4 Common Tummy Tuck Myths

A toned, flat stomach is considered to be the epitome of a fit, healthy and attractive figure. But whether due to genetics, childbearing, weight fluctuations, or lifestyle habits, achieving that slim and smooth belly can often feel impossible.

Tummy tuck surgery, or abdominoplasty, is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures that helps patients by both tightening the abdominal muscles and eliminating excess fat and skin from the midsection for a more toned and sculpted stomach.

If you are bothered by the appearance of stretched skin, stubborn fat, or weakened abdominal muscles, tummy tuck surgery in Seattle, Washington is a great way to improve your physique. Below we debunk some of the more common myths about tummy tucks to help you determine whether an abdominoplasty at Optum Plastic Surgery is right for you.

Myth: Diet and exercise alone can get you the same results as a tummy tuck.

While a healthy diet and exercise are well-known as effective tools for losing weight, building muscle, and improving your overall health, when it comes to getting the slimmer stomach you desire, these methods have their limitations in terms of the results they can provide. Despite targeted diet and exercise, it’s not possible to completely control exactly where you will lose weight from. Unfortunately, it’s common to struggle with stubborn belly fat even if you’ve hit your target weight.

Additionally, excess or stretched abdominal skin, for example, can’t usually be reversed or tightened without surgical intervention, especially when it is a result of pregnancy or massive weight loss.

Childbearing or significant weight fluctuations can also weaken the abdominal muscles, which only further exacerbates the appearance of a protruding stomach. If your skin or abdominal wall have become stretched, tummy tuck surgery is really the only way to restore a taut midsection.

Myth: A tummy tuck is a weight-loss procedure.

A common misconception patients often have regarding tummy tuck surgery is that it is a procedure intended for those who would like to lose a substantial amount of weight from their midsection. However, it’s important to understand that a tummy tuck is not considered to be a weight-loss procedure.

With that in mind, an ideal candidate for a tummy tuck should be at or close to a normal weight for their physique. Good candidates are active and healthy but are troubled by the appearance of a protruding abdomen or sagging, loose skin on their stomach.

While abdominoplasty is not designed for weight loss, liposuction can be utilized during your tummy tuck surgery to target and gently minimize stubborn areas of fat to improve the abdominal contours and help give a toned appearance to your midsection.

Your stomach will be flatter and slimmer after your abdominoplasty, but it’s not going to change your weight. For this reason, if you are considering a tummy tuck, make sure you are within a reasonable range of your goal weight before undergoing the procedure. Also, be sure to keep in mind that significant weight fluctuations in the future can reverse the results of your surgery.

Myth: Tummy tucks are only for younger patients

While the majority of patients who have tummy tuck surgery are between the ages of 35 and 50, there are still many others who have the procedure done after 50. A small percentage of patients are over the age of 65.

While there is no wrong age to opt for a tummy tuck procedure, there are more critical factors that will need to be considered by your Optum Plastic Surgery board-certified plastic surgeon when determining your candidacy for the procedure.

To be a good candidate for abdominoplasty, a patient must be:

• Physically healthy: You must be in good overall health before undergoing invasive surgery to prevent complications.
• A nonsmoker: Smoking can inhibit the healing process or cause serious complications both during and after your tummy tuck surgery.
• Within a stable, healthy weight: As mentioned above, tummy tuck surgery is not intended for significant weight loss or for treating obesity.
• Realistic with their expectations: While a tummy tuck will dramatically enhance the contours of your midsection with long-lasting results, no cosmetic surgery will stop the aging process or deliver perfection.

Myth: Tummy tucks are only for women

Abdominoplasty has always been an incredibly popular cosmetic option for women, in part due to the many irreversible changes to the midsection that accompany pregnancy and childbirth. Because of this, tummy tucks are frequently included in “mommy makeover” procedures, which refer to a full suite of cosmetic surgeries performed concurrently to help women restore their pre-baby bodies.

While women do make up the majority of tummy tuck procedures performed, it goes without saying that men can also benefit from this procedure. While men may not have to worry about the physical changes that women’s bodies endure from pregnancy, significant weight loss can leave men with stubborn belly fat or loose skin that leaves them feeling self-conscious about their midsection.

Would you like to learn more about how a tummy tuck could benefit you? If so, we invite you to give us a call to schedule a consultation with one of our 6 highly experienced plastic surgeons. 206.860.5582