If you want a trim, toned midsection, and exercising isn’t getting the results you want, you may be considering a tummy tuck. However, if you’re not sure if it’s right for you or you aren’t sure of the results you may get based on a story you’ve heard or an incorrect article you’ve read, you are probably having doubts. We understand that there is a lot of misinformation out there, and Dr. Ortiz, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Raleigh, is debunking five common myths surrounding the tummy tuck.
What Is a Tummy Tuck?
First, let’s look at what the procedure is. A tummy tuck, also called abdominoplasty, is commonly performed on someone after they’ve lost a significant amount of weight or had a baby and have sagging or loose skin and damaged muscles around their abdomen. Dr. Ortiz will make an incision across the lower abdomen between the navel and pubic area. Depending on the extent of the procedure, he may make a second incision above the navel. Then, excess skin is removed, muscles are repaired and reshaped, and the remaining skin is redraped over the abdomen. Often, a new navel is shaped in the area, too.The result is a flatter, firmer tummy with firm, healthy skin.
5 Tummy Tuck Myths Debunked
Now that you know exactly what is performed during a tummy tuck, it’s easier to understand how Dr. Ortiz can debunk the common myths surrounding the procedure.
FALSE: A Tummy Tuck Helps with Weight Loss
A tummy tuck usually only results in a loss of a few pounds as excess skin is removed. Most people choose this procedure after they’ve lost a significant amount of weight and have completed their weight loss journey.
FALSE: A Tummy Tuck and Liposuction Are the Same
With a tummy tuck, the sagging skin is removed from the midsection and the muscles are tightened and repaired. Minimal, if any, fat is removed during the process. Liposuction removes fat deposits from the abdomen as well as other locations around the body via suction assist or ultrasound assist. This procedure is performed when people are at a healthy, stable weight but still have unsightly, stubborn fat they want to get rid of. Often, Dr. Ortiz can perform liposuction as well as a tummy tuck to help patients reach their goals.
FALSE: Men Don’t Get Tummy Tucks
While it’s true that more women get abdominoplasty than men, male-specific tummy tucks are growing in popularity, especially as more men get weight loss surgery. After massive weight loss, men may have significant excess skin around the midsection, and a tummy tuck works just as well for men as it does for women.
FALSE: Tummy Tuck Scars Are Unattractive
Because of the location of the incisions, scars are typically barely noticeable, if at all. Often, the scars are hidden within the newly formed belly button, or they are located low on the abdomen, just above the pubic area. In this location, the scar is generally hidden by a bathing suit bottom or underwear, and the incision itself fades into a thin, pale line.
FALSE: You Can’t Get Pregnant After a Tummy Tuck
While most surgeons recommend waiting until a woman is done with childbearing, it’s not dangerous to get pregnant after a tummy tuck and a tummy tuck won’t affect your ability to conceive. The skin and muscles will still be able to stretch and adapt to a growing belly. The reason it’s recommended to wait is that often, the work from the original procedure is undone, resulting in loose skin and stretched muscles once more, and to restore their flat abdomen, a second tummy tuck may be necessary.
Schedule a Consultation for a Tummy Tuck in Raleigh
If you’re interested in a tummy tuck, but you have concerns about whether the procedure is right for you, we can help. Reach out to us today by calling us at 919-532-2270 or sending us an email using our online contact form below.