Tummy Tuck Candidates

Dr. Suzanne Yee can identify tummy tuck candidates at her Little Rock, AR, practice during in-depth consultations. Patients often explore the possibility of a tummy tuck following pregnancies, significant weight loss, or prior surgeries. By removing excess tissues and tightening the stomach muscles, Dr. Yee can greatly improve the appearance of the abdomen. If you are interested in finding out if you are a tummy tuck candidate, please schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Yee today.

woman in gray and yellow underwear
A tummy tuck removes excess tissue and tightens remaining tissue to help you look lean and fit.

Why Undergo a Tummy Tuck?

When you gain and lose weight, the abdominal skin stretches and does not always have the ability to “snap back.” Extra fat deposits can develop in this area, and they will not always respond to diet and exercise. Other conditions that can be addressed with a tummy tuck include:

  • Stretch marks: Both a traditional tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck can move stretch marks below the navel. Stretch marks above the navel will not be removed; however, they can be moved downward, which will make them easier to conceal.
  • Skin texture: In addition to stretch marks, patients often experience changes in their abdominal skin that gives the area a crinkly appearance that resembles crepe paper. By removing excess skin and tightening remaining skin, Dr. Yee can give the stomach a smoother appearance.
  • An abdominal pouch: After losing weight, both women and men can develop a pouch on the lower abdomen. This can range from a moderate protrusion to a significant amount of skin that hangs over the public bone. In addition to removing the excess skin, Dr. Yee can perform liposuction to remove excess fat.
  • Separated abdominal muscles: After giving birth, many women experience separated abdominal muscles. Dr. Yee can tighten these muscles to give the abdomen a lean, fit look.

Special Considerations for Post-pregnancy Candidates

Tummy tuck is often performed post-pregnancy, either as a standalone procedure or as part of a customized mommy makeover. If you are considering having a tummy tuck, you should not wish to have more children. Although the procedure will not interfere with subsequent pregnancies, you can lose the cosmetic effects of the surgery. Dr. Yee also recommends waiting one year after childbirth before having the procedure. The body undergoes hormonal and dietary changes post-pregnancy, and a waiting period will allow balance to return. There is no limit on the amount of time you can wait after giving birth before having a tummy tuck.

General Candidacy Requirements

Candidates for a tummy tuck should be at least within 20% of their ideal body weight. The closer you are to your ideal weight, the better the results will be. If you gain weight following your procedure, it may negatively affect your results. You should be a non-smoker in good overall health. Besides increasing the risk of serious complications, smoking slows the healing process. Good candidates for tummy tuck surgery have realistic expectations for what the surgery can do. It is reasonable to expect a noticeably tighter and smoother appearance in your abdomen. However, the goal for surgery should be improvement, not perfection.

Schedule a Consultation

The best way to determine your candidacy is to meet with Dr. Yee in person. Contact our friendly staff to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Suzanne Yee

Suzanne Yee, MD

Dr. Suzanne Yee is a triple board-certified plastic surgeon in Little Rock, AR, who offers a wide variety of surgical and non-invasive treatments. Dr. Yee is affiliated with several prestigious organizations. Her memberships include:

  • Fellow of American Board of Cosmetic Surgery
  • Fellow of American Board of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery
  • Fellow of American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
  • Fellow of American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
  • Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
  • Fellow of American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Inc.
  • Fellow of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
  • Fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery

To schedule a consultation at our state-of-the-art surgical center, please contact us online or call (501) 224-1044.

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