When weight loss and healthy habits are not enough to flatten a "saggy" tummy, many women (and men) turn to an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). A few things you need to know about this procedure:
Top Options for Tummy Tucks
All abdominoplasty procedures have the same goal – a tighter tummy – but you actually have a few options in how much improvement you want to see and where exactly the tightening will occur. Depending on your body shape and your goals, your doctor may recommend one of the following:
• Traditional / "Full" Tummy Tuck – In a standard tummy tuck your surgeon tightens up sagging or torn abdominal muscles using a line of tiny stitches, then trims away excess fat and skin and stitches the low, hip-to-hip incision closed. This procedure can also be paired with liposuction and/or breast enhancement.
• Mini Tummy Tuck – This smaller-scale option uses a shorter incision and fewer stitches to tighten just the lower half of the abdominal muscles before excess skin is removed. Some doctors also perform mini abdominoplasties that correct fat and skin only, with no muscle tightening.
• Post-Weight-Loss Tummy Tucks – Loose skin after weight loss requires a special approach, so some plastic surgeons offer advanced options such as circumferential abdominoplasty, which removes excess tissue all the way around the hips, or the anchor abdominoplasty, which tightens skin in the upper abdomen as well.
Is a Tummy Tuck Right for You?
Only a qualified plastic surgeon can tell you if tummy tuck is right for you, but in general you may be a good candidate for this procedure if you are within a healthy weight range and your diet and regular exercise do not seem to be enough to tighten your problem areas.
If you are in particularly good shape, a mini tummy tuck might be your best option, but in general this option is not appropriate unless you are seeing minimal to no sagginess at your hips and upper abdomen.
Tips for Better Results
• Don't cut corners. Abdominoplasty is one of the most intensive cosmetic surgeries available, and while it can be an extremely rewarding experience, choosing a reliable, board-certified plastic surgeon is a must.
• Establish your long-term health habits before surgery. Abdominoplasty is not a weight loss method, and extreme gains or losses in weight post-procedure may compromise your results. Before your surgery establish healthy habits and find an exercise schedule you enjoy; you'll be better able to ease back into that pattern – and maintain your slim new figure -- afterward.
• Be patient. New techniques make the recovery process easier on you, but muscle still takes time to heal and your scar may also take up to a year to fade.
Top Options for Tummy Tucks
All abdominoplasty procedures have the same goal – a tighter tummy – but you actually have a few options in how much improvement you want to see and where exactly the tightening will occur. Depending on your body shape and your goals, your doctor may recommend one of the following:
• Traditional / "Full" Tummy Tuck – In a standard tummy tuck your surgeon tightens up sagging or torn abdominal muscles using a line of tiny stitches, then trims away excess fat and skin and stitches the low, hip-to-hip incision closed. This procedure can also be paired with liposuction and/or breast enhancement.
• Mini Tummy Tuck – This smaller-scale option uses a shorter incision and fewer stitches to tighten just the lower half of the abdominal muscles before excess skin is removed. Some doctors also perform mini abdominoplasties that correct fat and skin only, with no muscle tightening.
• Post-Weight-Loss Tummy Tucks – Loose skin after weight loss requires a special approach, so some plastic surgeons offer advanced options such as circumferential abdominoplasty, which removes excess tissue all the way around the hips, or the anchor abdominoplasty, which tightens skin in the upper abdomen as well.
Is a Tummy Tuck Right for You?
Only a qualified plastic surgeon can tell you if tummy tuck is right for you, but in general you may be a good candidate for this procedure if you are within a healthy weight range and your diet and regular exercise do not seem to be enough to tighten your problem areas.
If you are in particularly good shape, a mini tummy tuck might be your best option, but in general this option is not appropriate unless you are seeing minimal to no sagginess at your hips and upper abdomen.
Tips for Better Results
• Don't cut corners. Abdominoplasty is one of the most intensive cosmetic surgeries available, and while it can be an extremely rewarding experience, choosing a reliable, board-certified plastic surgeon is a must.
• Establish your long-term health habits before surgery. Abdominoplasty is not a weight loss method, and extreme gains or losses in weight post-procedure may compromise your results. Before your surgery establish healthy habits and find an exercise schedule you enjoy; you'll be better able to ease back into that pattern – and maintain your slim new figure -- afterward.
• Be patient. New techniques make the recovery process easier on you, but muscle still takes time to heal and your scar may also take up to a year to fade.
