If you have had several pregnancies, a multiple pregnancy or have simply lost a lot of weight, you may be unhappy with loose skin around your stomach and abdominal area. A tummy tuck, otherwise known as an abdominoplasty, is an elective surgical procedure designed to remove excess skin and tighten the remaining skin. This leaves you with tight, firm skin. If you are considering this type of surgery, learning more about the procedure can help you determine if it is right for you.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 97 percent of all tummy tuck patients are female. Pregnancy is most likely to blame for this gender discrepancy. With that said, an abdominoplasty works equally well for both males and females. If you’re a male who has lost a lot of weight and has sagging skin, don’t feel as if a tummy tuck is just for women. It’s an available and effective treatment for people of both sexes.
When considering whether or not a tummy tuck is the right choice for you, it’s important to understand what the surgery can and cannot do. The procedure is designed for removing excess skin and some fat. If you still have some weight to lose in the area, you will need to either wait until you’ve reached your goal weight or consider pairing the tummy tuck with liposuction. Liposuction can be used for contouring away the last few stubborn pounds. If you have a considerable amount of weight to lose, it’s best to tackle that issue before considering a tummy tuck.
Many people may immediately think of a tummy tuck as a purely aesthetic choice, a surgery chosen by those who want to look good in a swimsuit. However, there are other benefits that may not be obvious to the casual observer. First, excess skin can become a source of infection. Yeast infections, sores, skin breakdown and other infections and irritations can become a recurring issue for a person with excess skin, no matter how fastidious their hygiene. Secondarily, excess skin is also heavy and cumbersome. For people who have a lot of excess skin hanging down, their ability to exercise can be impacted. This can also cause back pain, as the excess weight pulls against the spine. The benefits of a tummy tuck are not purely aesthetic in nature.
We’re here to help, with a number of patient resources designed to make your experience as comfortable as possible. Read through the materials below, and don’t hesitate to reach out and set up your consultation to learn more about what we can do for you.
