Find Out More About a Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck is a cosmetic surgery that removes excessive skin and some fat and restores weakened abdominal muscles to create the flat stomach that many older women find impossible to get back to naturally after child birth weakens the muscles of the abdominal walls. Don't mistake this for liposuction though. These are two stand-alone procedures that can be done in conjunction with one another or separately. If you have an extra ten pounds of fatty cell deposits in your abdominal area that isn't responding to diet and exercise it may be time to consider liposuction with your tummy tuck.

An abdominoplasty itself is for men or women who have that extra flap of skin that has lost its ability and elasticity to simply snap back after a weight loss and can make your profile look flabby and unattractive even after you have reached your target weight goal. The ideal candidate for this procedure will be a man or woman who is in good overall health and who is not considered clinically overweight. Since smokers experience more post-surgical complications, now might be a good time to kick the habit if you're considering an elective surgery to ensure your operation is a success. If you plan to lose more weight or your weight has not stabilized yet due to a yo-yo diet- you may want to put off any elective surgery until your weight has stabilized and your surgery won't be a waste of time.

Keep in mind that a tummy tuck is not a permanent method of weight loss and the results can be affected by your diet and exercise routine or lack thereof one. So if you plan to get plastic surgery as a last resort to get rid of the extra flap of skin and fat- make sure you fully understand what is involved and are fully committed to keeping your belly in smooth and flat shape from here on out.

When women are done having kids, consider this option since the results of an abdominoplasty can be undone by future pregnancies. The vertical muscles in your abdominal area are tightened during your surgery to help your new abs get their six pack look back and a future pregnancy will separate these vertical muscles basically undoing your tummy tuck for the next nine months or so.

If you still think you're a good candidate, the next step is to consult a plastic surgeon who specializes in tummy tucks and find out more about the procedure including the risk factors, what to expect before, during and after surgery and the expected cost. Don't just focus on the end product- a flat belly- you need to be realistic about what you're planning to go through so you will be satisfied with the results and be a savvy and smart consumer at the same time.