Also known as abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck can help you achieve a sleek stomach by removing excess skin and tightening the muscles along your abdomen. So, just how do you decide if a tummy tuck is for you? Together with Specialists in Plastic Surgery’s team of board certified plastic surgeons, we break down some of the qualities that make for a good tummy tuck candidate. When making your decision, we encourage you to ask yourself these four questions.
Do I have excess skin?
As a result of aging, genetics, weight loss, or pregnancy, you may find that you continue to struggle with the loose and sagging skin around your midsection. A tummy tuck effectively excises excess skin from the abdominal area through a hip to hip incision. This incision length is dependent on your skin excess.
Where is my excess skin?
Depending on where your excess skin is located, you may be a candidate for a mini-tummy tuck or a full tummy tuck. Whereas a mini tummy tuck tightens the skin below the belly button, a full tummy tuck tightens the skin both above and below the belly button.
Does my abdomen protrude?
A protruding abdomen can be a sign of diastasis recti. This is where the muscles have stretched and there is a space between your left and right abdominal muscles. Diastasis recti is especially prominent after pregnancy but is not exclusive to mothers. A tummy tuck helps you regain abdominal tone by repairing and tightening the stretched and loose abdominal muscles. Diastasis recti can sometimes be improved with physical therapy. However, complete correction can only be accomplished through surgery.
Do I have excess fat?
Traditionally, a tummy tuck does not address excess centrally located fat. If you find that you have both excess fat in the flank region and loose skin, then the combination of flank fat reduction as well as skin tightening are needed. In this sense, liposuction is the perfect complement to a tummy tuck.
Make Sure to Visit a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Ultimately, it is important to seek out the advice of an experienced board certified plastic surgeon. Every individual is unique and a qualified surgeon can assess your body and help you decide if a tummy tuck is right for you. If you are interested in learning more, please schedule a consultation at either Specialists in Plastic Surgery’s Raleigh or Cary practices.