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Common Tummy Tuck Myths8 min read

Common Tummy Tuck Myths
Dr. Phillip Chang

Dr. Phillip Chang

Board Certified By The American Board of Plastic Surgeons.
Voted Top Plastic Surgeon in Loudoun, Virginia
Offices in Leesburg, Virginia.

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Today’s culture promotes a flat, well-toned abdominal area as a clear sign of a fit, healthy person. However, this is not an easy thing to achieve: countless factors, such as genetics, age, and lifestyle habits, deprive patients of their dream bodies.           

With this in mind, what are the available solutions? In 2019, in the U.S. alone, more than 120,000 people had used the tummy tuck procedure (scientifically known as an abdominoplasty) to tighten their abdominal muscles and get rid of excess fat and skin, amounting to a more toned midsection.

At a glance, a tummy tuck brings a high number of benefits, whether it’s for women who have just gotten out of pregnancy, or for a patient who want to achieve their dream abdominal area. Despite all this, numerous myths are discrediting the tummy tuck’s reputation, discouraging people from improving their midsection easily and effectively. Today, our task is to dispel these myths and show you what a revolutionary experience your tummy tuck procedure can be.

Are Tummy Tucks Only for Women?

couple love man woman

Tummy tuck has had a long reputation of being a procedure for women, and the numbers don’t lie: in 2018, women made up almost 97% of all tummy tuck patients. It shouldn’t surprise us, since men do not have to deal with the changes brought to the midsection by pregnancy.

However, this does not exclude men from being tummy tuck candidates. On the contrary, genetics or severe weight loss can leave men with stubborn fat or dermal tissue around their midsection. In this case, a tummy tuck procedure can bring the same benefits, regardless of the patient’s gender.           

Are Tummy Tucks Equivalent to a Weight Loss Procedure?

Less fat and dermal tissue around the midsection? That sounds like a weight loss procedure! Many potential patients see tummy tucks as an easy weight loss procedure. However, this is one of the most common tummy tuck myth and one of the hardest to dispel.

The ideal tummy tuck candidate follows a healthy lifestyle, exercises regularly, and has maintained a steady weight for more than six months, but can’t find a way to eliminate minor pockets of abdominal fat. This procedure is not capable of causing sudden and dramatic weight loss. Additionally, postprocedural weight gain can damage your tummy tuck results.

Is Pregnancy Off-Limits after a Tummy Tuck?

Tummy tucks are frequently included in a set of procedures called a mommy makeover, which aims at restoring women’s looks after pregnancy. However, tummy tuck results depend mainly on the patient’s aftercare: with severe weight fluctuations, changes appear around the midsection.

To delay a tummy tuck until after the last pregnancy is a common practice for women nowadays, for many reasons. But that shouldn’t stop you from getting pregnant again! There are no additional risks in doing so, although pregnancy will impact the results from your tummy tuck procedure.

Regardless of pregnancy, losing weight around the midsection can be an arduous undertaking. Where all other solutions fail, a tummy tuck can finally bring the desired results! Even if you’re considering pregnancy in the future, this procedure is always a potential choice for younger and older women alike.      

Do Tummy Tucks Come with an Ugly Scar?

Although every cosmetic surgical procedure comes with an inherent scar, you shouldn’t consider this as a deterring factor: by no means will it be aesthetically appalling or even visible. Minimizing postprocedural scars depends mostly on the plastic surgeon’s experience and equipment, which is why choosing a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon is always recommended.

With their training and eye for aesthetic appeal, these elite plastic surgeons know how to make the scars as thin as possible and well below the bikini line – you will barely even notice it! Moreover, if recommended, patients can harness the benefits of specific cosmetic treatments, such as laser skin resurfacing or chemical peels, which are effective at reducing scars.

The Benefits Do Not Justify The Risks

Lastly, escaping the subject of risks is difficult. However, it’s not necessary to turn them into a deterring factor since only an insignificant percentage of patients who underwent a tummy tuck procedure experience postprocedural complications. Risks are always a part of the medical world, but that doesn’t discourage us from trusting medical science.

Always remember that the success of your procedure mainly depends on the practitioner’s training and experience level. With this in mind, it’s better to be safe than sorry: make sure that you choose a skilled practitioner, whose credentials are backed by before-and-after photos and numerous reviews.

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Want To Learn More?

If you’re interested in a tummy tuck procedure, we invite you to simply come in for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Chang or one of the cosmetic laser and injection nurses to explore whether you would make a good candidate. To find out more whether Aesthetica can help you, contact us online or at 703-729-5553 to arrange an appointment. Dr. Phillip Chang is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Northern Virginia near Leesburg, Virginia and an expert in a wide variety of cosmetic treatments.

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