A lean, contoured, and toned midsection is one of the most attractive features a person can have. However, excess weight, pregnancy, and genetics can make a flat stomach difficult to obtain. Dr. David J. Levens offers tummy tuck surgery to restore a smooth, firm, and attractive appearance that residents of Pompano Beach, Florida, can feel confident showing off at the beach.
What is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure that tightens weak abdominal muscles and removes excess fat and skin from the midsection. Patients undergo this procedure for a variety of reasons, including:
- Obtaining a flatter, tighter, or more youthful abdomen.
- Reducing or eliminating the appearance of stretch marks.
- Removing excess skin resulting from childbirth or dramatic weight loss.
- Correcting loose skin resulting from poor posture or age.
For example, pregnancy enlarges the uterus and causes significant stretching of the abdominal muscles and underlying skin. While exercise can restore tone in the abdominal muscles following delivery, it often fails to tighten the tissues that connect the stomach muscles to abdominal skin. When the lower abdominal tissues have been stretched to cover a bulk that is no longer there, loose skin causes the stomach to bulge no matter how many crunches or sit-ups you do on a daily basis.
Similarly, following an extreme reduction in abdominal fat, stomach muscles and abdominal tissues may become distended and sag downward. Diet and exercise cannot tighten or tone this skin even when you reach a normal and healthy weight. Fortunately, a tummy tuck procedure can remove excess skin and restore your appearance.
Abdominoplasty tightens the musculature of the abdomen by reshaping and tightening the abdominal wall. It can provide a more youthful appearance to the midsection by removing excess fat deposits, loose skin, and stretch marks from the tummy. During your consultation, Dr. Levens will help you decide your desired outcome and choose the procedure that will give you the best results.
Benefits of a Tummy Tuck
Most of our patients undergo abdominoplasty surgery because they are dissatisfied with the appearance of their midsection and want to regain and enjoy a positive body image. Patients often pursue the surgery to remove deposits of fat from their abdomen or excess skin resulting from weight loss or pregnancy. While the motivation for the procedure is aesthetic for most of our patients, abdominoplasty may also correct certain medical disorders, such as urinary incontinence and ventral hernias.
While the surgery leaves patients with a small scar the lower abdomen, men and women who have undergone the procedure agree that the scar is a reasonable trade-off for their stunning results. Surgical scarring following a tummy tuck can easily be hidden with underwear and swimsuits, and the scars tend to fade and flatten over time.
Good Candidates for Abdominoplasty
Abdominoplasty is suitable for men and women with severe laxity of the abdominal skin and weakening of the abdominal muscles. Ideal candidates include:
- Women who struggle with loose skin or stretch marks resulting from pregnancy.
- Men and women who have excess abdominal skin or disproportional abdominal muscles due to rapid weight loss.
- Those with loose abdominal muscles as a result of poor posture and age.
