That extra pudge around your middle was fine during the winter when you could cover it up with sweaters and sweatshirts, but if you’re looking toward the coming swimsuit season, it’s probably something you don’t want to flaunt. Diet and exercise are always good choices, but they can take a while to achieve the results you want. A tummy tuck, on the other hand, can help accelerate your healthy life choices and give you the bathing suit body you crave.
At Lahar Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, California, Dr. Nicholas Lahar and his team understand the appeal of a firm, toned abdominal profile, and they perform outstanding Beverly Hills tummy tuck procedures that help you feel more confident about your body. Here’s what they want you to know about this complex but effective surgery.
Belly fat basics
Two types of fat accumulate in your belly: subcutaneous fat, which lies just under the surface of your skin; and visceral fat, which lies deeper, forming around your internal organs.
While visceral fat helps protect your organs, too much puts you at risk for a number of serious health conditions, including hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, and even premature death. The healthiest way to eliminate extra fat is through diet and exercise, but even with the best of efforts, visceral fat may be difficult to lose. A tummy tuck with Beverly Hills liposuction can help you achieve both better health and a slimmer silhouette.
Tummy tucks do things other procedures don’t
A tummy tuck, also known as an abdominoplasty, addresses multiple problems at once: loose or sagging skin, extra fat, and muscle weakness. Most other procedures address only one or maybe two issues, requiring multiple surgeries.
As you get older, your body changes — you accumulate more body fat, and you also begin to lose muscle mass. Interestingly, muscle loss contributes to weight gain, since strong, lean muscles help burn fat and calories. In addition, your abdominal muscles become weaker and start to separate and sag (rectus diastasis). A tummy tuck repairs damaged muscle tissue and improves its tone.
Add to this, if you’ve recently lost a lot of weight, or you’ve had several pregnancies over the years, you may have a lot of stretched skin hanging off your body. Addressing loose skin is an essential part of the tummy tuck procedure. Yes, you want to lose the fat, but if your skin doesn’t bounce back to its original condition, you’re pretty much back where you started. In fact, it’s commonly included as part of a Beverly Hills mommy makeover, a combination of surgical procedures that helps a mother regain her pre-pregnancy body.
The tummy tuck procedure
You’ll be completely anaesthetized during the procedure, so you won’t feel a thing. Dr. Lahar first creates an incision across the lower portion of your abdomen, just above your pubic hairline. This helps keep the eventual scar hidden beneath your underwear or bikini.
Next, he carefully separates your skin from the tissue beneath, allowing him to access the muscles, fascia, fat cells, and other tissues responsible for your abdominal shape and tone. He removes excess fat and skin, repairs any muscle damage, and makes whatever adjustments are needed to produce a flattering and attractive abdominal shape.
Once he’s satisfied with the results, he smooths your taut skin over your newly contoured abdomen. In most cases, he needs to reposition your belly button so it sits in the right place, but don’t worry — it doesn’t leave a visible scar.
A good candidate
Before we can schedule your tummy tuck, Dr. Lahar needs to make sure you’re a good candidate for the procedure. If you’re a woman who might want to have additional children, you should definitely postpone your tummy tuck, as the weight gain and loss from another pregnancy will ruin the results, and you’ll have to have another procedure.
In addition, if you’re someone who struggles with your weight and haven’t found a weight management plan that works for you in the long term, a tummy tuck might not be right for you. As with pregnancy, gaining weight following the procedure can destroy your results and require additional surgery to regain a flat abdomen.
A tummy tuck is best suited for nonsmokers (since smoking interferes with your ability to heal properly) who are in good health prior to the procedure and who have realistic expectations for what the surgery can and can’t do.
If you’re struggling with a tummy bulge that won’t budge, a tummy tuck might be the right procedure for you. Get a jump on the swimsuit season by calling Lahar Plastic Surgery at 310-403-3514 to schedule a consultation, or book online today.
