Tummy tuck surgery is known medically as abdominoplasty, and involves both fat and skin being removed from the middle and lower portion of the abdominal area. During tummy tuck surgery sometimes the abdominal muscles are also tightened. This form of surgery can help get rid a person of excess fat and loose saggy skin. While both men and women have tummy tucks, it is most commonly sought after by women who are bothered by their appearances after having children and also after losing a considerable amount of weight.
Skin can only stretch so much and over time it tends to lose some of its ability to bounce back into shape. A tummy tuck can improve the look of the stomach and give it more elasticity. A tummy tuck surgery should never be a substitute for healthy lifestyle habits however, such as eating nutritiously and exercise but it is a viable option if your abdominal area is stubborn and will no longer respond to your efforts in these areas.
Who makes a good candidate for tummy tuck surgery?
Just because you have droopy skin on your stomach does not necessarily make you a candidate for the surgery. Ideal candidates are those individuals who are in good to excellent physical condition and who have no serious medical conditions. They are also those who have excess fat or skin in their abdominal area that is resistance to the effects of exercise. For example, women who have given birth but now find that their abdominal muscles refuse to go back to the way they were before they got pregnant make good candidates for the procedure.
There is more than one type of tummy tuck operation. It is important to discuss the options available to you with your plastic surgeon. For example, there is the traditional tummy tuck which is known as the full tummy tuck. There is also the mini-tummy truck, the endoscopic tummy tuck and a rarely performed procedure called the panniculectomy. A person who has an excess of fat in their lower abdominal area but not in their middle abdomen could benefit from having a mini- tummy tuck as opposed to having a full one.
It is important to have realistic expectations about tummy tuck surgery. It is also important to choose an appropriate plastic surgeon to perform the procedure. The abdominal muscles can be repaired and tightened during the procedure and excess fat will be taken away. This can improve the appearance of the stomach and make the body look more contoured and toned. It can also help to boost the individual’s level of self confidence.
