Why Consider A Tummy Tuck After Weight Loss

As we age, losing weight can be a difficult task, and when you finally reach your goal, it's a great feeling. After losing a lot of weight, many men and women may be left with residual loose, saggy skin hanging around their midsection. This is why many individuals enlist the help of plastic surgery to contour their abdomen with a tummy tuck procedure. A tummy tuck is a fantastic solution that can reshape your midsection, remove excess skin, tighten the abdominal area, and give Las Vegas patients the post-weight loss body of their dreams.

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Khorsandi at VIP Plastic Surgery in Las Vegas, NV, is a top tummy tuck surgeon. He has the experience and medical background to offer various tummy tuck options. If you have recently lost a significant amount of weight and need assistance with further slimming your midsection, here are some helpful guidelines on why you should consider a tummy tuck after weight loss surgery.

Reasons to choose a tummy tuck

After losing a significant amount of weight, it can feel great to have more energy, wear different clothes, and feel more confident overall. Unfortunately, your skin has stretched to accommodate your previous weight gain and is not going to snap back. Once the skin has stretched out and lost its elasticity, it won't become tighter without the intervention of cosmetic help. One of the main reasons individuals consider a tummy tuck procedure is due to the unsightly appearance of their abdominal area after losing weight. This includes the presence of hanging or wrinkled skin, and other skin irregularities such as stretch marks.

Body contouring after weight loss

Body contouring options like a tummy tuck are popular among individuals who have lost a substantial amount of weight. When skin becomes lax, it won't regain a taut, tight look despite diet and exercise. Procedures like a tummy tuck are a fantastic technique to remove excess skin while tightening the muscles to give patients a whole new look in their lower abdominal area. A tummy tuck creates a tighter, smoother, more toned look, which allows weight loss patients to reach their aesthetic goals. A tummy tuck procedure is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and Las Vegas-area patients have customized options from which to choose.

Taking the first step

The first step is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Christopher Khorsandi at VIP Plastic Surgery, so he can help you determine the best treatment plan. Some of the key factors considered include:

• The size and condition of the treatment area
• The amount of excess skin present
• Adding liposuction to remove stubborn pockets of fat

Tummy tuck options

• Full or traditional tummy tuck: With a full tummy tuck, the incision is from hip to hip and covers the entire lower abdominal area. It is a solution for individuals with a large area of excess skin. Liposuction can also be used to remove excess or stubborn fat cells that remain after weight loss. This will give patients a flatter appearance to their stomach area. The underlying abdominal muscles are tightened during this procedure, and the belly button is repositioned to match the patient's newly tightened tummy area.

• Extended tummy tuck: An extended tummy tuck is another popular option for patients who have lost a large amount of weight and have a significant amount of excess skin. This more-invasive procedure involves an incision that extends to the lower back area or flanks. It is usually the solution for extreme weight loss patients or mothers of multiples (twins, triplets, etc.). It can also involve liposuction to remove stubborn pockets of fatty tissue, and the underlying abdominal muscles are tightened in allow for a smoother, contoured appearance. Like with a traditional tummy tuck, the belly button is repositioned to match the patient's new look.

• Mini tummy tuck: A mini tummy tuck is a good option for patients with moderate skin sag. It is commonly performed on individuals who have lost weight but need minimal to moderate skin removal and tightening.

• Panniculectomy: This is a version of body contouring that varies from a traditional tummy tuck but can be an option for patients who have lost a significant amount of weight and have a large "apron" of skin that hangs in their lower abdominal area. Unlike a tummy tuck, this procedure removes the excess skin and doesn't tighten the underlying abdominal muscles. A panniculectomy can be performed along with a tummy tuck procedure to give a patient the best results.

Best candidates after weight loss

A tummy tuck procedure is not a weight-loss solution. However, if you have lost a lot of weight and maintained it for over six months, you can consider the cosmetic help of removing excess fat and skin to gain a toned, smoother-looking stomach area. With today's surgical advancements, Dr. Khorsandi can customize a tummy tuck procedure to fit your aesthetic goals. Newly slim women and men in Las Vegas, NV, don't have to carry around extra skin after losing weight.

A tummy tuck procedure can change your appearance and how you feel about yourself. If you have lost a significant amount of weight and are interested in learning more about different tummy tuck options, schedule your consultation with Dr. Christopher Khorsandi of VIP Plastic Surgery today.