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Am I A Candidate
For Tummy Tuck Surgery?
You must be at a
healthy weight and have no disorders which would cause complications
regarding anesthesia and the actual surgery. You must also have a
good state of mental health which is imperative during the recovery
period. There are many factors that go into determining who is a
good candidate for this procedure. Having a tummy tuck takes
commitment and patience, however most patients advise that having the
surgery was the best thing they had ever done for themselves.
Only a qualified plastic surgeon can determine if
you are a good candidate for an abdominoplasty and only after reviewing
your medical history and a physical examination.
Read more about the requirements on our
Tummy Tuck
Info Central website.
Your
Consultation Appointment
Once you have researched several surgeons, you will make consultation
appointments. The consultation appointment is ultimately
designed to interview the surgeon and discuss, in his/her opinion, what
your options are. Not all surgeons are going to offer the same
techniques, have the same opinions, nor have the same aesthetic
preferences. It is usually best to get at least 3 opinions. Visit
our TummyT uck website for a list of printable consultation questions.
Incision Placements,
Types & Their Resulting Scars
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Endoscopic Abdominoplasty:
Endoscopic procedures are only reserved for patients who have general taut
skin but loosened underlying fascia of the abdominal muscles. Men
are common candidates for this procedure as their skin is often thicker
and bounces back better than women. However, it is based upon the
needs of the patient, regardless of gender.
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Mini-Tummy
Tuck; Modified Abdominoplasty: This technique is reserved
for those who do not need muscle repair and have very little lax skin to
remove. The incision sis smaller than the Full TT (below) and can be
anywhere from 4-5 inches long, and well hidden under the bikini line.
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Full
Abdominoplasty (FTT) With Muscle Repair (MR): This is a very
common procedure for those who have been pregnant and those who have had
bariatric surgery. With the full abdominoplasty the incision is made
to be hidden under a normal bikini line but may be higher depending upon
your needs. Muscle Repair is also performed.
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Reverse
Abdominoplasty: Although this technique is rarely used for most
patients, it is designed to reduce the lax skin above the navel area.
A new navel can be made with the Reverse Abdominoplasty as well. The
incision is made under the contour of the breast fold and across the
lower sternum.
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Vertical
Scar Abdominoplasty This technique is reserved for patients
who have a great deal of skin to be excised, usually after having triplets
or more, or bariatric surgery with a great deal of weight loss.
Muscle Repair (MR) is also commonly need for those who require a vertical
technique.
Risks,
Complications & Contraindications of Tummy Tuck Surgery
There are great benefits in getting
a tummy tuck to those who need it, but everything comes with risks.
The risks increase with the amount of work that will need to be performed.
Abdominal
Liposuction Only
Please visit our
Liposuction Website for more information
Many patients who have not gained a significant amount of weight, nor had
children (and some of those who have had children), may only need
liposuction of the abdomen. For those patients who have good skin
elasticity and only stubborn pockets of fat in your lower abdomen and periumbilicus
areas,
liposuction can lessen the look of a protruding stomach.
Liposuction (aka lipoplasty, liposculpture and suction assisted
body contouring, suction lipectomy) involves the use of a hollow titnium tube, known as a cannula,
for removing unwanted fat from a specific area. To thin the waist,
liposuction can be performed on the abdomen area, the flanks (love
handles) fanning out to the back and the hips, The techniques for liposuction include:
One must remember if they are considering
a tummy tuck that it
is not a substitution for a good diet and regular exercise. Tummy Tuck
surgery is used
for those who have extra skin and stretched muscles that no matter how much
they exercise, it will never tighten. The only option is surgery.
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