Feel Confident in Your Skin after a Tummy Tuck

No matter how religiously you may adhere to a strict diet and exercise regimen, abdominal fat sometimes just will not budge. The aging process, pregnancy hormones, or extreme weight fluctuations can lead to sagging skin in the abdominal area and a resultant sagging, stretching, and retaining of excess fat. This area is notoriously resistant to many forms of treatment, however a tummy tuck procedure may be just the thing to treat your sagging tummy..

The Tummy Tuck

Medically known as an abdominoplasty, the tummy tuck is a type of surgical procedure that can safely and effectively eliminate abdominal fat and excess abdominal skin. This procedure is commonly used after a patient has lost a significant amount of weight and has a good bit of excess and sagging skin remaining. During a tummy tuck, excess abdominal fat and loose skin are removed. The abdominal wall muscles also gets tightened. This results in the removal of excess skin and an abdomen that has a tighter, flatter, and more toned appearance. Although the procedure is quite effective at what it does, a tummy tuck should not be considered as a method of weight loss.

Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck

The procedure that will work best for you depends upon the results that you are seeking. Liposuction procedures only involve the removal of subcutaneous fat, not skin. For liposuction to be effective, the skin above the liposuction area must be elastic and have the ability to recoil or bounce back. If the skin cannot readjust to the sudden loss of fat, excess skin may remain. Although a tummy tuck is able to remove some fat, the procedure’s main purpose is to tighten excess abdominal skin. Typically, a tummy tuck is used on patients who have already lost weight, but require the removal of excess skin. In some cases, you can combine a tuck with a liposuction procedure to achieve the best results.

Best Candidates for the Procedure

The best candidate for a tummy tuck procedure is someone who is having difficulty returning their abdominal area to how it appeared before giving birth or is struggling to maintain a toned stomach as they grow older. Good candidates for this procedure are close to their optimal body weight, but need help with toning. You may make a good candidate for a tummy tuck if you have had extreme weight fluctuations and need some excess skin removed.

Recovery

Although recovery times may vary, patients typically heal within two to three weeks. Be prepared to set aside some time to relax and heal. You will be given specific instructions on how to clean your dressings and other functions you will need to perform to ensure that you recover quickly and completely.

Consultation

If you have excess skin on your abdominal area and would like to have it toned with a tummy tuck procedure, we encourage you to reach out to Dr. J. Timothy Katzen in Beverly Hills to learn more. Contact us TODAY to schedule your tummy tuck consultation!