Tummy Tuck: Do I need a plan after weight loss? The weight is gone, but now you have a problem again. Too much skin hanging your new and improved stomach - a tummy tuck may be the solution to your problem.
Pop culture wants us all to lose weight. Just flip the channels and you can find the reality show about ordinary people and celebrities to lose weight. You're bombarded with infomercials for exercise equipment, miracle pills to burn fat and feed systems and gyms all wanting you to join their club. low-carb, no carb, lite, sugar free ... These are the hallmarks of our time.
However, you did ... you lost weight. Congratulations
But, looking down you see a soft flap of skin that used to be full of fat and more like a deflated balloon in your stomach. It is a common problem for people who have lost a considerable amount of weight and it is a solution - abdominoplasty, also known as tummy tuck.
weight loss is not the only reason for abdominoplasty. Pregnancy is also hard on the elasticity of the skin and can eventually leave extended and unattractive. If you are finished having children, a tummy tuck can solve your problem of loose skin.
If none of these descriptions sound like you, then you may need a tummy tuck. Now, what exactly does this procedure?
For a horizontal incision across the lower abdomen and around the navel, the surgeon removes excess skin and fat pockets remaining. The surgeon then shortens the abdominal muscles tighten. In some cases, liposuction is used in conjunction with the decline of removing excess fat. While the procedure can remove stretch marks and scars from weight gain or pregnancy, surgery itself may leave a scar that will always exist significant under your shirt but fade with time.
It may be possible to have a mini-tuck instead of a text. If you are in ten percent of your ideal weight and consultation with the surgeon shows you are a good candidate, the less invasive mini Tuck will work. A full abdominoplasty is necessary for any person who is twenty percent or more outside of ideal weight.
There are some things to consider before proceeding with surgery. Have you lost all the weight you can possibly through diet and exercise? This procedure is considered major surgery - it can take between one and five hours under general anesthesia - so it should be the last step in a good health plan. A commitment to a healthy diet and exercise after surgery to ensure that it was money well spent.
If more children are in your future, hold off on the tummy. As described above, the abdominal muscles are tightened. As the belly expands during pregnancy, tight muscles separated leading to more problems and erase the effects of abdominoplasty.
If you've decided you need a tummy tuck, it is important to consult a plastic surgeon and let him evaluate you as a candidate for the procedure. Always make sure the surgeon is experienced and qualified and do research. Out of his experience with abdominoplasty, check references and view photos. Again, this is major surgery, so do your homework.
Posted on February 11, 2010.