Who are the best candidates for a tummy tuck?

Fed up of the flab girdling your middle? Desperate to return to shape after childbirth? Fascinated by washboard abs? Well, abdominoplasty, better known as tummy tuck surgery is the answer. You might have read about how this procedure improves the appearance of the abdomen in people with stretch marks, excess skin following pregnancy, folds in skin due to massive weight loss or through weak abdominal muscles. However, if you think a tummy tuck procedure is yours for the asking, think again. Bad news is not all qualify to undergo this surgery. There are certain conditions that dictate whether you’re the right material for a tummy tuck procedure.

The right candidate

Why you may or may not be the right candidate for a tummy tuck is because, unlike liposuction, which only removes excess fat from an area, abdominoplasty involves major surgery for removing excess skin, tightening the abdominal muscles and providing a better abdominal profile. And a major surgery is fraught with risks. That’s why you’re required to meet stringent health requirements to undergo this surgery. Let’s see what’s needed to become the right candidate for a tummy tuck:

a. You must be in good health and shouldn’t have any active diseases or serious, pre-existing medical conditions. And yes, you should’ve realistic expectations about the outcome of the surgery!

b. You should actually have excess or sagging abdominal skin, in which your abdomen should protrude and be out of proportion with the rest of your body (1). The more elastic the skin the better.

c. Your abdominal muscles should’ve been separated and weakened and excess fatty tissue should’ve concentrated in your abdomen (1).

d. You must be mentally and emotionally stable to undergo this cosmetic procedure.

e. For women wanting tummy tuck before childbirth, the surgeon recommends waiting until after childbearing is completed (2).

Beyond selection

If you’ve been declared a fit candidate to undergo this procedure, it’s important for you to communicate with your plastic surgeon. You must be able to express frankly what you want and don’t want done to your abdomen. This way you’ll be able to make your surgeon understand what your desired results are. This’ll also help the surgeon to convey what can realistically be achieved.

Mental and emotional stability is important because there’s sometimes a lull or depression after surgery and if there’s already a pre-existing emotional problem, this low period can develop into a more serious issue.

For those, wanting tummy tuck after pregnancy are advised to wait until they’ve finished having children. This is not only because the skin and muscles can get stretched out again on pregnancy, but more importantly, your newly taut skin may not be able to accommodate another pregnancy, due to the incision line.

If you’re considering losing weight, you should wait until you’ve achieved your desired weight and then go in for a tummy tuck. This’ll save you removal of excess skin through an additional surgery and monetary saving.

Tummy tuck operation requires both physical and mental fitness to be declared the right candidate. So, if you want to undergo this procedure, take steps to become the right candidate.