medical

Swimsuit season is dawning once again, and it has left many people thinking about their physique and whether it matches their hopes and ideals. For some, a tummy tuck or a mini tummy tuck like my Band Aid Tummy Tuck could be the ideal way to get the body contour you want.

Are you a good candidate for a tummy tuck? Follow each of these steps to find out if you should take the next step and schedule a consultation at my plastic surgery office.

Define Your Cosmetic Goals

Each plastic surgery, including a tummy tuck, is designed to address very specific cosmetic concerns. Specifically, a tummy tuck can help with:

• A “pooch” on your lower abdomen due to abdominal muscles that separated, a common issue for women who have been pregnant
• Sagging skin throughout your abdominal area, above and/or below your belly button
• Excess fat in your belly

If one or more of these aesthetic concerns are on your list of priorities, a tummy tuck may be the best way to improve them.

Check Up on Your Health

While a tummy tuck is cosmetic, it’s still a surgical procedure, and candidates should be in good health to make the surgery very low-risk. While I require every patient to undergo select medical tests before their surgery, it’s a good idea to visit your general practitioner for an annual physical if you haven’t had one in some time so you have an idea of your overall health.

It’s important to think about your health habits as well. For example, if you are a smoker, be aware that you will need to stop smoking for several weeks before and after surgery to allow for healthy healing.

Determine Your Weight Management Plans

A tummy tuck is designed to contour the physique you have on the day of the surgery. Any changes to your figure, including weight gain or weight loss, will impact the results of your surgery. This is why ideal candidates for a tummy tuck should be at or near their ideal weight with plans to maintain their weight long-term. If you have recently lost weight, it’s best to wait until you have kept your weight stable for several months so you’re certain you’re able to maintain it.

Pregnancy will also affect your tummy tuck results. For women considering a tummy tuck, it’s best to wait until you’re finished having children or you’ve decided you don’t want children in the future.

Consider Your Patience for Recovery

A tummy tuck has the potential to make a powerful difference in your appearance, but with this comes a recovery period that will limit your movements and activities for some time. To be a candidate for a tummy tuck, you need to be able to take enough time off work to recover and to properly follow all post-surgical care instructions and limitations so your body can heal.

Weigh Your Surgical Options

A traditional tummy tuck isn’t the only way to get excellent body contouring results. As you consider a tummy tuck, consider whether you might be a better fit for a similar type of procedure instead.

For example, my Band Aid Tummy Tuck is a minimally invasive, in-office tummy tuck performed with gentle numbing rather than general anesthesia. For patients who want to treat a smaller area, my Band Aid Tummy Tuck can provide strong results with less recovery time.

Another potential alternative is liposuction. If your primary cosmetic concern is abdominal fat rather than sagging skin or muscle separation, liposuction or my Band Aid Liposuction may be better suited to your needs.

The Sure-Fire Way to See if You’re a Tummy Tuck Candidate: Schedule a Consultation

All the tips above can help you decide if you may be a good candidate for a tummy tuck, but the only way to know for certain is with a tummy tuck consultation. As a double board-certified plastic surgeon, I sit down with each potential patient to discuss their procedure, what they can expect, and whether they are a good candidate. To start this process today, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. John LeRoy. Follow me on Facebook for more cosmetic surgery tips.