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A tummy tuck is a cosmetic procedure that is not weight dependent. We have done tummy tucks on people who were normal, overweight and obese. The complications are higher in people who are obese but the patients may also benefit from the resulting weight loss. Best of Luck, Gary Horndeski, M.D.
A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a procedure to address the changes to the abdomen that occur with pregnancy. The skin of the abdomen is stretched and in some cases overstretched causing stretch marks and in addition the underlying muscle layer is stretched and weakened. The tummy tuck addresses these problems to remove the loose skin and tighten the muscle layer. Liposuction is often used with this procedure to address excess fat on the abdomen and hip and/or flank areas as well. The procedure is not a weight losing operation. It is ideally performed on patient who are at or near their ideal body weight. Patients who have lost a considerable amount of weight are candidates for an abdominoplasty primarily to address the excess skin that can be present after a significant amount of weight loss. I hope you find this helpful.
Thank you for the question. There is no specific weight necessary to “qualify” for a tummy tuck procedure. Every patient's situation is considered individually. Generally, I advise patients to be as close as possible to a long-term stable weight prior to undergoing any body contouring surgery. This avoidance of surgery on patients who are overweight helps minimize perioperative complications and decreases the chances that further surgery may be “necessary” if additional weight is lost after the body contouring surgery. I hope this helps.
Tummy tuck surgery can make a huge difference in the appearance of an abdomen when one has gone through even one pregnancy. However, pregnancy after tummy tuck can undo most of the improvements achieved from the surgery. My advice is to have the surgery when you have finished having children.
Anesthesia can affect the menstrual cycle. It should return to normal but do not be surprised if you get an additional menstrual period or skip a period. Be diligent with contraception and speak to your gynecologist about any concerns.
It is possible that you have an ongoing seroma (collection of fluid) that is draining through an area where your belly button failed to heal properly. An ultrasound might confirm this. Antibiotics would not improve this situation. A persistent seroma would require aspiration or placement of a...
An abdominal pannus or "apron" would have to be very large in order to be attributed to back pain. Most back pain is associated with a problem with the spine or surrounding muscles, not from an abdominal pannus. I suggest a consultation with your primary care doctor...
As others have commented, in general a diastasis repair is very worthwhile as part of an abdominal contouring procedure. It should not create other deformities or defects laterally. However, in your case a full exam is necessary by a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to rule out any...
It is generally recommended that you do not shave the pubic area before getting a tummy tuck. If your surgeon would like some hair removed, it could be done on the OR table immediately before your surgery. It is felt that shaving several hours or days before the surgery could increase your risk...
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