The unfortunate reality about aging is that we never really appreciate what we have until it’s gone. As a young person walking around with a tight, flat belly and unstretched skin, it doesn’t even occur to you that your body may one day change. Then, with age, life experience, weight gained and lost, and childbirth, your body is almost indistinguishable from how it looked in your youth.
The transitions that our bodies undergo are good and natural. It shows that we have lived life, experienced ups and downs, and made it through. But that doesn’t mean we have to live with the results. Many patients choose to absorb the important lessons they’ve learned through life while also putting in the effort to return their bodies to a form they can be proud of. One of the procedures patients use to re-capture the body of their youth is the tummy tuck.
What Is A Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure used to improve the shape and size of a patient’s midsection. During the procedure, an incision is made around the belly to remove excess skin and fat. Once the excess tissue is removed, the remaining skin is stretched over the abdomen to create a tight, firm appearance.
This surgery is not a weight loss surgery. While patients often lose several pounds from the removal of excess skin, those patients must already be in good health to begin the process. Additionally, this procedure is not necessarily permanent. Patients who have not already committed to a healthy lifestyle can easily make decisions that cause them to stretch their skin all over again. We like to think of this procedure as a reward for patients who have worked to reclaim a lifestyle that makes their bodies as healthy as possible.
How Do I Know If This Procedure Is Right For Me?
The ideal tummy tuck patient is someone who has taken control of their health, lost enough weight to get them to a healthy weight range and maintained that weight loss, and is committed to a healthy lifestyle for the rest of their lives. Our goal is to help patients finish what they started. After reaching a healthy point, we will help you remove any excess skin and fat that keeps you from looking your best.
Who Is Not A Candidate For This Surgery?
If you are currently considered medically obese, meaning you still have significant weight to lose before you are at a healthy weight, you are not a candidate for a tummy tuck. This doesn’t mean you won’t one day be eligible for the procedure. But it’s important to reiterate that this is not a weight loss surgery, and you must have achieved a healthy weight before you are eligible. If you need help gaining control of your weight loss through diet, exercise, or other medical interventions, we can help you find a physician to speak to who can help you on that side of things.
Other patients who are ineligible for this surgery are women who are currently pregnant or plan to get pregnant in the future. Again, this doesn’t mean you’re permanently ineligible from getting the procedure, but we would want to wait to see you until after you are done having children, as that takes a toll on your body.
If you’re ready for a tummy tuck, we commend you for all the work you’ve done to prepare yourself. You’ve done a great job! You’ve committed yourself to diet and exercise and have seen incredible results. This is where we come in. When you want to take the final steps in repairing your stretched muscles and skin and return your belly to the tight and toned stomach of your youth, give us a call. Our team has decades of experience helping patients just like you. Contact us today if you’d like to learn more.
