subject: Some Facts About The 'tummy Tuck' [print this page] Most of us will be familiar with the abdominoplasty procedure by its more commonly-used name of a 'tummy tuck'. It is a plastic surgery operation that reduces sagging skin around the stomach area by a tightening of the abdominal wall muscles. Abdominoplasty may be a major surgical procedure, but many people will consider it because it can have such impressive results.
We all know that eating healthy foods and taking regular exercise will help us to keep our bodies in good condition. However, many women will experience sagging in their abdominal area as they become older, especially after going through pregnancy and childbirth.
And this is why abdominoplasty can be so appealing. When a combination of diet and exercise prove to be an insufficient solution it can flatten a bulging abdomen and restore a youthful appearance.
Men or women who are going to have this operation will need to be in good physical shape. The only problem they should have is an inability to lose the fat from around their abdominal area through regular exercise and a healthy diet.
So, is a 'tummy tuck' a good idea for you? Understandably, a procedure which sets out to remove excess fat and skin whilst tightening the abdominal muscles has been enormously popular. Thousands of people have undergone this operation, but it is still not suitable for everyone.
In general, a good candidate for abdominoplasty will have one (or more) of the following -
*Sagging skin in the abdominal region
*Excess fat around the abdomen
*Abdominal muscles which are bulging and out of proportion with the rest of their body
Most surgeons will be unhappy about performing this type of surgery on a patient if they are -
*A smoker
*Overweight
*Pregnant or likely to become pregnant
If you still think that abdominoplasty is an option for you, then your next step should be an appointment with a Board Certified plastic surgeon. During this consultation, you will be asked in detail about your medical history and whether or not you are currently taking any medication. The surgeon will also want to know what you expect to gain from this procedure so that he/she can decide if this is a realistic goal to achieve.
It will obviously be necessary for the plastic surgeon to carry out an examination of your abdomen. This is in order to check on -
*The condition of your abdominal wall muscles
*And scarring from previous surgery
*The degree of elasticity in your abdominal skin
*How much excess fat and skin there is around your abdomen
After the surgeon has completed this inspection he/she will then be able to give you an honest and informed opinion.
