Tummy Tuck - Trim Away Your Excess Tummy Fat

A tummy tuck, medically known as an "abdominoplasty," is a procedure done by a plastic surgeon that flattens your abdomen. The doctor removes the extra fat and skin and tightens the muscles in your abdominal wall. This is a very popular procedure for women who have gone through several pregnancies as a step to regain their figure to the pre-pregnant shape.

Many people who have had bariatric surgery, a tummy tuck will often be used as a way to eliminate their sagging skin after major weight loss. They sometimes extend their surgery to include a full body contouring. This usually includes liposuction, breast reduction or a breast lift.

A mini tummy tuck can take as little as one or two hours in surgery. Most will run from one to five hours. A complete or full abdominoplasty will have an incision from hip to hip and the naval area. The skin is removed, the muscle area is tightened and the remaining skin is stretched and stitched into place. The amount of skin that is normally removed is usually up to half of the skin in the abdominal area. Liposuction is also usually performed and a new belly button is "born." The partial one has a smaller incision with less invasive work involved. The best way to learn more about which one is right for you is to schedule a no cost consultation with a professional plastic surgeon.

There is also a new advanced version which is called the high lateral tension tummy tuck. This adds tightening the muscles in a vertical manner with the existing treatment of the horizontal tightening. This shows a firmer and flatter area with a well-defined waist. There will definitely be scarring after this surgery. The amount and the quality of the scars can have a lot to do with the skill of the surgeon you chose for your procedure.

With the improvement in the quality of procedures in recent years, many mothers are finally finding the courage to make an appointment for a consultation as a gift to themselves. They wait until they have finished having children, lose some weight and make an appointment for their long anticipated mommy make over. 

If you have been considering a tummy tuck, wait until you are close to your ideal weight before you go ahead. Chose a doctor who has the proper credentials and will take the time to show you before and after shots of his recent patients. Be sure he is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). The doctor should do a thorough job of explaining the procedure so that you can feel comfortable in making a sound decision for your needs and situation.