Am I a Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?

How Does the Tummy Tuck Work?

The tummy tuck involves a horizontal incision just above the pubic hairline to give Dr. Stile access to the lower abdominal muscles. Muscles weakened or separated by pregnancy can be tightened and restored to their pre-pregnancy pre-weight-gain position with permanent sutures. This muscle repair behind at the xyphoid process of the sternum (the highest point on the upper abdomen)and extends downward to reach the pelvic bone. Once Dr. Stile is satisfied with the repair to the abdominal muscles, excess skin and fat of the lower abdomen is removed. The umbilicus is repositioned (if necessary) and brought out through a new opening.

For patients who’ve achieved significant weight loss, removing excess skin brings great relief. In fact, most of Dr. Stile’s abdominoplasty patients feel it’s a life-changing decision that has drastically improved their quality of life.

Am I a Good Candidate for Tummy Tuck?

The tummy tuck is an extensive procedure that involves intervention in the muscle layer of the body’s core, the diastasis recti abdominal muscles. These muscles are vital to our posture and balance and affect many aspects of our lives. 

Candidates for abdominoplasty share many traits, such as:

• Women who’ve achieved their family planning goals whose body has endured significant changes from pregnancy. An existing C-section scar may also be incorporated into the abdominoplasty incision (or removed when loose skin is excised), so there’s no extra scarring involved.
• Men and women who have achieved significant weight loss (often due to bariatric surgery) and now have excess loose skin on their abdomen. No amount of exercise can tighten skin that has stretched beyond a certain point, so surgical repair is the best option for correction.
• Men and women who have weakened abdominal muscles that make them prone to umbilical or ventral hernia. Anchoring the abdominal muscles in place can strengthen the core and lower the incidence of these hernias.

Ideal candidates are men and women who have experienced these situations and desire a flatter, more toned abdomen and have realistic expectations about what a tummy tuck can achieve. A consultation with Dr. Stile can help get you started.