Are you a good tummy tuck candidate?
A good candidate for a tummy tuck is someone who is in overall good health and lives a healthy lifestyle but is unhappy with skin laxity, loose abdominal muscles, stretch marks, and excess fat around their core.
Loose skin, muscle separation (diastasis recti), and fat around the core can be caused by pregnancy, major weight loss/weight gain, and aging…but they aren't the only causes.
Some people naturally have more excess skin and fat around their core and may also make good tummy tuck candidates.
Whatever the reason, if you’re aiming for a stronger, flatter, tighter core (we can’t be the only ones, right?)…a tummy tuck may be for you.
Should I be a certain age to have a tummy tuck?
There’s no “perfect age” when it comes to tummy tuck surgery. But if you’re planning to have kids in the near future, you might want to wait until after you’re finished having children to get this particular procedure.
Healthy pregnancies are still possible after a tummy tuck–but it's worth noting you may lose some of your tummy tuck results after pregnancy and childbirth. You may need a little "touch-up" should you want that initial core tightness.
You can learn more about tummy tuck final results in the free Bustmob Academy app.
Wait, do I have to be finished having kids to have a tummy tuck?
You don’t have to be done having kids to have a tummy tuck. But as we mentioned, you may lose some of that initial tightness.
Of course, it's possible to have an additional procedure after the baby is born, but you're looking at more costs and recovery.
Just something to think and talk about with your board-certified plastic surgeon during your consultation.
What if I do get pregnant after I get a tummy tuck?
Don’t worry! A tummy tuck doesn’t mean you can’t have a healthy and successful pregnancy.
Plenty of women in the Bustmob Community, a safe space for women to learn and connect wherever they are on their plastic surgery journeys, have had tummy tucks and later welcomed little ones into the world.
But see for yourself! The Bustmob Community is free, supportive, and full of stories and experiences from real women.
Are there different types of tummy tucks?
There are actually 4 common types of tummy tucks:
- Full tummy tuck
- Extended tummy tuck
- Fleur de lis tummy tuck
- Mini tummy tuck
Each of the above tummy tuck procedures includes liposuction, muscle repair, and the removal of loose, sagging skin. There are more details about the procedure in Bustmob Academy’s tummy tuck series.
The main difference between the three types is the amount of skin and fat that will be removed during the procedure, which affects the incision and scars.
Fleur de lis has the largest incision that goes vertically and horizontally along the abdomen. An extended incision goes along the front of the body and extends to each side, while a full tummy tuck’s incision is hip to hip. The mini, as you probably guessed, is the shortest incision.
Schedule a consultation with your plastic surgeon to determine what tummy tuck is right for you.
After an exam and a conversation about your goals and lifestyle, your surgeon will be able to guide you on your tummy tuck type.
Who is a candidate for a mini tummy tuck?
A mini tummy tuck candidate may be someone who needs muscle repair to treat diastasis recti but does not have a lot of excess fat and skin around their core.
Though a mini tummy tuck may sound more appealing (since the incision is smaller than a full or fleur de lis tummy tuck), it isn’t right for everyone.
The amount of skin and fat that needs to be removed to reach your aesthetic goals, will determine the type of tummy tuck you’ll have.
Based on your anatomy and aesthetic goals, your board-certified plastic surgeon will be able to guide you on what type of tummy tuck will be best for you.
Who is not a good candidate for a tummy tuck?
If you’re still wanting to lose weight, a tummy tuck may not be right for you at this time.
Though you don’t need to be at your exact goal weight, it’s recommended that you be within 20 pounds of your goal.
The general saying goes, “Typically, the closer you are to your goal weight, the happier you’ll be with your final results.”
Keep in mind different plastic surgeons will have different tummy tuck requirements. So be sure to be prepared to answer and ask questions during your one-on-one consultation.
Found this helpful, but want more?
Good news! This is just one of hundreds of fun, factual videos on the Bustmob Academy app to make your plastic surgery research easy.
From commonly told myths and FAQs, to recovery time and costs, Jenny Eden, founder of Bustmob, and Gretta Nance, lead educator at Amelia Aesthetics, break down your plastic surgery research into bite-size, binge-able pieces.
Pair the Bustmob Academy app with Bustmob Community, a safe space to connect and learn wherever you are on your plastic surgery journey, and you are well on your way to being empowered and educated before you even set foot in your consultation.
The free Bustmob Academy app is the perfect place to learn everything about the procedure you're considering.
