If you have extra fat and skin in your abdominal area after pregnancy or weight loss, you may be considering having a tummy tuck. This surgical procedure removes the extra tissue, resulting in a tighter, more toned midsection. While many patients are happy with their outcomes, a tummy tuck, like any surgery, is not for everyone. Here are three questions to ask yourself when deciding whether to undergo this procedure.
Do you plan on having more children?
Because pregnancy will stretch out your abdominal skin again, experts usually recommend against undergoing a tummy tuck if you plan on having any children in the future. This is true whether or not you've already had children. Having children after a tummy tuck may put you at risk of muscular damage since the previously repaired tissues will be stretched.
Do you plan to lose more weight?
In most cases, patients are advised to hold off on a tummy tuck until they've reached a stable weight. If you have the procedure and then lose more weight, you might be left with more loose skin — so you might have to undergo a second procedure to attain the tight midsection you desire.
If you're not sure whether you should lose more weight, consider meeting with a weight loss specialist to see how realistic your weight loss goals are and how healthy your current weight is. Then, you may have a better idea whether undergoing the tummy tuck now or later is a better choice.
Do you have time for the required recovery?
A tummy tuck is a pretty major surgery, so you need to ensure you have the time to take off and recover afterwards. You may need to stay overnight in the hospital after your procedure. Pain medications will keep you somewhat comfortable, but there will be discomfort.
For about a week after your procedure, you'll basically need to stay in bed. After this, you can slowly increase your activity levels, but it will likely be a month or more before you're able to do more strenuous tasks like clean or exercise. You'll need to wear a support garment around your midsection for a few weeks, and there may be drains placed in your incisions (which your surgeon will eventually remove.)
To learn more about tummy tuck procedures, speak with a local professional such as those found at Renaissance Center For Facial & Body Sculpting. They will assess your overall health and let you know if you're a good candidate for the procedure.
Share21 December 2016
My parents taught me healthy eating habits and I played outside a lot as a kid. Once I was old enough to work, I got a job as a waiter at a restaurant and kept waiting tables throughout high school and college. After college, I got my very first desk job, and my health started declining. I soon realized that even though I had never stepped foot in a gym, I was living a sedentary lifestyle for the first time in my life. I wasn't getting exercise playing outside or running around at work, so I decided to commit to going to the gym. My health began to improve and I now greatly enjoy bodybuilding. I know many other people are in ill health and can't figure out why, so I decided to start a blog to share my health tips and inspire everyone improve their health!
