Am I A Good Candidate for A Tummy Tuck?
A smooth, flat, sleek stomach is something both men and women typically desire. Unfortunately, nature isn’t always fair; though many people spend hours in the gym trying to sculpt the perfect abdomen, factors like aging, pregnancy, and genetics often make this feel like “mission impossible.” Stubborn fat deposits and loose skin that simply refuses to firm up are common challenges for both genders.
Fortunately, there is a possible solution: A tummy tuck may be able to give you the toned-looking stomach of your dreams—if you meet the right criteria. If you’re wondering whether or not a tummy tuck is right for you, check out the list of qualifying factors below:
- You’ve lost a lot of weight or had a baby.
In order for a tummy tuck to be performed, the patient needs to have a certain amount of loose skin (otherwise, the scar from the surgery may end up looking overly taught and unattractive). Tummy tucks are therefore best suited to people who have lost a lot of weight or been through pregnancy at least once.
If you don’t have a lot of loose skin, your surgeon may recommend that you have a partial tummy tuck. This procedure focuses on tightening up loose skin below the bellybutton and requires a smaller incision.
- You’re not planning to either lose more weight or become pregnant again.
Once you have a tummy tuck, it’s important to maintain the size of your stomach. Pregnancy in particular will stretch both the skin and the muscles of the stomach again, making a second tummy tuck necessary.
With each subsequent surgery, the risk of scarring and other complications increases, so it’s important to have a tummy tuck performed only when you’re finished either losing weight or having children. And of course, once you have the surgery performed, you’ll need to be diligent about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. While weight gain or loss in the range of 10-15 pounds will not visibly affect the appearance of your stomach much, anything over 20-30 pounds may loosen your skin.
- You’re in good health.
While having a tummy tuck is not particularly risky for most people, like any invasive surgery, this procedure should not be performed on anyone with serious health issues. In order to be a good candidate for a tummy tuck, you’ll need to be a healthy weight, have a strong heart and lungs, and have a robust immune system. Before scheduling a tummy tuck, it’s therefore a good idea to visit your doctor in order to rule out any health concerns.
If you meet all of the criteria above, congratulations—you’re probably a great candidate for this abdominal sculpting procedure. The stomach of your dreams is just a phone call away, so don’t hesitate to book a consultation with Dr. Ben Lee.
