| A flat, toned stomach is one of the most sought-after | | | | entirely during the process or stretched tighter to |
| attributes for both men and women in society today. | | | | lessen the stretch marks. |
| This is an aesthetically-pleasing body characteristic, | | | | Belly fat can be dangerous to a person’s overall |
| which may be one of the reasons why there were | | | | health. This type of fat can negatively impact nearby |
| approximately 122,000 tummy tuck (also called | | | | internal organs and increase a person’s chances of |
| abdominoplasty) procedures performed in the United | | | | developing heart disease, diabetes or other health |
| States in 2008, according to the American Society of | | | | complications. Removal of abdominal fat can keep a |
| Plastic Surgeons. | | | | person healthy from the inside out. |
| A tummy tuck procedure is a surgical method to | | | | Feeling good in clothing or even a bathing suit may help |
| remove excess fat and skin from the abdominal area | | | | to increase that person’s overall self-confidence. A |
| on healthy, active patients. The surgery can also help | | | | flat belly can make a person walk taller, stand |
| to repair abdominal muscles that have become weak | | | | straighter and project a more positive attitude. |
| or separated due to pregnancy, extreme weight loss, | | | | The effects of a tummy tuck can last for many years, |
| heredity or aging. While tummy tucks can help both | | | | providing the patient continues to follow a good, healthy |
| men and women achieve more contoured, attractive | | | | lifestyle. Exercise and a balanced diet will keep the |
| abdomens, this is not a procedure that should be | | | | abdominal muscles strong and flat. |
| viewed as a quick, easy way to lose abdominal | | | | Tummy Tuck Risks and Complications |
| weight. | | | | A tummy tuck is a serious, invasive surgery that should |
| Tummy Tuck Advantages | | | | not be entered into lightly. The surgical procedure |
| The number one advantage to having a tummy tuck is | | | | involves an incision along the bikini line that will run from |
| that the procedure will eliminate a protruding or sagging | | | | hipbone to hipbone in many cases. There are different |
| stomach and may create a smaller waistline. Often this | | | | types of tummy tucks that may require smaller |
| area is the hardest to tone, especially for women who | | | | incisions. Regardless of the incision size, the patient |
| are trying to regain their pre-pregnancy bodies and | | | | must allow ample time to heal properly before |
| people who have a great deal of excess loose skin | | | | performing certain activities. Even with proper healing, |
| after major weight loss, such as bariatric surgery. | | | | the patient should expect to have a scar along the |
| Sometimes stretch marks can be eliminated by tummy | | | | incision line, which may or may not fade over time. |
| tuck surgery. The affected areas may be removed | | | | |