Top Tummy Tuck Candidates

Many people struggle with rolls and bulges in their midsections despite diet and exercise. Most of us are familiar with the nicknames we give to our tummy troubles—spare tire, love handles, muffin top. But what you may not be so familiar with are the various solutions available to you for slimming and toning your middle.

I specialize in tummy tuck at my Fairfield, CT, practice for women and men who are suitable candidates. This procedure is very effective and produces an extremely high rate of satisfaction for individuals who want to restore definition and slimmer contours to their midsections. This post is dedicated to helping you understand who are the best candidates for tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) surgery.

Women After Pregnancies

It is not uncommon for women to experience sagging in the abdominal area after delivering one or more children. The skin and muscles have stretched significantly to accommodate the baby, and often they don’t go back to their pre-pregnancy condition. A tummy tuck is designed to tighten the muscles in the abdomen and remove excess, sagging skin. For women who have had C-sections, the incision can be made to incorporate or eliminate the C-section scar.

It is not advisable to have abdominoplasty surgery until you’ve finished having children. Additionally, a mother should wait at least 6 months after giving birth, and 6 months after she is finished breastfeeding to have a tummy tuck. Since you will not be able to lift your child while you recover, you may need to arrange for help with babies or small children, or wait until they are older.

Individuals Who Have Lost Significant Weight

Like women after pregnancy, women and men who have lost a great deal of weight are often left with sagging skin around the midsection. A tummy tuck is not a weight loss procedure, but it can help you achieve a slimmer appearance by removing this bulky skin.

You should maintain a stable weight and healthy BMI for at least 6 months prior to tummy tuck surgery. Gaining or losing a significant amount of weight after a tummy tuck can compromise your outcome.

Any Healthy Individual With Excess Abdominal Skin

Some people are good candidates for tummy tuck surgery despite never having children or losing a significant amount of weight. Aging or genetics can contribute to skin laxity and sagging abdominal skin that make you self-conscious about your abdomen. It’s the presence of excess skin that is the key differentiator between someone who just needs liposuction to slim his or her abdomen, and someone who is a better candidate for a tummy tuck. If you simply have excess fat, but your skin is firm and elastic, you may be a better candidate for liposuction. You can read more about this in a previous blog post.

All candidates for tummy tuck surgery must be healthy nonsmokers. Smoking inhibits circulation and stymies wound healing, and most surgeons will not perform cosmetic procedures until at least a few weeks after a person has quit smoking.

If you fit these criteria, are dedicated to a healthy lifestyle, and have realistic expectations for the outcome of your surgery, you could be a candidate for a tummy tuck. Once you’ve reviewed before-and-after photos and done  your research, the next step is to request a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon.

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