Adequate exercise and a proper diet are enough to keep you fit. However, the sit-ups and star jumps you have been doing for months will not be of much help if you have excess skin around the abdominal region. In such cases, surgery is the only option, and doctors recommend a tummy tuck. Therefore, it is crucial for patients who do not know much about abdominoplasty to familiarise themselves with the procedure. Luckily, physicians and surgeons know how to prepare patients and eliminate doubt. This post highlights some of the lesser-known facts regarding the tummy tuck procedure.

Tummy Tuck Options

Most people believe that a tummy tuck procedure is the same across the board. However, it is not entirely the case since people's goals and bodies are unique. Thus, a cosmetic surgeon cannot apply the same procedure to all patients. For instance, some people do not have too much extra skin or fat around the abdominal region. Therefore, a mini-tummy tuck is appropriate for such individuals, which requires a small incision. However, if you have excess sagging skin and lax abdominal muscles, a full tummy tuck is necessary. It involves a larger incision designed to tighten the abdominal muscles. Another tummy tuck option includes liposuction, mainly recommended for patients after a well-contoured waistline.

Goes Deeper than the Skin

Most people who know little about tummy tuck believe it is all about trimming extra sagging skin. However, nothing could be further from the truth because abdominoplasty goes deeper than the skin. Apart from the skin, the tummy tuck also focuses on stretched abdominal muscles. It is particularly essential for patients who have just had a baby and need their abdominal muscles repositioned and tightened.

Partly Removes Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are caused by pregnancy or rapid weight gain. They may appear as red or purple lines across the abdomen, bum, or hips. Since abdominoplasty involves the removal of extra skin, it helps eliminate stretch marks in marked regions. For instance, if you have stretch marks below your navel, a tummy tuck procedure will remove the skin, leaving the region stretch marks free. Notably, stretch marks around the waistline are easy to remove through a tummy tuck, but only if liposuction is part of the procedure. That said, a cosmetic surgeon does not focus on eliminating stretch marks since it is not the procedure's primary focus. Therefore, patients must go into a tummy tuck procedure with reasonable expectations regarding stretch marks.

To learn more about tummy tucks, talk to your doctor.