Tummy Tuck: A Popular Option for a Firmer, More Toned Midsection

Losing a great deal of weight is always a good thing. You feel better about yourself, you look better, and you're ready to face the world and be happy. There's only one problem, however: those who lose a huge amount of weight may not have the tight, taut tummy that they were hoping for. They may, instead, have to deal with extra flab on their stomach that they did not want to have.

When this occurs, it is possible to seek help from a cosmetic surgeon. A tummy tuck, which is also called an abdominoplasty, is a type of cosmetic surgery procedure that is used to make the tummy, or abdomen, much tighter and more firm. There are a few different techniques that a cosmetic surgeon can use to accomplish this. The first procedure is what is known as a partial abdominoplasty. A small incision is made and the skin and fat of the lower abdomen is taken out. The skin is the stretched to make the stomach more flat again.

A full abdominoplasty is designed to remove much more fat from the tummy. Two different incisions are made--one from hip to hip and another to the navel. This way, a large amount of skin and fat can be removed at once. The skin is then, again, stretched tight over the remaining muscles in order to create a tighter, firmer stomach.

Unlike some other cosmetic surgeries, a tummy tuck can take awhile to recover from. Most patients state that they take anywhere from one to four weeks in order to recover from their surgery, and patients are asked to not lift anything heavy for at least that amount of time. A tummy tuck is a great way to help someone who has lost a great deal of weight to look better. It also helps women who have been pregnant and whose stomach has not snapped back to its original shape after the pregnancy. This type of cosmetic surgery is performed by most cosmetic surgeons. Specialists are also available who focus on abdominoplasty.





Depending on your goals, plastic surgery can produce subtle results or completely transform your appearance. If you are considering abdominoplasty, breast implants, or facelift, speak with a plastic surgeon to find out what to expect before, during, and after your procedure.