What’s The Difference Between Abdominoplasty and Stomach Liposuction

Dr Craig Rubinstein - MBBS, FRACS (Plast)

While an abdominoplasty and stomach liposuction are both procedures performed on the same area, they are quite different in terms of their approach, purpose and the results that they can achieve. Understanding the difference between abdominoplasty and stomach liposuction can help you decide which procedure aligns more closely with your personal goals.

In this blog, we’ll discuss the key differences between abdominoplasty and stomach liposuction and how you can choose between the two procedures.

What is an abdominoplasty?

An abdominoplasty can remove excess skin and tighten weakened muscles in the abdominal area.

People often undergo abdominoplasty after significant weight loss or pregnancy, where the skin has stretched, and muscles have weakened or separated (a condition known as diastasis recti). After these changes, the skin doesn’t easily tighten to its original form, resulting in excess skin in the area.

The procedure is performed by placing an incision on the lower abdomen, just above the pubic area and typically extending horizontally across the abdomen. However, the length and shape of the incisions will depend on the amount of excess skin that will be removed, and other factors of how the procedure needs to be performed.

The skin is then separated from the abdominal muscles, creating a flap that allows access for muscle repair if needed, such as in cases of diastasis recti, where weakened muscles are sutured together. After trimming excess skin and fat, the surgeon may also reposition the belly button. Finally, the remaining skin is pulled down, and the incisions are closed with sutures.

While a full abdominoplasty involves both removing excess skin and repairing separated abdominal muscles, there are other types of abdominoplasty procedures that can be performed. If a patient doesn’t require any changes to be made to the underlying abdominal muscles, a partial abdominoplasty can be performed to focus only on removing excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen.

An abdominoplasty can sometimes include liposuction to target excess fat pockets in the abdomen. However, adding liposuction to a traditional abdominoplasty procedure is still different than undergoing a stand-alone stomach liposuction procedure.

What is stomach liposuction?

The main difference between abdominoplasty and stomach liposuction is how the procedures are performed and what they are designed to address.

Stomach liposuction only focuses on removing excess fat pockets from the abdomen. Unlike abdominoplasty, it doesn’t involve tightening muscles or removing skin. It’s common for patients to seek this procedure when they have areas of fat that they feel won’t go away, even with lifestyle changes and exercise efforts.

During the procedure, a cannula is inserted through small incisions and used to suction out targeted fat pockets. The incisions are placed in locations that allow for access to the targeted areas, and are typically much smaller than those used during an abdominoplasty.

The procedure focuses on specific areas of excess fat, and is not designed to be a weight loss procedure that removes large volumes of fat. Patients who undergo the procedure will typically need to be at a stable and healthy weight.

The key differences between an abdominoplasty and stomach liposuction

Essentially, an abdominoplasty is a more extensive procedure that removes excess skin and can address abdominal muscles, and may also include liposuction to remove fat pockets. Stomach liposuction is simply liposuction alone, and can only target excess fat pockets.

Incisions used during stomach liposuction are generally shorter, but this will depend on the specific type of abdominoplasty being performed. Liposuction is considered to be less invasive than abdominoplasty, and the recovery time is generally shorter. Bruising and swelling are common for a few weeks, but most people are able to return to normal activities sooner than with abdominoplasty. However, liposuction has limitations.

Since it only removes fat, it doesn’t address excess skin or separated muscles. For those with significant skin laxity, liposuction alone might leave behind more pronounced excess skin, since the skin won’t necessarily tighten in the area after the fat is removed.

Deciding between the two procedures

Ultimately, deciding between an abdominoplasty and stomach liposuction comes down to what you’re hoping to achieve.

If you have skin laxity on the abdomen and want to address excess skin, or have separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti), an abdominoplasty will be a more suitable choice.

An abdominoplasty can sometimes include stomach liposuction, to address excess fat pockets as well as excess skin and separated muscles, so you may be able to essentially combine these two procedures instead of choosing between the two.

However, if you only want to target areas of stubborn fat in the abdomen and have good skin elasticity in the area, meaning that the skin will likely remain sufficiently firm after the removal of the excess fat, stomach liposuction may be the more suitable procedure.

During a consultation with your plastic surgeon, they will assess the level of skin elasticity you have around your abdomen, which can influence whether or not stomach liposuction alone is a suitable procedure. You can discuss the difference between abdominoplasty and stomach liposuction and which procedure better aligns with what you want to achieve.

Book your consultation with abdominoplasty surgeon Dr Rubinstein in Melbourne

With a specific focus on performing abdominoplasty and breast procedures for women, Dr Craig Rubinstein is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon with over 25 years of experience and over 7,000 procedures.

Currently based in Melbourne, Dr Rubinstein has trained in Switzerland, Britain, and America, building on the thorough knowledge required to perform procedures to a high standard.

His skills include using scar minimisation strategies, such as the Le Jour incision technique and drain-free procedures, which can help patients have a simpler recovery experience.

Dr Rubinstein can advise you on your suitability for an abdominoplasty or stomach liposuction during your consultation, and create a surgical plan designed to achieve results that align with your needs.

To arrange your consultation with Dr Craig Rubinstein in Melbourne, you are welcome to contact our team. You can also contact our team with any questions you may have about the other procedures that Dr Rubinstein performs.

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