Dr. John LeRoy Answers Your Questions About Tummy Tucks
The abdomen is an incredibly common “trouble area” for adults. When I say “trouble area”, I mean a portion of the body that is most in need of aesthetic rejuvenation for people as the years go on. Excess skin, stubborn fat, and damaged abdominal muscles that create the appearance of a belly “pooch” are common sources of frustration for people. Thankfully, tummy tuck surgery is designed to address all of these concerns and create a flatter and more healthy-looking abdomen for women and men. Today, I wanted to answer a few common questions about tummy tuck surgery and how it can help my patients.
Question #1: What is the difference between a tummy tuck and liposuction?
While these are both common body contouring procedures, they help patients in very different ways. During a tummy tuck, the focus is on repairing the abdominal muscle, as well as removing loose, stretched skin and tissue that has become lax over time. While fat removal is sometimes part of the procedure, that is not always the case. Liposuction on the other hand, is only intended to address excess fat and cannot help patients who need loose skin and tissue treated (as well as those who experience damaged abdominal muscles).
Question #2: Is there a less invasive version of the tummy tuck available?
I offer a minimally invasive tummy tuck variation known as my signature Band Aid Tummy Tuck. This alternative can be extremely helpful for patients who are within 5-10 pounds of their ideal body weight and experience excess fat deposits and/or mild to moderately sagging skin in the lower abdomen area. During the procedure, I am able to remove small amounts of excess skin and then refine the contour of the abdomen with liposuction (if needed). This option is performed in-office with gentle numbing.
Question #3: Is it true that a tummy tuck can improve my posture?
It is. In addition to the wonderful cosmetic benefits that it’s most known for, undergoing a tummy tuck can provide additional medical benefits like improved posture and reduced back pain as well. By correcting a protruding abdomen and tightening separated abdominal muscles, posture issues can often be addressed.
As a board-certified plastic surgeon, it’s important to me tha I be able to answer questions like this and guide my patients toward the best-possible surgical choices and outcomes for their unique needs. For more information about tummy tuck surgery, or any other cosmetic surgery procedure that I perform, contact me, Dr. John L. LeRoy, to schedule a plastic surgery consultation today. You can also follow along with me on Facebook for additional tips, practice news, and much more.