about tummy tucks, liposuction, or any plastic surgery procedure, we invite you to meet with Dr. Ruhge for a private consultation at our office in Pasadena by calling 626.397.9095, or by scheduling an appointment online.