The tummy tuck has always been a favorite for us Californians looking to add the finishing touch to our swimsuit bodies and even ranks as the highest patient-rated procedure in the United States. However, there are still some people that avoid the tummy tuck procedure because of a few common misconceptions that are still floating around. These are the 3 top tummy tuck myths and the real facts about the procedure.
THE MAIN TUMMY TUCK MYTH:
“The tummy tuck is just a shortcut for people that are too lazy to exercise or eat right.”
Quite the opposite actually. The tummy tuck procedure is not a fat reduction procedure and is intended for those who have already lost the weight and are living a healthy lifestyle. Tummy tucks address the excess skin or tissue that is often left hanging loose after a rapid loss in weight or pregnancy. When the skin is stretched for a long period of time then the body rapidly decreases in size, it can often lack the elasticity to tighten back up. The tummy tuck does not work to remove fat, so it is not a replacement for a healthy lifestyle, but instead an answer to a problem that can’t be solved through eating right or exercising.
THE DISCRIMINATING TUMMY TUCK MYTH:
“The tummy tuck is just for women.”
Because loose or hanging skin after weight loss does not happen to just women, the tummy tuck is not just for women either. Many men who have undergone a rapid loss of weight often seek out a tummy tuck to remove the extra skin and reveal a healthy set of abs. In 2012, over four thousand men underwent abdominoplasty (the medical term for the procedure). While it is more popular for women because of pregnancy, many men pursue the procedure as well.
THE 2 PROCEDURES TUMMY TUCK MYTH
“Liposuction will always be needed with a tummy tuck.”
While it is often used to help sculpt the waistline during a tummy tuck, liposuction is not necessary. It is a matter of what your surgeon believes is best for your own personal case as well as whether or not you would like to address any fatty deposits during your tummy tuck. However, the tummy tuck is not designed to address excess fat, which is why it is recommended that patients are healthy and within 15 or so pounds of their goal weight.