What is the difference between liposuction and abdominoplasty?

Liposuction is a procedure which removes excess fat through small metal cannulas inserted into the skin. A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is a procedure that involves a surgical incision across the lower abdomen to remove excess skin and fat. A good candidate for liposuction is someone who is relatively young (<40) with good skin tone and no stretch marks. A good candidate for a tummy tuck is someone with loose skin, stretch marks and a weakened abdominal wall- such as women after multiple pregnancies. Often times some liposuction of the love handle area is combined with a tummy tuck to enhance a patient’s overall contour.