What Qualifies You For A Tummy Tuck?

The stomach is one of the most frustrating parts of the body for many people. Between aging, weight fluctuations, and childbirth, extra skin and fat may accumulate around the midsection.

But diet and exercise cannot always get rid of excess loose skin or stubborn fat pockets. That’s where a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty can help. A tummy tuck is designed to sculpt the midsection and flatten the belly by removing the extra fat and skin.

Also, your plastic surgeon can repair and tighten weakened abdominal muscles, which tightens the belly further and ensures the best results.

If you have been considering a tummy tuck, below is more information about how to qualify for this procedure.

Qualifications For A Tummy Tuck

An ideal candidate for a tummy tuck meets the following criteria. You should talk to your plastic surgeon during your consultation to determine if a tummy tuck is a good fit for your body and aesthetic goals.

Good Health

You should be in good health. First and foremost, you need to be medically cleared that you are healthy for a major surgical procedure and not use any type of nicotine, as this can cause issues with healing from a tummy tuck. If you smoke or use any form of nicotine, you should quit at least three weeks before your procedure.

You also should not use nicotine for at least four weeks after your tummy tuck.

Extra Abdominal Skin and Tissue

People who need a tummy tuck have sagging extra skin and tissue in the abdomen. For people who need a full tummy tuck, this excess tissue is above and below the navel. But some patients only need a mini tummy tuck, where the extra tissue is only below the navel.

Diet And Exercise

You should already exercise and eat a healthy diet to be as near as possible to your ideal body weight. A tummy tuck is not a way to lose weight; if you still have excessive fat in the midsection, you will need to lose that before you have a tummy tuck.

Patients who have a small amount of fat in the belly may be a candidate for liposuction as well as a tummy tuck. Once the extra fat is removed with liposuction, you won’t have to worry about it again as the fat won’t come back.

Both procedures can be done at once to minimize your recovery time. Your plastic surgeon will let you know if you’re a potential candidate for both procedures.

You Already Have Had Children

If you want to keep your tummy tuck results for the long term, it’s important not to have more children as this will destroy the effects of the procedure. However, if you still want to have children, you should wait until you have built your family before having a tummy tuck.

You Lost A Lot Of Weight

Some people have loose skin and fat around the midsection from losing a significant amount of weight. The extra weight has stretched the skin and cannot bounce back to its original form, which leads to sagging tissue in the belly.

People who have lost weight also may have stretch marks, and the tummy tuck can also address this issue.

You Don’t Like How Your Midsection Looks

If you have loose skin, extra fat, and separated abdominal muscles, it will make it impossible to have a tight belly no matter how much you exercise or diet. For people who are bothered by the appearance of their abdomen from these factors, a tummy tuck can be a great fit.

Tummy Tuck Recovery

It’s vital to understand that a tummy tuck is a major surgery; it’s one of the most intensive of all plastic surgery procedures. As a result, you will have an extensive recovery period of at least a month when you will not be able to do many of your regular activities.

Generally, patients cannot lift heavy objects, including small children for at least a few weeks after a tummy tuck. There will be considerable pain and soreness, but these issues will resolve over time.

For ideal results, plan on taking it easy for several weeks, which means you should have help around the home if you have small children.

Also, you will not see your tummy tuck results for a few weeks because you will have a lot of swelling. But as your body heals, you will see impressive results as your abdomen is flatter and tighter than it has been in years.

Many patients need up to six months before they see their final tummy tuck results.

Outlook

A tummy tuck is a safe and effective procedure for people with extra fat and skin hanging loosely in their midsection. This cosmetic procedure could be a good idea for those near their ideal body weight and cannot flatten their stomach with diet and exercise alone.

Talk to your plastic surgeon about your tummy tuck goals, and he will determine if you’re a good fit for this procedure.

References:

Tummy Tuck Procedure by Dr. Steinberg. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.drsteinberg.com/procedures/body/tummy-tuck/

Who Is A Good Candidate For A Tummy Tuck? (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/tummy-tuck/candidates

Five Things To Consider Before Getting A Tummy Tuck. (2018). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/five-things-to-consider-before-getting-a-tummy-tuck