Even though you can successfully lose excessive weight with targeted exercises, sagging skin won’t respond with diet and exercise alone. For this reason, a tummy tuck is the best option for removing extra skin from your abdomen. This plastic surgery procedure also tightens the abdominal muscles, which cannot be achieved even with strenuous exercises. With tummy tuck surgery, you can achieve slimmer and more toned contours. However, it’s important to know that there are generally two types of tummy tucks, and one might benefit you more than the other. Here’s a quick guide.
Are you a good candidate for tummy tuck?
You are a good candidate for a tummy tuck procedure if you are struggling with extra fat and skin in the abdominal area. This can also include loose stomach muscles and sagging skin. These are common changes that your body goes through after pregnancy or massive weight loss, including after bariatric surgery.
During your consultation, your plastic surgeon will evaluate your skin and abdominal area and discuss your goals before determining whether you are a good candidate.
Advantages of the tummy tuck
The tummy tuck is mostly opted for by women who wish to regain their abdominal shape after pregnancy, or by patients who have excessive skin and separated muscles from weight gain and loss. Pregnancy affects a woman’s body negatively, especially the abdominal area which is left stretched and sagging. The loose skin on the abdomen can be addressed with panniculectomy, which can be done with or without the abdominoplasty procedure.
It’s important to understand that the tummy tuck is not a weight loss procedure and only helps you tighten muscles and eliminate excess skin.
Mini or full tummy tuck?
The mini tummy tuck is the best option if you have excessive skin limited to the area below your belly button or minimal looseness above the belly button. The underlying abdominal muscles can also be tightened during this procedure. Since this surgery is less invasive than the full tummy tuck, the recovery from a mini tummy tuck is also faster. At times, it can be combined with liposuction to give you more dramatic results.
The full tummy tuck procedure uses panniculectomy to address loose skin in the entire abdominal area. The excessive skin from these regions is removed, the abdominal muscles are tightened, and the remaining skin is redraped. Liposuction can help enhance the results of your full tummy tuck procedure to give you a leaner and toned physique.
It takes about 3 hours for a full tummy tuck while the mini tummy tuck takes around 2 hours.
Results from your tummy tuck
When you take good care of yourself during the recovery period, your results from a tummy tuck procedure can last several years. Additionally, no matter what type of tummy tuck you get, the scar will likely be minimally visible.
Any significant weight fluctuations after your procedure can change how your abdomen looks. A future pregnancy can also alter your results from the tummy tuck surgery, so you should be sure to carefully consider your future plans—and opt for non-surgical alternatives if needed.
Once you have achieved your desired abdominal shape with the procedure that is best for you, you should be sure to form habits with the right diet with a good exercise regimen. When you live healthy after your surgery, your results can last for many years to come.
Schedule a Consultation
When it comes to rejuvenating the abdomen and crafting your ideal contours, tummy tuck surgery is the premier option. To get started on discussing the best tummy tuck for you, contact our office by calling or filling out our online form. Our board-certified plastic surgeons can create the right treatment plan for you during a private consultation.
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Board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Richards, Dr. Jabs, and Dr. Magge lead Cosmetic Surgery Associates in Bethesda, MD. They specialize in personalized cosmetic procedures delivered with exceptional skill and care, helping every patient look and feel their best.
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