What Can a Tummy Tuck Do? 5 Advantages Of Abdominoplasty
When you put on a few pounds that you can see on your stomach, your first instinct might be to blame it all on the Quarantine 15, as having too many snacks and not being very physically active are known causes of weight gain. There are also factors outside of your control, however, that might be contributing to a bulkier midsection. Sometimes your natural body type is to blame; the belly is the default fat storage place for men, and lots of women also have a more apple-shaped figure. For people who have always had a tendency to store most of their weight on the upper body, toning up a slightly rounded belly and flabby flanks can be a challenge, even after losing weight from all over the rest of the body. For other people, age-related fat gain and muscle loss, weight fluctuations, genetics, or even stretched-out skin and muscles from pregnancy could be preventing them from gaining the sculpted, washboard abs they long for. If any of this sounds like you, then you may most benefit from a tummy tuck, says Dr. Kevin Cross of Cross Plastic Surgery in the Philadelphia area.
A tummy tuck, also referred to by the medical term “abdominoplasty,” is a surgical procedure for shaping the stomach area. Continue reading to learn about some of the things this procedure can do:
1. Remove Excess Skin
After a major, rapid weight loss of 100 pounds or more, a person’s skin might not have had the time to retract gradually and tighten around the stomach. Pregnancy can also cause the skin in this area to become permanently stretched. The resulting apron of excess skin on the stomach can get in the way of normal activities, make it difficult to work out, and increase the risk of back pain, rashes, and infections. During a tummy tuck surgery, this redundant skin is completely removed, then the remaining skin is repositioned over the sculpted contours.
2. Take Off Fat for Good
Some of the subcutaneous, soft fat that’s visible—or at least pinchable—just below the surface of the skin on your belly is the type of resistant fat that can stay in this isolated spot despite all of the exercise and healthy eating you’ve been doing. Liposuction may be used during a tummy tuck to permanently suction away fat cells from this area. This approach, combined with the removal of extra skin, leaves you with a more toned and flat stomach.
3. Give You a Confidence Boost
Patients often feel insecure and self-conscious about loose skin or fullness around the stomach. Having an aesthetic treatment isn’t about being vain or shallow; a tummy tuck can have positive psychological benefits in addition to cosmetic ones. Inner beauty and outer beauty are closely connected, because when you look in the mirror and like what you see, this self-image can make you feel empowered. As a result, other people may also view you in a more positive way.
4. Repair Stomach Muscles
Pregnancy sometimes causes the sit-up muscles on the abdomen to become stretched and separated. This is known as diastasis recti and has side effects such as a bulge at the middle of the abdominal area, weakness of the core muscles, poor posture, lower back pain, and bloating. Eventually, it can even lead to difficulties with performing basic daily tasks. During a tummy tuck, these muscles can be stitched back together and strengthened. Better core strength makes it easier for you to tolerate exercise.
5. Fix Hernias
In addition to improving the cosmetic appearance of the abdomen, tummy tucks also have some practical, medical benefits. People who have weakened abdominal muscles often experience ventral hernias that develop when the abdominal tissue or intestine protrudes against the wall of the abdomen. A tummy tuck not only corrects this problem, but also can reduce the chance of it happening in the future.
Need more information about tummy tuck procedures or another type of plastic surgery? Contact the Philadelphia area or Main Line offices of Cross Plastic Surgery to discover more. Give them a call at (215) 561-9100, or submit a contact form to request a consultation.