Who is eligible for tummy tuck

During a tummy tuck — also known as abdominoplasty — excess skin and fat are removed from the abdomen. Connective tissue in the abdomen fascia usually is tightened with sutures as well. The remaining skin is then repositioned to create a more toned look. You might choose to have a tummy tuck if you have excess fat or skin around the area of your bellybutton or a weak lower abdominal wall. A tummy tuck can also boost your body image. There are a number of reasons you might have excess fat, poor elasticity of the skin or weakened connective tissue in your abdomen.

These include:. A tummy tuck can remove loose, excess skin and fat, and tighten weak fascia. A tummy tuck can also remove stretch marks and excess skin in the lower abdomen below the bellybutton. However, a tummy tuck won't correct stretch marks outside of this area.

If you've previously had a C-section, your plastic surgeon might be able to incorporate your existing C-section scar into your tummy tuck scar. A tummy tuck can also be done in combination with other body contouring cosmetic procedures, such as breast surgery. If you've had fat removed from your abdomen liposuction , you may decide to have a tummy tuck because liposuction removes tissue just under the skin and fat but not any excess skin.

Like any other type of major surgery, a tummy tuck poses a risk of bleeding, infection and an adverse reaction to anesthesia. Initially, you'll talk to a plastic surgeon about a tummy tuck. During your first visit, your plastic surgeon will likely:.

Review your medical history. Be prepared to answer questions about current and past medical conditions. Talk about any medications you're taking or you have taken recently, as well as any surgeries you've had. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any medications.

If your desire for a tummy tuck is related to weight loss, your doctor will likely ask detailed questions about your weight gain and loss. A tummy tuck is done in a hospital or an outpatient surgical facility. During a tummy tuck, you'll be under general anesthesia — which makes you completely unconscious and unable to feel pain. Any weight loss after that can result in more sagging or excess skin. As mentioned previously, the best way to keep the results of abdominoplasty for life is to not gain or lose too much weight.

However, as important as it is to eat around maintenance, it is just as important to take care of your skin. Do not consume any form of tobacco or tobacco byproduct. Do not drink alcohol to excess. Consume enough water daily that your urine is translucent or at least very pale.

Finally, get enough skin-supporting vitamins and minerals in your diet, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K and biotin. Remember, to be a good candidate for tummy tuck, you need loose skin. Two of the most common causes of loose skin are pregnancy and obesity. This is often apparent when your lower abdomen resembles a kangaroo pouch. No amount of diet or exercise can reverse this. Your only option is to have your abdominal muscles sewn back together by a plastic surgeon.

Moreover, if you have excess skin in addition to loose skin, you can look a lot heavier than your actual weight. You are an excellent candidate for tummy tuck if you have had a baby or been obese. The best candidate for abdominoplasty has no plans of being pregnant in the future. There are no medical risks to you or your fetus if you become pregnant, however, every pregnancy comes with the risk of significant weight gain, loose or excess skin and tearing of the abdominal walls.

Any one of these events will reverse the effects of the procedure. If you become pregnant in the future, you may need a follow-up procedure to get your prenatal body back. Remember, the best candidate for abdominoplasty is within 30 pounds of his or her goal weight. If you lose any more weight than that after the procedure, you run the risk of more loose skin and undoing the results of the procedure.

We recommend that you wait to consider abdominoplasty until you are at or very near your goal weight. Abdominoplasty goes far beyond improving your aesthetic and self-confidence. It can also cure several medical conditions. For example, it is often recommended to cure stress urinary incontinence SUI. SUI is one of the most common side effects or pregnancy.

If you gave vaginal birth and suffer from SUI, you may greatly benefit from abdominoplasty to cure stress urinary incontinence. Even if oral medication is fairly effective, you have to remember to take the right doses at the right times without fail. Moreover, medications for incontinence relief often come with several nasty side effects.

If you have a bladder control disorder and you have loose skin and excess fat, you may be the perfect candidate for abdominoplasty. Extreme weight loss and multiple pregnancies, among other risk factors, can lead to your abdominal muscles becoming distended. When this happens, you may experience lordosis, also known as swayback. After your abdominal muscles are sewn back together, you may find that your posture improves significantly. A ventral hernia occurs when abdominal tissue or an intestine penetrates the abdominal wall and forms a sack or pocket.

Risk factors of developing a ventral hernia include having had a C-section, an appendectomy, massive weight loss or a previous ventral hernia. A temporary numbness or a loss of sensation along the incision line is normal, but will slowly resolve. While you should be feeling close to your old self after a few months, it can take a full year before the stomach has finished healing and the complete results of surgery can be seen.

Whether you are thinking about a full abdominoplasty or a mini-tummy tuck, take your time and only put your trust in a board-certified plastic surgeon.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons ASPS offers a variety of tools to get you started towards your abdominoplasty, from informative animations to before and after photographs. Do your homework, then schedule a consultation appointment with an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon.

With proper research and an experienced aesthetic provider, you can achieve the flat, taut abdomen you have been longing for. The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Get started today! Create an Account. Choose a board-certified plastic surgeon and be confident you are in the care of a highly trained surgeon you can trust.

American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Community Home ask a surgeon patient community. Ask a Surgeon. Patient Community. Post your question to Ask a Surgeon to get an authoritative and trustworthy answer from our ASPS member surgeons or share your journey with other people just like you on the Patient Community. The views expressed in Ask a Surgeon and the Patient Community are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Share your journey with other people just like you on the Patient Community or post your question to Ask a Surgeon to get an authoritative and trustworthy answer from our ASPS member surgeons. Share your journey with other people just like you on the Patient Community. My Account. Before committing to the abdominoplasty procedure, consider the following five tummy tuck facts: A tummy tuck requires significant downtime A tummy tuck is a major surgical procedure that will require weeks to heal.

Expect to be at a stable weight before your tummy tuck An abdominoplasty is a wonderful way to sculpt the figure and shape the body. A tummy tuck will leave a permanent scar Although the tummy tuck is one of the most valued and effective cosmetic surgery procedures performed today, the incision will leave a scar along the abdomen.

Surgical drains will be in place for the first week or two After surgery, drains are put in place to eliminate a buildup of blood or fluids, keeping swelling down and ensuring proper healing. Full healing can take up to a year The benefits from your tummy tuck will not be immediately noticeable.