To some people, seeing their belly causes them some severe issues with self-confidence, especially those who may have gained a belly from something such as pregnancy and are then struggling to get rid of the post baby weight. No matter how healthy you eat or how often you visit the gym, it’s difficult to get the excess fat on the stomach to shift and in some cases, can even make it look worse in comparison as other areas get more tone.
It’s at this point where people tend to look towards undergoing a tummy tuck surgery, which is an incredibly commonly performed procedure to improve the appearance of the stomach. Also known as an abdominoplasty, tummy tuck surgery has seen an increase of over 400% in the number of procedures being performed since the early 2000’s and are one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries performed worldwide every year.
So whether it’s something that’s been caused by pregnancy, excessive weight gain or loss, or simply just your genetics, getting rid of excess fat and skin whilst tightening the muscles can give massive boosts both mentally and physically. If a tummy tuck is something that has been on your mind, here’s a few things that you could really do with knowing before booking yourself in;
Tummy tucks aren’t designed to make you lost weight
Although losing a bit of weight is possible as a result of a tummy tuck procedure, it’s not something that’s actually a selling point of the procedure. In fact, it’s often recommended that patients are already at or close to their ideal weight and are to be considered as a body contouring procedure instead of a weight loss procedure.
There are different types of scars associated with the procedure
The size and position of the scar is purely dependent on the type of tummy tuck surgery that you need to undergo, for example, with a traditional tummy tuck the scarring is often hip to hip and is often performed below the bikini line so that it can be hidden away. It’s also possible that there may be some scarring around the belly button as for some procedures, it needs to be repositioned to accurately reflect the new shape of the belly.
For some patients who don’t need a tummy tuck procedure of a large scale performing, they can opt for a mini tummy tuck instead. The mini tummy tuck procedure is very similar but is performed where there is less excess skin to be removed and the scar associated with this is only a little bit longer than that associated with a C-section.
For patients who have undergone a significant amount of weight loss can sometimes get a larger anchor (or upside down T) shaped scar across their stomach as there is both horizontal and vertical excess skin that needs to be removed.
It’s possible that your surgeon may recommend liposuction as well
While some people may see this as their surgeon chancing their hand at trying to get an upsell in with the treatment, it’s actually something that could be very useful to improve and enhance the results of the tummy tuck. Liposuction assists in sculpting the waist and love handle area of the body, which is hugely beneficial during a tummy tuck as the skin that is pulled down can often lead to an unnatural bulge or lack of definition in the abdomen.
After a tummy tuck, you’re going to need some help at home
The vast majority of tummy tuck procedures that are performed are carried out as outpatient procedures, meaning that it’s quite likely that you’ll be back home again on the same day. As anyone who has had a C-section previously will tell you, having someone there to help you for the first few days or first week can make a huge difference to your recovery. Normal every day tasks such as sitting up, standing, reaching, moving around in bed and walking can become very difficult to do while the muscles and skin in your stomach heal. It’s also recommended to avoid any heavy lifting for the first month or two which is something that is very important to bear in mind, especially for people with young children.
The benefits aren’t just visual
While you’re likely to feel much more comfortable both clothed and unclothed after undergoing a tummy tuck procedure, there are a number of other benefits that come with it too. Some medical studies have suggested that tummy tuck surgery can actually help with incontinence, which for those who suffer with it could be a lifechanging difference. It can also have a huge impact on the strength of the bodys core, and can even repair diastasis recti which is something the occurs during pregnancy when the stomach muscles pull apart.
For those who go through with a tummy tuck surgery, the first few weeks can be rough but once you start to recover and are able to move with a bit of freedom again, you’ll really start to notice the benefits like your clothes fitting you better, feeling more confident when you’re out in public and (when you’re able to) feeling more confident when you exercise.
To book your completely free, no-obligation consultation for tummy tuck surgery, contact us today using our online contact form or by calling 0800 772 0039.