For many women who care about their body, maintaining a taut, firm tummy is the most important aspect of their appearance. But the natural aging process, massive weight loss, or the physical stressors of pregnancy and childbirth can leave some women with loose skin and a poochy tummy that no amount of dieting or exercise will completely fix. Although a tummy tuck is one of the most requested operations, not everyone is a good candidate for it, so read on to see if this common plastic surgery procedure is right for you.
Understanding the Tummy Tuck Procedure
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a plastic surgery procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the belly area and midsection. Usually, the plastic surgeon makes an incision from hip to hip low on the belly, where the scar will by covered by underwear or a bathing suit bikini bottom. At the same time, your surgeon will also tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall, where muscles may have permanently separated during pregnancy, so that your post-surgery belly is flat and firm.
Depending on your body type and the results you want to achieve, you may be a candidate for a mini tummy tuck, a full tummy tuck, or a post weight loss tummy tuck. Take a look at our recent post, What Kind of Tummy Tuck is Right for You? to learn more about the different kinds of tummy tuck procedures.
Is a Tummy Tuck Right for Me?
Dr. Bradley Hubbard has helped many women to look their best and gain new confidence with a tummy tuck, but it’s important to recognize that not everyone is a good candidate for this procedure. Generally speaking, patients are ready for a successful tummy tuck when they are within 10% of their goal weight, they are finished having children, and when they are in good overall health.
You Should Be Within 10% of Your Goal Weight
A tummy tuck is not an appropriate solution for overweight or obese individuals. The procedure only removes the fat and excess skin on the outside of the abdominal wall muscles, not fat underneath the muscle wall. The best tummy tuck candidate is a generally slender individual with loose or sagging belly skin that won’t respond to a healthy diet and exercise.
You Should Be in Excellent Health
Plastic surgery procedures put stress on the body, so candidates should be in good health beforehand in order to have the best chance of recovering quickly and without complications. Because these are elective surgery procedures, Dr. Hubbard has a zero-tolerance policy for taking any unnecessary risks. And as with all plastic surgery, patients cannot smoke or take in nicotine for at least 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after the surgery.
You Should Not Get Pregnant Again
A tummy tuck is a complex procedure that involves separating skin from the abdominal wall muscles, suturing those muscles together again if the ligaments are permanently stretched from pregnancy, removing excess fat and skin, and suturing the skin together again. If you get pregnant again after undergoing the procedure, although it does not pose any risk for the baby, it is likely that the abdominal muscles will separate again and the skin will stretch again. This undoes all the benefits you gained from the tummy tuck (as well as the cost of the procedure and the pain of recovery!). For those reasons, it’s important for women to be finished having children before they consider a tummy tuck.
If you fit this description, you may be an ideal candidate for the firm belly and new self-confidence a tummy tuck can bring. Give Dr. Hubbard’s office a call today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how this procedure can change your life.
For more information on plastic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Plastic Surgeon, Bradley A. Hubbard MD in Dallas, Plano, Frisco and surrounding areas schedule a private detailed consultation by clicking here or calling 214-370-4813