While healthy living can tone certain areas of the body and lower the body mass index, it cannot address loose skin. Once the abdominal skin has been stretched to its maximum extent, surgical intervention is required to restore the area. The tummy tuck reforms the abdomen from the inside out by first addressing deeper muscle structures and then removing excess skin. Many women who choose the tummy tuck are looking to restore their bodies to its pre-baby condition. These cases are often dubbed the “Mommy Makeover” and can be coupled with a breast surgery, such as breast augmentation or breast lift, to transform the areas of the body most affected by pregnancy. Both women and men want to feel more attractive, and a tummy tuck can effectively tighten the abdominal region of the body to create a slimmer, firmer, more appealing midsection. Extra tissues of the midsection can cause a person to feel social discomfort due to lowered self-esteem, but this condition also has the potential to cause physical discomfort. In weight loss patients, the “apron” of extra skin and fat droops below the natural waistline. The tissue is heavy and especially sensitive to injury because it hangs away from the body. The folds of skin can harbor excess moisture, which may cause yeast infections of the skin, making it prone to other types of infection as well. Clothing is not designed to fit this type of figure, and the waistline of pants can create friction and rubbing against the already compromised skin.

The Brazilian Butt Lift is intended to provide long-term results to the aesthetics of the buttocks. In any fat grafting procedure, the entirety of the tissue redistributed may not remain indefinitely. A general estimation is that approximately 40% of the implanted fat can migrate from the area or be reabsorbed by the body. The remaining fat, however, is often considered permanent. For this reason, the doctor may elect to overfill the buttocks to compensate for this initial decrease in volume. If a patient loses weight, the natural fat loss process will also affect the treated region. The Brazilian Butt Lift may best suit patients who do not plan to lose a significant amount of weight after their treatment.

Abdominoplasty, the technical term for the tummy tuck procedure, involves treatment of the stomach area at the structural level. The doctor creates an incision, which can typically be hidden by a person’s clothing (including underwear and bathing suit bottoms) to gain access to the deeper tissues. Depending on which type of tummy tuck a patient elects to receive, a specific area of the abdomen will be manipulated. A full tummy tuck or abdominoplasty treats the entire abdomen, including the area above the navel, while the partial tummy tuck or abdominoplasty treats the lower section of the abdomen below the belly button. Liposuction may also be employed for extra fat removal of the abdomen. The tissues (skin and fat) are separated from the muscle wall, exposing the abdominal muscles and fascia, which can be surgically altered to create a tighter structure. Loose abdominal muscles will be positioned more closely together and secured by sutures. Extra fat can be excised from below the skin to remove the adipose tissue that has accumulated in this region. The skin of the abdomen is then stretched taught, and extra skin is trimmed away. The suture is closed and the procedure is complete.

Safety is paramount during any cosmetic procedure as these types of surgeries are not necessary for patient health. Tummy tuck is an invasive plastic surgery that should be reserved for patients in good health with excess tissues of the abdomen they seek to eliminate. Tummy tuck surgery is not a substitute for weight loss, and weight loss cannot create the changes that the tummy tuck produces through a surgical procedure. Men and women are good candidates for a tummy tuck if they have outstretched skin and tissues in their stomach region that will not return to its original position. Patients can learn more about how they may benefit from tummy tuck surgery by scheduling a complimentary consultation with one of the surgeons at Doctors Plastic Surgery of New York.