3 Signs You’re a Good Tummy Tuck Candidate
A tummy tuck can be an effective, long-term solution for men and women who are concerned about the appearance of their abdomen. Being a good candidate for the body contouring procedure can help to ensure that you’ll enjoy an optimal outcome and long-lasting results.
1. You Have Loose Skin
Diet and exercise may work to eliminate extra fat in your stomach but they won’t help with the stretched-out skin from a pregnancy or significant weight loss. Without sufficient elasticity to adjust to your new shape, your skin can become loose and saggy. During a tummy tuck, a plastic surgeon makes a long incision at your hips and removes the excess skin. The remaining skin is contoured to tightly drape over your abdominal muscles.
2. Your Abdominal Muscles Are Separated
Abdominal muscles can become weak or separated (diastasis recti) during pregnancy, causing a stomach pooch. Although physical therapy and exercise may help restore the abdominal wall, more pronounced cases of diastasis recti may benefit from a tummy tuck. A plastic surgeon will repair abdominal muscles as part of your tummy tuck to obtain a flatter abdomen.
3. You Have Realistic Expectations
The best tummy tuck candidates understand what the procedure will and won’t do. They have realistic expectations and trust in their plastic surgeon’s recommendations.
If you aren’t close to your target weight or you plan to have more children, your plastic surgeon may suggest delaying your tummy tuck. A tummy tuck, especially in combination with lipo, is a body-contouring procedure that can create a smoother, more defined abdomen for people who have reached their goal weight. Although a tummy tuck won’t interfere with a future pregnancy, you may require a revision surgery afterwards to re-contour your stomach.
Please ensure that you are medically, physically and socially optimized for a tummy tuck, and consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon to find out if you are a good candidate for the tummy tuck procedure.