Want to know if you’re a good Chicago tummy tuck candidate? You’re in the right place. Below, we’ll go over the specific requirements necessary when pursuing this surgery.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Tummy Tuck Surgery?
Ultimately, the best way to know if you are a quality patient for tummy tuck procedure, also known as abdominoplasty, is to meet with a board certified plastic surgeon directly to discuss your qualifications.
First, you need to establish that your body and shape would benefit from a tummy tuck. Next, it’s important to have your surgeon review your medical history to make sure there are no potential risks that you need to be aware of or that would threaten your ability to safely have surgery.
Naturally, you’ll need to go over your budget and your estimated tummy tuck cost as well. Tummy tucks cost a significant amount of money and is not covered by health insurance in most cases. So, if you don’t have the out-of-pocket funds to pay for the surgery outright, you’ll need to review the financing options that are usually available through your provider.
Finally, make sure you’re mentally and emotionally prepared for tummy tuck surgery. A tummy tuck procedure is major surgery. It is invasive, and several notable incisions will need to be made. You need to be mentally and emotionally capable of enduring a surgery like this and going through the recovery period while carefully following all of your surgeon’s aftercare instructions.
Tummy Tuck Patient Requirements
Tummy Tuck Patient Requirements#1 – Loose skin on the abdomen
The telltale sign that you may need a tummy tuck is having loose excess skin on your abdomen. Typically, the skin occurs on the lower abdomen, beneath the belly button. It is often the result of extreme weight loss or pregnancy.
#2 – Separated abdominal muscles
Frequently, the same patients (new moms and weight loss patients) will have separated abdominal muscles. Even despite leading a healthy lifestyle, this condition (called diastasis recti) can very often only be treated with surgery.
#3 – Good physical health
Good physical health helps make a great candidate for most any type of cosmetic surgery, including tummy tuck procedures. Be sure that you are exercising regularly, eating healthy, and keeping stress to a minimum. Doing these things can positively impact your surgery and recovery in many ways. Never underestimate the power of a good nutritional diet for tummy tuck patients.
#4 – A positive outlook and reasonable expectations
Lastly, ensure you understand the risks of tummy tuck surgery and have realistic expectations concerning your outcome. Most patients are totally safe during this procedure and have a great recovery only to see phenomenal results.
However, complications can rarely occur. Furthermore, it’s important to remember that you will have scars after a tummy tuck procedure. For most patients, even these drawbacks and risks are completely worth it.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Mini Tummy Tuck?
In truth, mini tummy tucks are relatively rare. They are not performed very often because patients don’t frequently meet the requirements for them.
The difference between a traditional tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck is that a mini tummy tuck only focuses on correcting sagging skin below the belly button. There is no naval (belly button) incision with a mini tummy tuck surgery. Additionally, excess skin above the belly button is not corrected, and the abdominal muscles are not tightened above the belly button either.
The best candidate for mini tummy tuck surgery meet all of the requirements listed above for traditional tummy tuck surgery, but there is one key difference: The loose, hanging abdominal skin is much less severe and is concentrated only on the lower abdomen.
To put it simply, in order to be a quality candidate for mini tummy tuck, you must be in good health with no serious medical conditions, you must have realistic expectations about surgery, and you must have loose abdominal skin and potentially, separated abdominal muscles. However, your loose skin and separated muscles must be only below the belly button.
FAQ: Candidate Tummy Tuck Requirements
Who is not a good candidate for a tummy tuck?
Patients who are in ill health or who have serious medical concerns that may cause complications during or after surgery may not be good candidates for this plastic surgery procedure. Likewise, patients who have a significant amount of stubborn fat to lose may need to lose weight prior to undergoing tummy tuck surgery. It’s best when tummy tuck patients are at or near their target healthy weight.
It’s also important to know the difference between tummy tuck surgery and liposuction. Tummy tuck surgery can address excess skin from the abdomen – usually due to pregnancy and childbirth or significant weight loss.
On the other hand, liposuction can remove excess fat from the stomach as well as other parts of the body. You are not a good choice for tummy tuck surgery if you only have excess fat on your abdomen and don’t actually have sufficient loose skin there.
How much is tummy tuck surgery?
Patients who want to learn more about tummy tuck cost should book a personal consultation appointment with the plastic surgeon of their choice. Prices vary too much to reliably offer a one-size-fits-all cost on the Internet.
How long after tummy tuck can I workout?
After a tummy tuck, refrain from strenuous activities like weightlifting, jogging, biking, and aerobics for 6-8 weeks. Avoid heavy lifting that strains for 6 weeks. Follow your surgeons instructions carefully regarding exercise after tummy tuck surgery. Always proceed with caution.
Call Today to Set Up a Consultation Appointment
Dr. Dahlia Rice performs tummy tuck surgery at her Chicago practice. Dr. Rice is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is held in the highest esteem by her patients and close colleagues as a leading plastic surgeon in the Midwest.
To learn more about Dr. Rice’s services and to find out if you would make a good patient for tummy tuck surgery, please contact our practice today to schedule your one-on-one personal consultation appointment with Dr. Rice.
References
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/what-type-of-tummy-tuck-is-right-for-you
