When you lose weight through diet and exercise, you might end up being left with abdominal muscles that are too loose. A Houston tummy tuck can help you get your stomach looking tighter again. Is this type of procedure right for you? Find out more about tummy tucks, including the kinds that are available and what to expect during this procedure.
Types of Tummy Tucks
There are a couple different kinds of tummy tucks to consider getting. A mini tummy tuck involves tightening loose skin and removing in the lower part of the abdomen. A regular tummy tuck involves removing fat and tightening skin in the entire abdomen. The kind that would work better for you depends on how much loose skin you have and other factors.
Good Candidates for Tummy Tucks
When should you consider getting a tummy tuck? You might be a suitable candidate for this type of procedure if you have lost a lot of weight or if you have given birth and have loose skin and muscles due to the weight you gained during pregnancy. If you have gone through multiple pregnancies, you might want to consider a Houston tummy tuck if your muscles have been stretched out too much and have lost their elasticity. If you are thinking of having this kind of procedure, you’ll meet with a cosmetic surgeon to determine if a tummy tuck is right for you.
What to Expect from a Tummy Tuck
When you have a tummy tuck done, you’ll typically have general anesthesia. This procedure generally takes between two and five hours overall. When you have this procedure done, your cosmetic surgeon will make the muscles in your abdomen tighter and stretch your skin over them. If needed, your surgeon can remove excess skin.
After your tummy tuck, you might have some discomfort and swelling for a few days or more. Depending on the procedure you have, you might need to take some time off from work while you recover. Your cosmetic surgeon will let you know how long to wait before it’s safe for you to go back to more physically demanding activities, such as strenuous exercise.
Tummy Tuck Results
What can you expect in terms of results when you have a Houston tummy tuck? After the swelling goes away, you should have tighter abdominal muscles and less loose skin in your belly area. The results of tummy tucks typically last for a long time except in patients who become pregnant or end up gaining a lot of weight.