You’ve lost a significant amount of weight with the hard work of dieting and exercise. Congratulations! But that makes it all the more frustrating when you still have excess fat and skin around your abdominal area, even when the rest of your body is slimmer.
If a pudgy abdomen is keeping you from having the body shape you want, contact The Aesthetic Surgery Center in New York City’s Upper East Side to learn about how an abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, can help. Board-certified plastic surgeon, Elliot H. Rose, MD expertly performs this surgery to remove excess saggy skin from the lower belly, tighten any weakened abdominal wall muscles, and smooth out wrinkled skin above the belly button.
A tummy tuck may be done alone or in conjunction with liposuction to slim your thighs, buttocks, or upper abdomen. Ultimately, Dr. Rose helps you get the slim, contoured physique you deserve after putting in the effort to achieve a healthy size.
When you lose weight, you can’t dictate from which parts of the body fat disappears. Your body slims down according to its own rules, and often the belly holds on to stubborn fat. Even if you lose all the fat you want, the skin that once held your larger body remains, making your abdomen look saggy and pudgy.
Women who’ve been pregnant may also find that they lose the baby weight, but their stomach muscles have stretched out, and they’re frustrated by excess skin and fat that just won’t reduce no matter how little they eat.
A tummy tuck isn’t intended for comprehensive weight loss. It puts a finishing touch on your weight-loss journey when you’re within about 15-20% of your normal size. The procedure tightens up a flabby belly so you have a smoother midsection that lies flat in clothes.
You should be in generally good health and have arrived at a stable weight before deciding to proceed with a tummy tuck, because it’s not a substitute for diet and exercise. If you’re planning on losing more weight or getting pregnant, hold off on the surgery until your weight has stabilized. Prior to your tummy tuck, it’s a good idea to quit smoking, too, as tobacco use compromises healing.
Once you’ve had a tummy tuck, maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid wild fluctuations in your weight. If you stay at a healthy size, the effects of your procedure are permanent.
Dr. Rose performs tummy tucks at our state-of-the-art outpatient facility. In most cases, a board-certified anesthesiologist administers twilight sedation so you’re semi-conscious during the procedure, but you don’t feel any pain. If Dr. Rose feels you need a more extensive surgery due to excessive skin and fat, he may recommend your procedure be done at the hospital.
Your incision is placed just above the pubic hairline in the lower abdominal area, where it’s easily concealed. If you’ve had a prior C-section, the incision may be placed in a similar area so it leaves you with only one scar.
Dr. Rose suctions away excess fat and removes extra skin, stitching everything back together and leaving you with a tighter, smoother tummy.
Afterward, you’ll need to take 2-3 weeks off work and avoid strenuous exercise for about 4-6 weeks. This time off is worth it though, as you’ll notice the slimming effects almost immediately after any postsurgical swelling subsides.
If you’re ready to have a belly that matches the rest of your slim frame, call The Aesthetic Surgery Center or schedule an appointment online to learn if a tummy tuck is right for you. Dr. Rose and our team are pleased to help you achieve all of your body-contouring goals.
