Liposuction admin on 13 Aug 2006 04:05 pm
A Tummy Tuck Liposuction has Limitations
Liposuction is usually best suited for active people with good skin tone and elasticity. Significantly obese people may require a tummy tuck liposuction procedure where doctor cuts out excess skin after performing liposuction on the abdominal region.
A potential tummy tuck liposuction candidate risks a number of side effects:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Healing problems
- Adverse anesthesia reactions
Those who are in shape and just want to tone up or remove stretch marks may not be good candidates for a tummy tuck liposuction procedure. There are many less invasive alternatives that would be more appropriate.
Abdominoplasty, or a tummy tuck, can greatly reduce a patient’s overall size, tone up their body, and remove inches from their waist, but only if the patient is in top shape for successful surgery. A tummy tuck liposuction procedure can take range between one to five hours and the pain afterward can be rather severe. Depending on the patient, a hospital stay can range from hours to days.
The ideal candidate of a tummy tuck liposuction:
- 18 or older
- In good physical condition
- Not looking to lose a lot of weight
- Not not overly obese and has realistic in expectations.
If the expectations are unrealistic, the attending physician discuss with the candidate and explain exactly what can and cannot be achieved with the procedure.
Is a Tummy Tuck Sufficient?
For those with severe weight problems, a tummy tuck liposuction alone may not achieve the intended results. In some cases scarring can be potentially severe and other options should be discussed. While skin tightens to some degree after a tummy tuck liposuction procedure, it cannot become tight where it was previously loose.
In 1999, a study showed the average tummy tuck liposuction procedure cost approximately $4,200. It varies little across the country. This cost does not include anesthesia, hospital cost, prescriptions, and other costs. It is not something to be considered lightly. Many insurance companies will not pay for a tummy tuck liposuction procedure unless there is a non-cosmetic reason for the procedure.
It is important to discuss the options with your insurance carrier as many have lifetime caps on certain surgical procedures such as a tummy tuck liposuction and a large expense may impact future benefits.