Bakersfield Tummy Tuck doctors

There are many options for patients interested in body-contouring procedures.  If a patient is concerned about the anterior abdominal region, some options include liposuction, mini-abdominoplasty, and full-abdominoplasty.  Liposuction (the aspiration of adipose tissue/fat) is primarily used for patients who have good skin elasticity, a minimal amount of excess/loose skin, and no rectus diastasis (weakened abdominal muscles).  One way to help determine if the skin has lost elasticity, is to check for stretch marks.  If you have significant amount of stretch marks, then chances are that the skin will not contract appreciably after liposuction.  There are several other new techniques using lasers (SmartLipo, etc.) that heat up the dermis prior to fat aspiration that might help reorganize the dermal collagen and tighten the skin, but in my opinion, these technques are good for mild to moderate loose skin and limited to very specific areas of concern.  A mini-abdominoplasty is good for patients who have excess skin and fat limited to the region between the belly button and pubic hairline.  Some rectus abdominis muscle tightening can also be performed with a mini-abdominoplasty, but this is limited to the region between the belly button and pubic hairline.  Many surgeons combine liposuction to the flanks and epigastric region with a mini-abdominoplasty as well.  If a patient has a moderate to severe amount of excess skin and fat, significant rectus diastasis (loose abdominal muscles), and excess skin in the upper abdominal region then a full-abdominoplasty would be indicated.  In general, if you can almost touch your fingers when pinching the skin from just above your belly button to your pubic hairline from a sitting position, then you may be a good candidate for a full-abdominoplasty.  The full-abdominoplasty can tighten the rectus muscles from your xiphoid (the inferior edge of your breastbone) to the pubic region.  Many surgeons also combine liposuction to the flanks during a full-abdominoplasty.

With that said, you should have a formal consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to see which of the aforementioned techniques or combination thereof will be the most appropriate for you.  Also, when considering an abdominoplasty, you should be as close to your ideal BMI (25) as possible.  Surely have a BMI less then 30 prior to an abdominoplasty.  It is a safer procedure, less wound complications, and a better cosmetic result.