If you want a tighter, flatter stomach, a tummy tuck may be your solution. A flat and well-toned midsection is something a lot of us strive to achieve through proper diet and ab workouts, sometimes to no avail. Even people of an average and proportionate size can have a protruding or loose and sagging stomach. This can be caused by a variety of different reasons including significant weight fluctuations, multiple pregnancies, prior surgery, or genetics.
A tummy tuck can counteract these natural causes. It’s a surgical procedure that removes excess fat and skin. It can also restore weakened or separated muscles. The results of the process are a firmer, flatter abdomen.
This page will give you an overview of the tummy tuck process. To learn more about how a tummy tuck can work for you, consult with a plastic surgeon certified by either The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
What is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck, medically referred to as abdominoplasty, is a plastic surgery process that can be performed to improve a protruding midsection, loose and sagging skin in the abdomen, or weakened or separated muscles. The procedure can fix localized fat and unflattering skin in the center of the abdomen, the entire area between the lower rib cage and pubic bone, or even extend to the back and sides.
A variety of techniques can be used during surgery, depending on the cause of the problem. If localized fat is the only cause, liposuction can easily fix the problem. When loose and sagging skin tissues are involved, it may be necessary to actually cut out the excess fat and problem skin.
Tummy Tuck – Who is this Procedure For?
A tummy tuck is not a means to avoid diet and exercise. It’s meant for adults who are moderately fit, have good muscle tone, and are in good health. It’s not a procedure that is meant to be undergone multiple times as the results of future procedures are lessened. Therefore, those who still seek to lose a lot of weight or plan on having kids may consider postponing a tummy tuck. Significant fluctuations in weight may take away from the results of surgery.
Candidates most likely to achieve maximum results from a tummy tuck should be:
- Healthy, do not have any medical conditions or life-threatening illnesses that can affect the healing process
- Non-smokers
- Positive about the process and have reasonable and definite goals for improving the appearance of their abdomen.