A toned, flat stomach is considered to be the epitome of a fit, healthy and attractive figure. But whether due to genetics, childbearing, weight fluctuations, or lifestyle habits, achieving that slim and smooth belly can often feel impossible.
Tummy tuck surgery, or abdominoplasty, is consistently one of our most popular cosmetic procedures. By both tightening the abdominal muscles and eliminating excess fat and skin from the midsection, this procedure results in a more toned and sculpted stomach.
If you are bothered by the appearance of stretched skin, stubborn fat, or weakened abdominal muscles, a tummy tuck done by one of our board-certified plastic surgeons at the Polyclinic Plastic Surgery Center in Seattle is a great way to improve your physique. Below we address some of the more common myths about tummy tucks to help you determine whether abdominoplasty is right for you.
Myth: Diet and exercise alone can get you the same results as a tummy tuck.
While a healthy diet and exercise are well-known as effective tools for losing weight, building muscle, and improving your overall health, when it comes to getting the slimmer and sleeker stomach you desire, these methods still have their limitations in terms of the results they can provide. Despite targeted diet and exercise, it’s not possible to completely control exactly where you will lose weight from. For instance, it’s common to struggle with stubborn belly fat even if you’ve hit your target weight. Additionally, excess or stretched abdominal skin, can’t be reversed or tightened without surgical intervention, especially when it is a result of pregnancy or massive weight loss.
Childbearing or significant weight fluctuations can also weaken the abdominal muscles, which further exacerbates the appearance of a protruding stomach. If your skin or abdominal wall has become stretched, tummy tuck surgery is really the only way to restore a taut midsection.
Myth: A tummy tuck is a weight-loss procedure.
Another typical misconception patients have regarding tummy tuck surgery is that it’s a procedure intended for those who would like to lose a substantial amount of weight from their midsection. It’s important to understand that a tummy tuck is not considered to be a weight-loss procedure. That said, oftentimes liposuction can be utilized during your tummy tuck surgery to target and gently minimize stubborn areas of fat to improve the abdominal contours resulting in a more toned appearing midsection.
To be an ideal candidate for tummy tuck patients should be at or close to a normal weight for their physique. Good candidates are active and healthy but are troubled by the appearance of a protruding abdomen or sagging, loose skin on their stomach.
Your stomach will be flatter and more toned after your abdominoplasty, but you won’t experience a great deal of weight loss. For this reason, if you are considering a tummy tuck make sure you are within a reasonable range of your goal weight before undergoing the procedure. Keep in mind that significant weight fluctuations in the future can reverse the results of your surgery.
Myth: Tummy tucks are only for younger patients
While the majority of patients who have tummy tuck surgery are between the ages of 35 and 50 many others are between the ages of 51 and 64. Approximately 5% of patients are over the age of 65. While there is no wrong age to opt for a tummy tuck procedure, there are more critical factors that will need to be considered by your Polyclinic Plastic Surgery Center board-certified plastic surgeon when determining your candidacy for the procedure.
To be a good candidate for abdominoplasty, a patient must be:
- Physically healthy: You must be in good overall health before undergoing invasive surgery to prevent complications.
- A nonsmoker: Smoking can inhibit the healing process and can cause serious complications both during and after your tummy tuck surgery.
- Within a stable, healthy weight: As mentioned above, tummy tuck surgery is not intended for significant weight loss or for treating obesity.
- Realistic with their expectations: While a tummy tuck will dramatically enhance the contours of your midsection with long-lasting results, no cosmetic surgery will stop the aging process or deliver perfection.
Myth: Tummy tucks are only for women
Abdominoplasty has been an incredibly popular cosmetic option for women for years, in part due to the many irreversible changes to the midsection that accompany pregnancy and childbirth. Because of this, tummy tucks are frequently included in “mommy makeover” procedures, which refer to a full suite of cosmetic surgeries performed concurrently to help women restore their pre-baby bodies.
While women do make up the majority of tummy tuck procedures performed, it goes without saying that men can also benefit from this procedure. While men may not have to worry about the physical changes that women’s bodies endure from pregnancy, significant weight loss can leave men with stubborn belly fat or loose skin that leaves them feeling self-conscious about their midsection.
If you’d like to learn more about how you might be able to benefit from a tummy tuck we invite you to call to set up a consultation with one of our award-winning, board-certified plastic surgeons. Give us a call today at 206.860.5582.