Tummy tuck can be an effective solution for anyone whose previous weight gain left a conspicuous mark on the body’s midsection, loosening skin and weakening abdominal muscles. As a trusted Chicago plastic surgeon, Dr. Robert Galiano is skilled at turning back the clock for patients who seek to reclaim the toned, fit stomach they remember.
This surgery, abdominoplasty, requires the touch of a skilled surgeon — and the eye of a gifted artist. It is especially popular with mothers whose stomach muscles weakened or separated during a pregnancy. Apart from pregnancy, lifestyle and genetics are also key variables in determining whether your body will develop folds of loose skin and weakened abdominal muscles.
Born to Be Lithe
If you were born with a high degree of skin elasticity, the skin can more effectively cope with cycles of weight gain and loss. Your skin will naturally conform to a smaller shape, whether you are slimming down from months of carrying your child to term, or years of less-than-perfect eating habits.
Conversely, adults with less skin elasticity are more likely to develop noticeable folds in the stomach where excess fat was once stored. As long as their weight has returned to a normal range, these individuals are ideal candidates for tummy tuck.
Sometimes it is the passage of time that plays a major role. As you age, your stomach muscles may naturally weaken; at some point, the abdominal skin surrenders to gravity.
Other Tummy Tuck Benefits
Tummy tuck is not a solution for all stretch marks, but it may help, depending on the circumstances. If stretch marks are located on skin that will be removed during surgery, the marks will be completely eliminated. Skin outside the area targeted by the procedure will not see a visible difference.
Even before a consultation with experienced Chicago plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Galiano, many prospective patients already know one of the key benefits of tummy tuck: the new confidence they’ll gain from restoring a toned stomach and smoother body profile.
There are other, less well-known benefits, too. Tummy tuck appears to reduce the incidence of stress urinary incontinence and also improves some types of hernias. A tighter abdomen also seems to be associated with better posture and even effective weight management.
Another notable benefit is that the results of tummy tuck are long-lasting. In the absence of a new pregnancy or substantial weight gain, your stomach muscles and skin will stay firm, subject only to the expected loosening everyone experiences beyond middle age.
To learn more about abdominoplasty and schedule your personal consultation with Chicago plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Galiano, please call (312) 926-4382, or request an appointment online today.
