If you find yourself wishing you had a flatter midsection but have been unsuccessful at improving your contours with a healthy lifestyle, then you may be a good candidate for abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). This surgery removes excess skin and fat from around your abdomen to help achieve the physique you have worked hard for. In this blog, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Funt explains when patients know the time is right to schedule tummy tuck.
After Having a Baby
Because your abdomen grows during pregnancy, the skin around your belly stretches to accommodate its larger size. Once you deliver your baby, you can slowly lose the extra weight, but your skin often remains stretched and is no longer tight around your trimmer stomach. Since no amount of diet and exercise can get rid of excess skin, tummy tuck is the most appropriate solution. (Just keep in mind that you should postpone tummy tuck if you intend to have more children in the future since a subsequent pregnancy will almost certainly stretch your abdominal skin once again.)
Tummy tuck has the added benefit of reconnecting separated abdominal muscles. Since you inevitably experience this muscle separation during pregnancy, this is the most effective way to recreate a firm abdominal wall.
Following a Weight Loss Journey
Losing weight with diet and exercise is commendable, but even a healthy lifestyle may not produce a stomach that looks as firm and toned as you originally hoped. Because your skin previously expanded to fit over your larger body, it may not have the elasticity to contract to your body’s new size. Again, tummy tuck is your best cosmetic option for eliminating this loose skin.
During Middle Age
Even if you maintain a consistent weight throughout your life, starting around your 40s you may notice that your skin becomes laxer around your midsection. This has nothing to do with your health; instead, it’s the fact that your body gradually slows production of collagen and elastin, two proteins that help to keep your skin smooth and taut. With less collagen and elastin, your abdominal skin may start sagging, creating a pooch.
Whenever You Feel Ready
The truth is there is no one “right” time to schedule tummy tuck. While the aforementioned times are the most common for patients to seek tummy tuck, what matters most is how you feel about your body and whether you want to take action. If you would like to meet with an elite plastic surgeon in Long Island, NYC to discuss your cosmetic options, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Funt by calling 516-627-6100 (Roslyn) or 516-295-0404 (Woodmere).
