Tummy Tuck: Not Just for Moms
The tummy tuck is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries around, and many people assume it’s made just for moms. Although a lot of tummy tuck patients are, indeed, mothers looking to restore a slimmer midsection after pregnancy, they’re far from the only people who can benefit. Check out some of the other reasons people get tummy tuck surgery.
Male Patients
Although many people think of tummy tuck surgery as a procedure primarily for women, surgeons around the country see their share of men, too. Male patients are a special population with their own concerns and desires, and they’re often a bit more apprehensive about undergoing plastic surgery in the first place. Typically their concerns revolve around discretion — what will their scars look like? How long will they be out of work? What activity restrictions will they have while they recuperate? In these cases, knowledge is power. Let’s review some of the general guidelines related to tummy tuck surgery:
A low, horizontal incision: Although the incision used in tummy tuck surgery is long, most surgeons make a special effort to place it as low on the torso as possible to ensure that it’s easily concealed beneath most types of clothing. Over time, the initial raised, red scar flattens and fades to a more neutral color.
1 to 2 weeks out of work: The length of recovery depends largely on the significance of the surgery. Smaller tummy tucks can require as little as a week off from work. According to the website of Dr. Zoran Potparic, a plastic surgeon who specializes in tummy tuck at his Fort Lauderdale office, traditional tummy tucks often necessitate 2 or 3 weeks of home recuperation.
No lifting or bending: In the immediate days after a tummy tuck, it’s vitally important to avoid bending, stooping, squatting, or heavy lifting. However, movement is important. Surgeons advise patients to take short walks around the house or the neighborhood to encourage blood flow and ensure a safe healing process.
Weight Loss
Significant weight loss can produce excess or sagging skin in the abdominal area for people of any age, and even moderate weight loss can create the same effect in older people whose skin elasticity is reduced. As many of us know all too well, skin behaves very differently than fat, which means it’s impossible to reduce by cutting back on calories or logging extra hours in the gym.
A tummy tuck can be modified several different ways to meet the needs of a weight loss patient. Typically, the main focus of any tummy tuck performed after weight loss is reduction of excess skin. In more significant cases, a tummy tuck may be extended to reach all the way around a patient’s body, lifting the buttocks and thighs in addition to the abdomen. This approach is actually called a body lift, and although it can treat several areas of the body at once, it’s still a significant procedure.
Aging
If you’re a man or woman “of a certain age,” you’re probably already well acquainted with the infamous middle-aged spread. Caused primarily by hormonal changes, this term refers to the accumulation of stubborn abdominal fat that typically occurs in middle age. In addition to fat, many people begin to notice decreased skin elasticity, leading to moderate sagging that you can’t just “suck in.”
Do you remember having a flat stomach like this? I am not sure mine was ever that flat, but I sure wish it was!
Some people who undergo tummy tuck to resolve age-related changes are eligible for a modified form of abdominoplasty called a “mini” tummy tuck. The mini tummy tuck uses a smaller incision to treat the area below the navel, which is where many people see age-related changes; think of that pesky belly “pooch.”
Although the patient base for tummy tuck isn’t as diverse as, say, rhinoplasty, it’s important to dispel myths about who actually undergoes the surgery. If you’re bothered by the look of your abdomen, consult with a plastic surgeon near you who’s certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery to find the perfect match for you.
This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Dr. Zoran Potparic. All opinions are my own.