When Should You Have a Tummy Tuck?

A sagging abdomen can make you feel self-conscious. You no longer dare to wear fitted clothing and absolutely do not want to go to the beach in a bikini or swimming trunks. The cause of a sagging abdomen can vary; pregnancy, extreme weight loss, ageing and excess weight often lead to excess skin on the abdomen. We explain when you can and cannot have a tummy tuck performed.

Many patients who come to us for a tummy tuck have lost a significant amount of weight. The result of this weight loss is excess skin, on the abdomen but also in other areas. A treatment to feel comfortable in your own skin again can include a tummy tuck. Operations that, like the tummy tuck, correct sagging skin include an upper arm lift, thigh lift or a body lift. It is always first assessed whether you are eligible for these treatments and whether the desired result can be achieved. A combination of treatments results in a somewhat longer recovery period. Please note: Wait until you have reached your target weight before having the treatment performed. Further weight loss can negatively affect the result.

As you age, your skin loses its elasticity due to a reduction in collagen. This can cause wrinkles and a sagging abdomen. This usually occurs after the age of fifty. A tummy tuck is the perfect solution when you are bothered by your sagging skin, as a tummy tuck will give you a firm abdomen once again.

A pregnancy can also be a good reason to consider a tummy tuck. Once your little one is born, the abdominal wall sometimes remains loose and your abdomen looks different than it did before the pregnancy. Your abdomen naturally grows considerably during pregnancy and the skin stretches and then becomes slack. During pregnancy, the straight abdominal muscles may move apart to make room for the baby; this separation of the abdominal muscles is called diastasis. When the abdominal muscles permanently remain separated, this is called diastasis recti. This cannot be undone, but the plastic surgeon can plicate the abdominal muscles, returning them to the correct position. Enquire during a consultation which surgical method will give you the best result. The plastic surgeons at Blooming know exactly which method will deliver the result you desire. Please note: Are you planning to become pregnant (again)? Then consider postponing the tummy tuck until after your pregnancy. Your abdomen will grow during pregnancy and can stretch the skin again.

Patients who are overweight are not always eligible for a tummy tuck. In many cases, the main cause of a sagging abdomen is an excess of fat, which cannot be addressed with this procedure. A tummy tuck is intended to deal with excess skin. Is there a build-up of fat that you cannot get rid of through healthy eating and exercise? Then liposuction may offer a solution. To be eligible for an operation, it is important to have a healthy BMI for optimal recovery.

A cosmetic procedure such as the tummy tuck is suitable for both women and men. Because many women undergo the procedure after a pregnancy, we more often see female patients. However, men are also welcome at our clinic when they suffer from excess skin on the abdomen.

Sometimes it is not necessary to perform a full tummy tuck, because the excess skin is only located below the navel. In that case, you can choose the mini tummy tuck, a smaller procedure in which we do not move the navel but only correct the area below the navel.

Would you like to know whether a tummy tuck can help you with your sagging abdomen? Please get in touch with us! We can be reached by phone on 023 544 4974 and by email at info@bloomingpc.nl.