Things to Know About TUMMY TUCKS

In the world of cosmetic surgery...the tummy tuck (which is technically known as abdominoplasty) is not as many individuals believe a method of weight loss but instead is geared towards removing fat, tightening stomach muscles and strengthening the walls of the abdomen. In most case studies, it's all about the abdominal skin that has lost elasticity and no longer responds to the efforts of diet or exercise could benefit tremendously from a tummy tuck. Dieting and exercising of course are very important to lose weight and tone muscles but they cannot tighten loose flabby skin or improve the part of the abdomen known as the inner girdle. Let's face it, we all have a flaw here or there. Especially after pregnancies and weight loss/gain we run into this problem and if can seriously affect our confidence. What can we do about it? What is a tummy tuck? Here's the 4-1-1:

A tummy tuck will tighten your inner girdle and therefore give you a flatter, smoother looking stomach. How many of us want that flat stomach? Everyone that I know does....but how much do we really know about this topic? I'm about to embark on some things that I recently learned about this procedure. Although the results of an abdominoplasty procedure are technically permanent, the positive outcome can be greatly diminished by significant fluctuations in your weight. For this reason, individuals who are planning substantial weight loss or women who may be considering future pregnancies may be advised to postpone abdominoplasty surgery.

 A tummy tuck can get rid of almost all of the fat in your lower abdominal area and stretch marks will become a thing of the past. Plastic surgeons believe that the effects of pregnancy cannot distort a woman’s abdominal area so badly that it cannot be repaired by a tummy tuck. Besides women who’ve given birth, tummy tucks are favored by men and women alike who have lost a great deal of weight and are left with an excess of loose skin around their mid section.

Speaking of the inner girdle, we all have one, both men and women alike. The inner girdle can be found extending from your ribcage, down the length of your abdomen to your pubic bone and also from one side of the abdomen to the other. The inner girdle is situated between the abdominal fat of your body and your rectus muscles. The inner girdle is tough and sturdy and its primary job is to support the abdomen’s contents in order that they do not protrude outward. The gristle that is obvious on a piece of steak is the exact same substance that your inner girdle is made up of. Plastic surgeons have devised their own special name for this layer of skin- they call it “fascia.”

When a woman becomes pregnant her inner girdle stretches to accommodate the fact that the uterus is becoming bigger. After the baby has been born, with exercise and diet her muscles will regain some of the tone they once had, however her inner girdle will not fare as well. After pregnancy the inner girdle often does not go back into the proper shape it was in beforehand as it is not as resilient or as elastic as the abdominal muscles. For this reason after a woman has finished having her children she may decide to have a tummy tuck because the operation will allow for the tightening of the inner girdle in order to give it a flatter, smoother, and more attractive appearance. It is important to note that what a tummy tuck is all about is tightening the inner girdle and not tightening the muscles.

The abdominal muscles in fact are below the inner girdle and are never exposed at any time during the surgical procedure.

Tummy tucks can indeed do wonders however they are not miracle cures by any means, and do have their limits. The stretch marks on your lower abdomen, as previously mentioned, will disappear with a tummy tuck procedure but the same cannot be said for your mid or upper abdomen, although the tummy tuck will move stretch marks in these areas down lower on your abdominal area. If your upper abdomen consists of a thick layer of fat then unfortunately abdominoplasty will not get rid of the thickness. Liposuction may be out of the question as well due to circulation and healing problems as well as other complications. 

Tummy tucks can be broken down into three different types. There is the mini tummy tuck, the full tummy tuck and the ‘fleur de lise’ tummy tuck. The mini tuck is the best choice for those individuals who have only a little bit of loose or flabby skin in their abdominal area. In this case a low short transverse scar is made in the line where underwear sits and from here the plastic surgeon can take out excess fat and skin and tighten up the muscles. The most popular kind of tummy tuck which is also the one that has the most dramatic after effects is the full tummy tuck. When performing a full tummy tuck the plastic surgeon uses a similar scar as in the case of the mini tummy tuck but the surgery involves a larger area. The skin is elevated all the way up to the bottom of the ribcage and skin from the belly button to the pubic area is taken out creating a flatter appearance. The patient’s original belly button is gone with this procedure and a new one must be created by the surgeon. The last tummy tuck, known as ‘fleur de lise’ is the best bet for patients who already have vertical scars from past stomach stapling surgeries. With this operation the surgeon uses the pre-existing scar to fold in the skin including the sides of it. 

Abdominoplasty is a good option for you if:

• You are physically healthy and at a stable weight
• You have realistic expectations
• You do not smoke

Although the results of an abdominoplasty procedure are technically permanent, the positive outcome can be greatly diminished by significant fluctuations in your weight. For this reason, individuals who are planning substantial weight loss or women who may be considering future pregnancies may be advised to postpone abdominoplasty surgery. 

 

What a tummy tuck won't do:

Tummy tucks are not a substitute for weight loss or an appropriate exercise program. Also, tummy tuck operations cannot correct stretch marks, although these may be removed or somewhat improved if they are located on the areas of excess skin that will be excised, generally the treated areas below the belly button.

As with all surgeries, think, before you DO. Get more than one opinion, and always seek advice from a professional. 

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