If you’ve been doing a hundred sit-ups daily and religiously plan your meals, but are still stuck with a flabby tummy, then a tummy tuck may be the solution that you are looking for.
Tummy tucks, clinically known as abdominoplasty, is a procedure where loose skin is removed in the tummy area. Here, the abdominal muscles are tightened, and stubborn fat deposits are removed. This surgical treatment can be customized to meet the unique goals of each patient.
Tummy tucks are perfect for those individuals who do not feel good about their loose skin around their weakened abdominal muscles. This procedure can give you a firmer, and more youthful figure. Contrary to popular belief, a tummy tuck procedure is not for weight loss. It is a body contouring procedure, and its purpose is to remove excess skin and fat around the stomach area, and to tighten the abdominal walls.
If you are thinking of getting a tummy tuck, you must first check to see if you are the right candidate to undergo this clinical procedure.
The Perfect Tummy Tuck Candidate
Below are some criteria to check if tummy tuck is the surgery that you need.
- A tummy tuck is a suitable procedure for men and women who are in good health conditions.
The candidate must have an active lifestyle and be within 25 pounds of his/her ideal weight, with an excess fat and droopy skin in the lower abdomen. Your body must be able to tolerate the general anesthesia required for the procedure. So, a healthy heart, lungs, and kidneys are important. Preferably, the candidate must be a non-smoker.
- You are emotionally healthy and have a realistic expectation for the surgery.
A tummy tuck is not a quick transformation. Following your surgery, you will need a significant amount of time to recover and heal. The results will be evident gradually as you heal. To make the best of your procedure and to maintain its results, you must commit to a healthy diet and lifestyle, with regular exercise routine.
- You have had a baby, or have undergone significant weight loss.
Pregnancy and obesity can weaken and damage your abdominal muscles. In addition to that, both can stretch the skin in your belly. Even after delivering the baby or losing weight, the tissues in your stomach area will remain saggy and droopy. A tummy tuck can repair these tissues to help you achieve a leaner and firmer body.
- You are done having babies.
If you still plan on getting pregnant, it is preferable to wait until your last baby comes out. A pregnancy can separate the repaired muscles and re-stretch your skin, calling for the need for another tummy tuck procedure. If you do get pregnant after a tummy tuck procedure, however, your previous procedure will not affect your baby and your pregnancy.
- You have no plan to lose more weight.
Do not lose more than 30 pounds after your tummy tuck procedure. Extreme weight loss can result to saggy skin around the abdomen, which can negate the result of your tummy tuck procedure.
Remember to be open to your doctor about past and present health conditions. Let them know if you are taking any medicines or supplements. If you are considering having a tummy tuck procedure, it is important to seek help only from an expert plastic surgeon. Talking with a medical expert can help you prepare yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally for the surgery.
Dr. Gregory H. Croll is the owner of his own practice, and the leading doctor for tummy tucks in Columbia, MO.