Abdominoplasty: Reasons That Some Patients Should Wait

Many people are good candidates for an abdominoplasty at some point, but maybe not right now. Consider some reasons to put off surgery or avoid it completely.

An abdominoplasty, which is often called a tummy tuck, is a great way to get rid of excess skin and a stomach pooch that will not go away. If you have tried everything you can think of to get rid of the saggy skin and flab on your abdomen, you should seriously consider this procedure since many patients who get it done are quite pleased with the results. However, there are a few instances in which this surgery is not the best idea, at least not right now. 

Many women are surprised that their stomach takes a long time to return to normal after pregnancy. If you have tried cardio, sit-ups, and a good diet, or have even lost all the pregnancy weight but still don't have the results you want, you may be thinking of getting an abdominoplasty. This can be a good idea if you are done having kids. If you even have a slight desire to have one more child, you should wait until you are done before you get the tummy tuck. Even if you think it will be several years before you are pregnant again, you should wait since pregnancy will just stretch the skin out again, wasting your money. If you are positive you are done, and are taking steps to prevent getting pregnant again so that it is very unlikely, this surgery may be a good idea, but otherwise you should wait. 

Along the same lines, if you are planning to lose weight, you should not get an abdominoplasty right now. You are supposed to be at your ideal weight before you get this done, and that should be a healthy weight according to your doctor. If you assume that you will lose several more pounds in the future, enough to leave you with even more loose skin, you are advised to wait until that occurs to get a tummy tuck. Just like after pregnancy, extreme weight loss will require you to get the surgery done again or face being stuck with the very same issue you have right now. 

Just like any other procedure, an abdominoplasty carries some risks. Though most major issues are rare, the most common risk is scarring. This may not be considered a medical issue, but it is a cosmetic one, which you are probably worried about if you are even considering a tummy tuck. Most doctors try to keep the incision low across the hips so that it is not visible when you are wearing a bathing suit or underwear, and it may fade over time. However, every patient will have at least a light scar on the abdomen, so you have to decide whether you would rather have a flat stomach with a scar, or an abdomen that sticks out and sags but has no scarring. 

Getting an abdominoplasty done despite these warnings may result in you wasting your money and even making the issue worse, as sometimes doctors cannot fix the problem a second time. Experienced doctors will make sure you a good candidate first, and part of this is ensuring that you are truly ready for a tummy tuck, so consider these reasons to wait. 

Article Tags: Should Wait, Tummy Tuck

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