A Tummy Tuck for Tampa, FL, Patients – Who is a Good Candidate?
A tummy tuck could help you achieve a flatter midsection after your earnest attempts at diet and exercise have failed. Among the people who usually consider this type of surgery are individuals who have lost a considerable amount of weight but are left with residual fat and loose skin in their stomach area, or women with separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti), a common post-pregnancy problem. At the Bayside Center for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery near Tampa, Florida, renowned surgeon Dr. John Roach can help you determine whether you are a good candidate for a tummy tuck.
First and foremost, Dr. Roach emphasizes that a tummy tuck is major surgery, and therefore should never be rushed into or thought of as a quick way to lose weight. Instead, to determine whether a tummy tuck is a good alternative for you, Dr. Roach will:
- Take the time to get to know you
- Discuss your perceptions and goals
- Review your options
- Develop a customized treatment plan
This is all part of Dr. Roach’s unique holistic approach to medicine, which involves attentive, personalized patient care and incorporates total body wellness — exercise, nutrition, personal training, and more — into the overall surgical experience. As such, Dr. Roach may recommend that you consult with a personal trainer prior to undergoing a tummy tuck. In sum, a tummy tuck is best suited for an active, generally healthy non-smoker whose abdominal area adamantly refuses to change, despite the patient’s loyal adherence to a targeted fitness regimen and healthy eating habits for at least six months to one year.
If you and Dr. Roach determine that you are a good candidate for a tummy tuck, and you decide to proceed with the operation, Dr. Roach will create a horizontal incision along your lower abdomen, through which he will remove excess fat and tighten the underlying muscles. He will then stretch your skin taut and cut the excess skin away. Finally, he will stitch the incision closed. In about 10-14 days after your surgery, you should be able to resume your normal activities, and any residual swelling and bruising should begin to subside.
Remember: It may be possible to flatten your belly without surgery! However, if you have been unsuccessful in attaining the midsection you desire on your own, Dr. Roach may be able to help. Patients in the Tampa, FL, area who are interested in a tummy tuck can contact the Bayside Center for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery to schedule a personal consultation. Dr. Roach will also be happy to discuss other procedures he performs at his state-of-the-art surgical center, such as a mini facelift or neck lift.
