Am I a Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?Conveniently located to serve St. Petersburg and Tampa
If you are unhappy with the appearance of your abdomen, belly, or gut, you may be considering a tummy tuck. If so, you probably want to know whether you are a good candidate for the procedure. In general, a person in good health but with excess skin and fat in the abdomen and slack abdominal muscles is a good candidate for the procedure.
This page contains some basic information on what makes an ideal tummy tuck candidate, but it cannot evaluate you or your medical history to see whether you are a candidate. A consultation with Dr. Antonio J. Gayoso is the only way to truly know whether you are a good tummy tuck candidate. To schedule your consultation in our Tampa-area office, please contact Gayoso Plastic Surgery today.
The Ideal Tummy Tuck Candidate
The best candidates for a tummy tuck:
- Have excess skin and fat in the belly region
- Have loose abdominal muscles
- Are close to their ideal weight
- Are in good general health
- Are non smokers
- Understand the procedure and have realistic expectations
If you do not have all to these, it does not necessarily eliminate you as a candidate, but it may require some additional decision-making or impact the quality of your results.
Is a Tummy Tuck the Best Procedure for You?
A good candidate for a tummy tuck is one who will benefit from the procedure. A tummy tuck is the best procedure for removing excess skin from the abdominal region and tightening slack abdominal muscles to improve the contour of the belly region. If your primary problem is belly fat, Dr. Gayoso will evaluate your abdominal skin during your consultation to see whether you need a tummy tuck or whether liposuction is a better choice.
Good Health
A tummy tuck is major surgery and to be able to get the best possible results with the lowest possible risk, it’s important to do your best to get in shape before the procedure. The closer you are to your ideal weight before your tummy tuck procedure, the lower your risk of complications. In addition, some studies have shown that eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables prior to surgery can also reduce your risk of complications. You will be asked to quit smoking for several weeks before and after your surgery, and the quality and length of your results will be improved if you quit smoking altogether.
Get Your Mind Right
Just as important as physical health, you should get yourself in the right mindset for your tummy tuck procedure. You need to make sure you understand all aspects of the procedure, including the recovery, risks, and benefits. You need to have realistic expectations for the results. You will talk about this with Dr. Gayoso during your consultation, but you can get an idea based on the images in the before and after gallery.
Finally, it is important that you are in good mental health at the time of your procedure. It’s often advisable to avoid having the procedure in a time of high personal stress, such as a divorce, and if you have previously been diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder or a similar condition, this procedure may not be right for you.
If you want to talk to Dr. Gayoso about whether you are a good candidate for a tummy tuck or have other tummy tuck questions, please schedule a consultation at Gayoso Plastic Surgery today. We happily serve patients in Tampa, St Petersburg and Clearwater, Florida.