Has your goal to achieve six-pack abs or shed your excess pregnancy fat stalled out? For some people, it can be difficult to reach your fitness goals no matter how much you exercise and eat a healthy diet. This is when tummy tuck surgery can be beneficial.
As we get older, the body becomes more resistant to change—even changes that are good for our bodies. This can result in stubborn fat deposits, loose skin, and excess tissue that simply will not go away on their own, no matter how much we do abdominal crunches, run, and watch what we eat. To target these difficult areas and achieve our fitness goals, one viable option is with a tummy tuck.
What Is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck, belly tuck, or abdominoplasty is essentially removing the excess tissue and loose skin in the problem abdominal areas. It is not the same thing as liposuction, which is a procedure to break up and remove the excess fat deposits from the abdomen. Many people combine a tummy tuck with liposuction for optimal contouring results.
What a Belly Tuck Procedure Will Not Do
A tummy tuck is not a substitute for weight loss surgery or weight loss. Patients that undergo this procedure are normally already fairly active and healthy. They just need that extra “push” to achieve a tighter abdomen and abdominal muscles they desire.
A tummy tuck is also not able to remove stretch marks from pregnancy or from being overweight. Other cosmetic procedures can be used to address stretch mark concerns.
How Long Will Tummy Tuck Results Last?
A tummy tuck is essentially permanent so long as the individual continues to exercise and eat a healthy diet. If one stops exercising and stops eating healthfully, weight gain can erase the effects achieved with tummy tuck surgery. For female patients, if they plan on becoming pregnant in the future, their pregnancy can also erase the effects of their tummy tucks.
Additionally, if one loses a significant amount of weight or muscle mass, the effects of the tummy tuck could be erased. For instance, you are a bodybuilder and have bulked up. You stop working out and decide to go back to a smaller muscle size. The muscle loss could alter the appearance of your abdomen if you had a tummy tuck when you had larger muscle mass.
Are There Any Less Invasive Options?
One non-surgical body contouring option is with BodyTite™. This procedure uses lasers and radio thermal technologies to melt fat and tighten the skin. It can be a good choice for some people who do not have an excessive amount of loose skin.
BodyTite™ can also be used as a tummy tuck refresher if you need to restore contouring to your abdomen if your weight and/or muscle mass have fluctuated and you notice some of the effects of the surgery have faded.
How Complex Is Tummy Tuck Surgery?
Tummy tuck surgery is considered a major surgical procedure. An incision is made in the abdomen to perform this procedure. It takes several hours to complete and is performed as an outpatient procedure. Full recovery can take between four to six weeks.
As with any surgical procedure, there can be certain risks you should understand fully. In general, even with the risks, as long as an experienced surgeon performs the procedure, the procedure is fairly safe.
Deciding if an abdominal tuck is right for you begins by scheduling an initial consultation at Grossman Plastic Surgery and with Dr. Grossman. During your consultation, Dr. Grossman will discuss your different abdominal contouring options and which ones will help you achieve your objectives. To schedule your consultation appointment with Dr. Grossman, please call 818-981-2050 today!