Liposuction Vs. Tummy Tuck: The Expert Weighs In

As one of Miami’s most renowned plastic surgeons, Dr. Jhonny Salomon masters the art of plastic surgery by offering his patients the latest and most advanced medical and surgical techniques. Haute Beauty caught up with the esteemed doctor who gives us an expert inside take on the most frequently asked questions regarding tummy tuck and liposuction.

Jhonny Salomon

What is the recovery time on full body procedures such as tummy tucks?

The time for recovery for a full body procedure including tummy tuck is about a week to 10 days to return to work and about 3 - 4 weeks to get back to the gym. 

What would qualify a patient for liposuction over a tummy tuck?

There are several factors you have to consider when deciding on which treatment is best suited for your patient; excess fat, skin laxity and the diastasis of the abdominal muscle. If you have excessive skin, laxity of muscle as well as excessive fat then you are best suited for a tummy tuck. If the abdominal muscle is still relatively tight and there's only a concern of having some excess fat, then liposuction would be a suitable option for the patient. 

What is the most commonly “botched” procedure you’ve come across?

I would say that in general, Plastic Surgeons have become more experienced and have become more aware of the normal human anatomy and are delivering more natural results. Less and less Plastic Surgeons are delivering exaggerated results they are moving in the direction of delivering natural, subtle, realistic results to their patients. With this being said, I think rhinoplasty has the highest overall revision rates among cosmetic procedures. 

Is there a specific reason why a client may opt for an invasive treatment rather than non-invasive?

The decision to go with either a non-invasive or invasive procedure largely depends on the degree of the deformity and the overall patient expectations. 

Are there any lifestyle changes required with specific treatments? 

There are always some lifestyle changes suggested extending the results of each treatment. For instance, after a body treatment such as liposuction or tummy tucks, I always encourage patients to maintain a healthy lifestyle combining a good diet and regular exercise. Following laser resurfacing treatments it is also encouraged that patients stay out of the sun as much as possible and use a strong SPF whenever they are exposed to excessive sunlight.