A good candidate for a tummy tuck is usually someone who’s lost a lot of weight—male or female. A good group of candidates is women who have had children who tend to carry extra weight around their waist. They usually have a pannus, which is soft, loose skin that hangs down over the pubic area. It can be a problem with hygiene or trying to find clothes that fit. People with that problem usually know if it’s bad enough that they need to talk to someone about having it removed.
Patients who are good candidates for abdominoplasty procedures are finished having children and have increased amounts of skin laxity or looseness from the belly button down to the suprapubic region. A significant amount of skin is required in order to undergo an abdominoplasty procedure without tension to the lower scar. Patients should be in excellent health, should have a history and physical exam, often a 12 lead EKG, and full set of laboratories to determine their preoperative clearance. Patients who have increased amount of intraperitoneal fat are often referred to as beer belly-like abdomens often do not get a great result for abdominoplasty for the reason that the fat cannot be removed in the abdominal cavity through surgical correction as can be with an abdominoplasty. Remember a tummy tuck only removes the skin and fat outside of the muscle layers of the abdomen. Scarring is another concern, especially with patients who have increased melanin or darker skin. (For example, African American, Asian, Middle Eastern). Increased risk of keloid, hypertrophic scarring and pigmentation changes can certainly occur.
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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.