Sometimes our bodies do things that we would really prefer them not to, like the excess flaps of skin or flab that hang over our bellies after major rapid weight loss following an illness, or pregnancy. While the first recommendation to relieve these is always going to be a course of diet and exercise, sometimes nature needs a little extra help to set things right for us.

That’s when it’s time to consult with your physician about undergoing an Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck procedure, a surgery performed to tighten up loose muscles and to remove excess loose skin and fat from the abdomen. While undergoing an abdominoplasty offers a range of cosmetic rewards, it can also bring medical benefits when performed as a corrective surgical procedure for patients suffering from the following conditions:

Reduces stress urinary incontinence – SUI, for short, happens when there is too much pressure on your bladder and urethra resulting in uncontrollable leakage caused by forceful actions like laughing, exercising, sneezing, and coughing! The problem is mostly associated with women, especially after giving birth, but can occasionally affect men as well. Usually, the condition doesn’t require surgery, but a tummy tuck has been shown to help patients suffering from SUI. Here is a great article on the benefits of body contouring.

Correcting a ventral hernia – A ventral hernia is caused when abdominal tissue or your intestine pushes through the wall of your abdomen to form a kind of sack or pouch. This hernia can be caused by a number of conditions, like undergoing an appendectomy or a caesarean section, or from abdominal weakness associated with rapid weight loss. A tummy tuck can correct a ventral hernia by repairing weakened abdominal muscles and reducing the pressure on your skin. 

Decreases chronic back pain – Another common problem that can be treated by a tummy tuck is chronic back pain. After undergoing significant weight loss or giving birth, women often complain of chronic back pain caused by weakened stomach muscles. By removing excess stomach fat and flattening the abdomen an abdominoplasty tightens the weakened muscles surgically, creating abdominal support that will alleviate the pain.

Improves posture –  A happy result of having less back pain and strengthening abdominal muscles is a marked improvement in posture. After an abdominoplasty tummy tuck procedure people often report that they enjoy improved posture because of the tightened muscles that are able to give greater support to the spine.

While those are the sound medical reasons for receiving a tummy tuck, the question always comes up, can a tummy tuck be performed to help with weight loss? Well, let’s seriously consider the problem.

Unfortunately, the answer is most often no, an abdominoplasty should not be thought of or considered to be a method for losing weight. The reason for this is that there is only a certain amount of body fat that might be safely removed. In addition, a tummy tuck is not guaranteed to have the same efficacious health results that normal weight loss gives you, such as lowering your high blood pressure, reducing your levels of cholesterol, or any of the other hazardous effects that are associated with obesity. Because of these reasons, abdominoplasty is not recommended as a way for you to address your weight problem.

In some cases, a tummy tuck can be recommended for patients suffering from diabetes if they meet the following conditions:

• There is no history of kidney ailments

• The patient agrees to receive additional blood tests to ensure that their diabetes is under control so the physician can be sure it is safe to perform the operation.

• The patient currently has their diabetic condition under control and is not suffering any complications.

We hope this helped you better understand tummy tucks. If you think you are qualified to receive the procedure, please consult with your physician.