Have you thought about a tummy tuck? How do you know if you’re a good candidate? Here are four things to consider.
Excess of Fat and Skin
There must be an excess of fat and skin in your lower abdomen in order for you to be a serious candidate for an abdominoplasty (a tummy tuck). Simply being overweight is not a reason to want to have surgery. There are many methods for weight loss in a healthy way without having to undergo a surgical procedure. But if you have an excess of fat and skin, consult a qualified plastic surgeon so they can explain the procedure and the risks involve
Female patients should be done having children if they want to have a tummy tuck procedure. A pregnancy will stretch the skin and result in excess fat and skin on the body. Be sure you and your partner have discussed your decision to stop having children before consulting with a plastic surgeon.
Healthy Enough to Withstand Anesthesia
Undergoing an anesthetic is not to be taken lightly. While risks are small, you should be healthy enough to be placed under a local anesthesia and healthy enough to withstand the procedure while under. Consult carefully with your physician and the anesthesiologist to ensure that you are not at risk. The older you are the more careful you should be, and those patients with a history of heart issues should consult their cardiologist. Many plastic surgeons require that a patient has a history of physical exams with a primary care physician before they can be considered for a tummy tuck.
Appropriate Body Type
Not all body types will work for a tummy tuck. The ideal candidate has a skinny body and happens to have excess skin or fat in the lower tummy. This could be due to child birth or drastic weight loss through normal means. A tummy tuck can only remove the fat and skin that rests outside of the muscle layer. Any fat in the abdomen cannot be removed.
If you think a tummy tuck might be right for you, contact our office for a consultation.