Body contouring vs liposuction confuses many people. The two popular procedures are both commonly performed and generally used to sculpt and reshape the body. However, there are some key differences, which we will discuss in the article ahead.
Liposuction vs Body Contouring
Though both body contouring and liposuction improve the appearance of the body, they address different concerns and are performed differently.
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a surgical procedure specifically designed to remove excess fat from the body. Traditional liposuction is performed via small incisions, through which a thin metal tube is inserted.
This agitates the stubborn fat deposits, breaking them up. Finally, the unwanted fat is removed via the cannula (tube), and the incisions are closed. Liposuction does not destroy fat cells; it simply removes the unwanted fat deposits.
What Is Body Contouring?
Traditionally speaking, body contouring involves body sculpting procedures that aim to reshape the body following major weight loss. While there are nonsurgical body contouring procedures, generally, body contouring centers around tummy tuck surgery, upper and lower body lifts, breast lift surgery, arm lift surgery, and some liposuction to eliminate fat.
When you lose weight, even if you have decent skin elasticity, excess skin can cause discomfort and self-consciousness. To tighten skin and remove redundant skin, we must perform surgery. We will also remove any leftover unwanted fat and create a new body shape overall.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Liposuction?
Ideal candidates for liposuction are individuals who are close to their ideal body weight but struggle with pockets of fat that won’t go away despite regular exercise and a healthy diet. It’s best if patients have good skin elasticity because liposuction does not help with sagging skin (and can actually make it worse). You should be in good health and plan to continue leading a healthy lifestyle after the procedure.
Remember that liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. This means it’s not a good procedure for those who want to lose a large amount of weight.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Body Contouring?
Good candidates for body contouring are individuals who have excess skin and modest amounts of stubborn fat that they want to get rid of. Most candidates have lost a significant amount of weight and are struggling with their new body contour.
In addition, most patients who are good candidates are in good overall health and committed to staying at their target weight and leading a healthy lifestyle after the procedure.
Should I Choose Liposuction or Body Contouring?
Choosing between liposuction and body contouring depends on your specific goals and what procedure(s) you qualify for. As long as you are at an ideal weight, have realistic expectations, do not smoke, and qualify for surgery in all other ways, you should really be eligible for any traditional or non invasive lipo or body contouring procedure.
Overall, if you have loose skin, you want to improve your body’s contours with body contouring surgery. If you want to reduce fat, you’ll need lipo.
At your consultation, discuss your aesthetic goals, any previous surgeries, your medical history, and of course your desired outcomes. Your surgeon will examine you and help you learn about your options.
FAQs: Liposuction and Body Contouring
Can body contouring and liposuction be combined?
Yes, body contouring and liposuction are often combined as a compound cosmetic surgery. For example, liposuction can be used to remove fat, while other body contouring procedures like a tummy tuck or skin tightening can be performed to address loose skin.
What is micro body contouring vs VASER liposuction?
When it comes to micro body contouring vs liposuction, the two are very similar. Micro body contouring treatments typically use VASER liposuction to make body sculpting changes in your silhouette. A mini cannula (thin tube) is used to target unwanted fat and suction it out with the help of ultrasound energy.
How long is the recovery for liposuction and body contouring?
This depends. It can be faster for both procedures if you are in good health (healthy diet and exercise regularly) and do not smoke. Typically, younger, fitter patients do better.
Still, overall, recovery tends to be well tolerated for these procedures. Liposuction targeting smaller fat deposits will have a fairly simple recovery, but removing fat from more areas or in larger quantities may come with a longer duration of recovery time.
Soreness, swelling, and bruising are common symptoms of both procedures. Recovery from body contouring (a more invasive procedure) tends to be a bit longer and more challenging than recovery from lipo.
Is liposuction a weight loss solution?
No, liposuction is not a weight loss solution. In fact, it is best for patients who want to remove unwanted fat when they are already at or very near their target body weight. It’s common to still have some stubborn fat cells in certain areas such as the upper arms, stomach, love handles, and hips and buttocks. With liposuction, fat removal is a quick and easy procedure and highly effective.
Request a Consultation
If you are interested in liposuction, body contouring treatments, or both, please get in touch with us at your earliest convenience. We can help you with fat reduction, excess skin removal, and other procedures for the post-weight loss period or for any other reason.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Cynthia Diehl would be delighted to meet with you, examine the areas of the body you would like to improve, talk with you about your goals, and go over your best options for surgery. Call today to book your first consultation with Dr. Diehl.
