Do you have extra skin on your belly after losing a lot of weight or having a baby? Consider a tummy tuck. Tummy tuck surgery gets rid of excess skin on your abdomen and tightens the remaining skin. The result is a smaller, more toned appearance across your midsection.
At Rios Center for Plastic Surgery in Edinburg, TX, we perform skilled abdominoplasty procedures to help you get the body you want.
What Is a Tummy Tuck?
Abdominoplasty is the official name for a tummy tuck. During this procedure, we make small incisions around your abdomen to pull your skin tighter to your figure. We also cut away loose, hanging skin that has been stretched.
During a full tummy tuck procedure, we correct separated and damaged abdominal muscles. This is common after pregnancy; conditions like diastasis recti cause your abdominal muscles to lose tone and strength.
Once we have tightened your abdominal skin and removed the excess, we sew up the incisions. If you’re getting additional enhancements like liposuction, we perform those prior to closing your incisions.
We place the incisions discreetly so you can wear bathing suits, underwear, and crop tops without visible scars. After your tummy tuck procedure, your midsection will look tighter and more toned.
Reasons for Getting a Tummy Tuck
There are multiple reasons patients decide to get abdominoplasty. This surgery corrects loose, overly stretched skin that gets in the way of a slim, toned midsection. Here are some of the potential reasons you may want to schedule a tummy tuck procedure.
Post-Pregnancy Aesthetics
When you’re pregnant, your abdominal skin must stretch to accommodate your growing baby. Skin has a small amount of natural elasticity, but sometimes it stretches so fast during pregnancy that it can’t bounce back into shape.
This quick growth can lead to stretch marks, a rippled texture on your abdomen, and loose, hanging skin over your pubic area. The tummy tuck procedure addresses your loose skin to help your body return to its former self.
Weight Loss
Losing a large amount of weight quickly can result in reduced skin elasticity. When you have a lot of body fat, it stretches your skin in the areas where you gain weight. Once you lose the weight, there’s a good chance you will have loose skin.
We can help you see your hard-earned weight loss results by performing a tummy tuck. We’ll remove loose skin that covers up your abdominal muscle tone.
Aging
As you get older, your skin loses collagen and elastin, the two fibers that make it stretchy and durable. This loss can lead to an increase in loose skin, especially around your midsection.
Even if you eat a healthy diet and exercise often, loose skin can still appear as you age. If you want to refine your midsection and get rid of hanging, loose skin, come see us for a tummy tuck in Edinburg, TX.
Combining Other Procedures
We don’t have to stop at loose skin removal. Many patients opt for additional cosmetic enhancements during their tummy tuck procedures.
If you have experienced pregnancy, childbirth, or major weight loss, you might have other cosmetic concerns. Loose skin around your abdomen is just one concern that we can address during surgery.
Procedures like liposuction, breast augmentation, and other physique-enhancing techniques can improve your abdominoplasty results. During your personalized consultation, we can discuss additions to your procedure if you would like them.
Who Is Eligible for a Tummy Tuck?
There are a few important things to consider when you come in for a tummy tuck consultation. This procedure is very effective at tightening loose skin, but it’s not a substitute for a healthy diet and exercise regimen.
Not a Weight Loss Procedure
Abdominoplasty cannot help you lose fat, reduce your BMI, or magically give you your dream figure. We recommend being within 20 to 30 pounds of your goal weight before getting tummy tuck surgery. If you keep up with an exercise routine and healthy diet plan, you don’t have to worry about re-stretching the skin we have corrected.
No Additional Pregnancies
Additionally, you should be done having children before you get a tummy tuck. Pregnancy will stretch your skin again and undo the results we have achieved during surgery. Many mothers who have completed their families are excited to finally undergo the tummy tuck procedure.
Good General Health
As long as you have realistic expectations for your results and are in good general health, you will likely be approved for tummy tuck surgery. We will discuss the requirements for the procedure during your in-person consultation.
What to Expect During Recovery
Depending on the intensity of your tummy tuck procedure, you may need to spend up to two weeks recovering at home. Plan to take time off from work so you can rest and recover.
We conduct follow-up appointments to check on your progress after surgery. In general, most tummy tuck patients are fully recovered after about three months. We will give you in-depth instructions on how to care for your body after surgery.
Once the recovery period is over, you can return to normal exercise and other physical activities. Always check with us before straining your body after surgery.
Book a Tummy Tuck Consultation Today
If you’re in or near Edinburg, TX, and want a slimmer, more contoured tummy, come to Rios Center for Plastic Surgery. We will set up a personalized consultation to discuss whether this is the right procedure for you. Book your appointment with us today.
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