Am I a Candidate?

Tummy tucks are popular with both men and women and is particularly popular with women who have had children. The ideal tummy tuck candidate is someone who has got stubborn fat on their abdomen that they are unable to get rid of with diet and exercise as well as saggy or loose skin. As with any cosmetic surgery procedure the ideal candidate should also have realistic expectations about what the surgery can achieve.
Pregnancy can cause the skin around the abdomen to lose its elasticity and become saggy. Women who have had cesarean deliveries or multiple pregnancies are often good candidates for a tummy tuck because the effects on their abdomen cannot be reversed with diet and exercise. For many women, a tummy tuck can give them back the figure they had before they had children and give them a renewed sense of confidence.

People who have lost a significant amount of weight can also be good candidates as they may be left with loose, overhanging skin around their stomachs. This can lead them to still feel incredibly self-conscious about their bodies despite losing a lot of weight. A tummy tuck can remove this excess skin and enable them to enjoy the benefits of losing weight.

As we age, our skin loses its natural elasticity and muscles become weaker. This can also have a dramatic effect on the abdomen, which can look flabby even if the person is a healthy weight. A tummy tuck can also address this problem.

In some cases people are genetically predisposed to store fat in certain areas of their body. These pockets of fat are often very resistant to diet and exercise and can cause low self-esteem. A tummy tuck can also address this problem.

Like liposuction, a tummy tuck is not a way to lose weight so the procedure is not suitable for people who are obese. If you are planning on losing a lot of weight then you are better to wait until you have reached your target weight before you consider having a tummy tuck as you may need further surgery to remove any additional excess skin. Women who have not yet had children or are planning on having more children are also advised to wait for this reason.

The best way to discover if you are a suitable candidate for a tummy tuck is to speak to an experienced plastic surgeon.