Posts Tagged ‘Excess Skin’
If you are considering undergoing an abdominoplasty, more commonly known as a “tummy tuck”, it is important to know if you are a suitable candidate and in what ways you can improve your chances of a successful surgery. You should first do some research on the internet, or by talking to a professional, to find out what exactly the surgery entails. Many women get tummy tucks after having a baby because the surgery repairs and tightens the abdominal muscles (which can be severed during a C-section). A tummy tuck also removes the excess skin left over from when your pregnant belly expanded.
Before a professional doctor will perform any type of elective surgery, the patient must undergo a psychiatric evaluation to ensure they have realistic expectations and are going into the surgery with a clear mind. Meet with your doctor beforehand and make sure you understand all of the risks, possible outcomes, recovery time and medicines being used during and after the tummy tuck. Patients who are seeking a tummy tuck for reasons that the doctor deems “unhealthy” will often be encouraged to seek the help of a therapist before committing to an elective abdominoplasty procedure.
The tummy tuck procedure is not just for women. It is common for men to request this type of surgery, and they too must undergo the same type of psychiatric evaluation as women before a doctor will adhere to performing the surgery. Women who plan on having more children in the future should hold off on getting a tummy tuck until they know that they are planning no future pregnancies. The muscles in your abdomen can become damaged during pregnancy, which will reverse the work done through the tummy tuck.
Once you have decided to get a tummy tuck, and have talked to your surgeon, there are some steps you should take. Firstly, make sure you discuss your medical history in depth with your surgeon. This is important because any type of surgery, whether elective or not, poses certain risks to your health, and ensuring that your surgeon is as informed as possible will decrease the chances of anything going wrong. Individuals who are too overweight will not be suitable candidates for this surgery. If you fear that you are too overweight to get a tummy tuck surgery, try starting yourself on a healthy exercise and diet plan, and decide after you have lost some weight if the surgery is still something you want.
A tummy tuck is normally an elective procedure, meaning that it generally is considered a cosmetic procedure although there are exceptions to the case when other medical conditions arise. It is important to note however that this procedure is not strictly for weight loss or appearance reasons.
If you are interested in losing weight then this option is probably not your best option. Losing weight consists of good nutrition and proper exercise to help you shed the pounds. A tummy tuck can be used to further emphasize your well toned body. A tummy tuck should be the last resort after you have followed your exercise and diet plan, think of it as just adding a cherry on the top.
The procedure itself is simply removing excess skin around the abdomen. In addition liposuction can also be used to remove excess fat. The simplest way to imagine it is to think of your skin being pulled tight and then any excess skin cut off.
Once the tummy tuck has been completed there will only be a small scar left after the operation. In addition the patient abdominal wall muscles are made tighter which makes your stomach look even more contoured.
It is common to also have other procedures done while you are undergoing a tummy tuck like combining your tummy tuck with some liposuction around your stomach and thighs.
Anesthesia is required but which type is used will depend on what type of tummy tuck you are going under, this of course will be discussed with your anesthesiologist.
If for example you are only having a partial tummy tuck then you are more likely to be put under a local anesthetic meaning you will be awake while the procedure is taking place. If you are having a full abdominoplasy then you will be given a general anesthetic.
Both men and woman can enjoy the benefits of a tummy tuck and it is becoming more and more popular with both sexes. More men in general are undergoing this procedure as they tend to lose weight faster. It is important to be realistic about the end results however, as the chances are that you will not go from someone who is 40 pounds overweight to a Baywatch model overnight.
However, the better shape that you are before the operation the more likely you are to have a better looking stomach post operation.
