A little bit of loose or extra skin around your stomach and waist is totally normal, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with it if you don’t like it. At Rios Center for Plastic Surgery in Edinburg, TX, we can help you achieve a tighter abdomen and slimmer figure with abdominoplasty.
Keep reading to learn the important facts you should know before deciding whether to get a tummy tuck.
Why Tummy Tucks Are Done
Abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, is a common plastic surgery procedure that can permanently remove excess skin around your stomach to create a smoother abdominal contour.
Below are some common reasons people seek out tummy tuck surgery.
To Tighten Loose Skin After Weight Loss
After undergoing a dramatic weight loss, many people are left with extra skin around their stomachs. This is because as the subcutaneous fat burns off, there is nothing left to fill out the skin that has been stretched out over the years.
Exercise can help tighten loose skin to a certain extent. But in cases of extreme weight loss, there is usually too much skin to be tightened with exercise alone.
Tummy Tucks After Pregnancy
Tummy tucks are also popular among moms who wish to restore their pre-baby bodies. The skin on your stomach stretches to accommodate your growing baby, but after the baby is born, all that extra skin doesn’t just disappear. Many women are left with a small “pouch” of loose skin, even after losing their extra pregnancy weight.
Additionally, many moms notice that no matter what exercise they try, their abdomen still protrudes slightly. This can be caused by your abdominal muscles weakening and separating during pregnancy. A tummy tuck can correct this issue and restore a flat contour to your stomach.
To Combat the Effects of Aging
Lastly, tummy tucks can help anyone who is struggling with the normal effects of aging.
Part of the aging process involves collagen production slowing down. This decreased collagen supply, combined with the hormonal changes your body experiences throughout your lifetime and the cumulative effects of gravity, are largely responsible for diminished skin laxity and the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and crepey skin.
A tummy tuck addresses these problems head-on to create a more youthful appearance.
How the Procedure Is Performed
Abdominoplasty is performed under general anesthesia. Once you are under, we get to work tightening and reshaping your abdomen.
The first step in tummy tuck surgery is to make an incision at the bottom of your stomach, just above the pubic area. The abdominal skin is then lifted, and the underlying muscles are repaired.
After your abdomen muscles are repaired, the skin is pulled tight to create a naturally toned look, and the excess skin is trimmed off. This is when we will also reconstruct your belly button, if necessary.
The remaining skin is then attached to the skin at the initial incision site and sutured shut.
How to Maintain Your Results
Once you have achieved your desired body shape with a tummy tuck, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight in order to avoid stretching the area back out again. It’s also important to properly care for the incision and avoid certain activities for several weeks after the procedure.
At Rios Center for Plastic Surgery, we will give you very detailed aftercare instructions and review everything with you before you leave our care. As long as you follow our instructions and maintain a healthy weight, you should have no problem maintaining your results.
It’s Better to Hold Off Until You’re Done Having Kids
If you plan on becoming pregnant in the future, a tummy tuck may not be right for you. A tummy tuck is best for people who don’t plan to have any more children since pregnancy-related changes are one of the most common reasons people seek out tummy tucks.
If you do get pregnant after having a tummy tuck, the skin on your stomach will most likely stretch out again and may require a second surgery to correct.
It Is Not a Weight Loss Surgery
Many people assume that since tummy tucks can help you achieve a slimmer silhouette, they can also help you lose weight. However, this simply isn’t true. You may be a few pounds lighter after all of your extra skin is removed, but only a small amount of fat is removed during a tummy tuck procedure.
As a result, a tummy tuck is not a substitute for weight loss surgery. If your BMI is over 30, a tummy tuck may not be the best option for you.
Tummy Tucks Can Be Combined with Other Procedures
Tummy tucks are commonly combined with other procedures such as liposuction and breast augmentation to achieve more dramatic body sculpting results. This also saves you time and money since it combines multiple procedures into a single surgery and recovery period.
The Surgeon You Pick Matters a Lot
When it comes to tummy tuck surgery, the surgeon you pick is the most important aspect. An inexperienced or unlicensed provider could leave you with more trouble than it’s worth.
Dr. Rios is a board-certified plastic surgeon with a long list of honors and accolades. He has more than 20 years of plastic surgery experience and currently serves as the President-Elect of the Texas Society of Plastic Surgeons. In short, you can’t find much better than Dr. Rios when choosing a plastic surgeon in Texas.
Reach out to our team today to schedule your tummy tuck consultation.
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