Wednesday, May 11, 2011

South Florida Tummy Tuck Options: Are You a Good Candidate?


If you want to hit the beach this summer in South Florida, tummy tuck surgery could be just what you need to look spectacular in your new bathing suit. Not everyone is a candidate for tummy tuck surgery, though. Read on to find out if a tummy tuck is the right choice to lift your stomach and help you achieve that sleek profile.

What Is A Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck, also called an abdomenectomy, is a surgical procedure that tightens your abdominal muscles and removes skin and fat around your abdomen. It carries all the risk of any other major surgery. The recovery time for a tummy tuck is about three weeks.

Who Is a Good Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?

Tummy tucks are designed to correct loose abdominal skin and weak abdominal muscles. If you have a saggy tummy, you may be a good candidate for a tummy tuck. Pregnancy often leaves women with loose skin around the abdomen and/or weakened muscles and extra fat. In South Florida, tummy tuck surgery may be part of a mommy makeover for women whose bellies haven’t quite bounced back after a pregnancy.

Skin loses its elasticity as you age. Add gravity, and in some women, the results are a saggy belly. A tummy tuck can pull up the loose skin and tighten the underlying muscles to reduce the sagginess.

Women who lose a lot of weight quickly, either through bariatric surgery or through a strict diet and fitness regimen, often end up with loose, hanging skin that can only be repaired through tummy tuck surgery.

You may not be a good candidate for a tummy tuck if you are planning to have more children or if you have a large amount of fat around your belly and abdomen.

If you fit into any of those categories, an abdomenoplasty may be right for you. Only a cosmetic surgeon who routinely performs tummy tucks can tell you for sure. If you’re considering a tummy tuck, schedule an appointment for a consultation with a certified South Florida tummy tuck surgeon. The surgeon will assess all of the important factors, including skin elasticity, degree of stretch marks, muscle tone and type of belly fat and determine whether a tummy tuck is the right surgery for you.