What You Should Know Before Having a Tummy Tuck

Having a much slimmer, flatter, and more toned looking abdominal area is something to look forward to after a tummy tuck. The Philadelphia area’s Dr. Kevin Cross sees many patients who want to improve the appearance of their abs but can’t get the look they want because of resistant excess fat or sagging skin they can’t lose on their own.

If you naturally carry more fat around the midsection due to genetics and your body type, even the strictest diet and exercise routines probably won’t make much of a difference for your body proportions. Similarly, skin that has become stretched on the abdominal area because of pregnancy or significant weight loss can’t just snap back into being as tight as it was before.

As the techniques that are used for tummy tucks have continued to become more advanced, the treatment remains one of the most popular forms of cosmetic surgery in the United States. If you’re planning on having this surgery, see below for some of the top things you should know: 

They Aren’t a Weight Loss Procedure

One of the most common misconceptions is that a tummy tuck will help you lose a large amount of weight from the abdomen. This is not a bariatric surgery. Even though you’ll most likely lose fat and some inches from your midsection after a tummy tuck—and patients are often motivated to continue losing weight by sticking to a workout routine—tummy tucks are not designed to be a weight loss procedure. In fact, tummy tuck patients should ideally be at or close to their ideal weight and be fit, active, and have maintained a stable weight for at least six months. Tummy tucks remove small deposits of stubborn fat that won’t respond to your diet and exercise routine. 

They Aren’t the Same Thing As Liposuction 

Tummy tucks and liposuction are both types of cosmetic surgery that improve the appearance of the stomach, but that’s where the similarities end. Liposuction simply involves the removal of excess fat from below the skin. Tummy tucks are more involved procedures that can also be used to tighten tissues and muscles on the abdomen and remove unwanted skin, in addition to removing some excess fat. Unlike tummy tucks, which are only focused on the front of the abdomen, liposuction can also be used to reduce fat from surrounding areas such as the lower back, hips, and flanks. Liposuction can’t remove loose skin. However, these two procedures are often combined in the same surgery to optimize results. 

Patients Who Had C-Sections Can Get Them

In some cases, a C-section scar can cause loose skin on the abdominal area. During a tummy tuck, the C-section scar can be removed after you’ve had time to fully recover and your weight has stabilized after a Caesarean delivery. It’s best to have a tummy tuck only if you don’t plan on becoming pregnant again, because additional pregnancies could reverse the results. 

It Helps to Plan in Advance

Many surgeons recommend that patients start planning, researching, and preparing at least six months in advance if they’re considering tummy tuck surgery, rather than it being a spur-of-the moment decision. Not everyone will need so much time, but planning ahead allows patients to achieve and maintain their goal weight—and also to make arrangements for aftercare. If you’re months away from your tummy tuck, it’s the perfect opportunity to start a good exercise routine, diet, and other lifestyle habits. Drinking more water, managing stress, being more active, consuming less alcohol, and quitting smoking if you smoke are all important steps you can take. This helps to improve your strength so that you can minimize risk of infections or other complications after surgery. 

For more information about the tummy tuck procedure, contact the Philadelphia area’s Cross Medical Group to discuss the surgery. Call 215) 561-9100 or submit a contact form to schedule an appointment and find out whether this procedure is the right choice for you.