News Roundup – Tummy Tuck

Along with removing excess abdominal skin, repairing stomach muscles and delivering sleeker contours, tummy tucks are being celebrated for additional benefits. The body contouring surgery is now being credited with notable psychological benefits, including a boost in self-confidence and enhanced self-image. 86 percent of tummy tuck patients in a study reported improved self esteem, while 70 percent credited their tummy tuck for improving their overall quality of life. Many people are so inspired following the outcome of their tummy tuck that they continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle to complement their results.

Researchers cite evidence that the routine removal of abdominal fat cells during a tummy tuck leads patients to experience a greater sense of satiety. The findings indicate that abdominal fat cells secrete hormones which induce appetite. Removal of these cells therefore results in less hungry-making hormones, and patients report a reduction in appetite and an increased feeling of fullness after modestly-sized meals. The correlation between long term weight loss following a tummy tuck is especially true for women who had a BMI (body mass index) of 24.5 or higher prior to the procedure. Patients who were formerly overweight or obese are the most likely to experience sustained weight loss.

Tummy tuck surgery, or abdominoplasty, is a popular procedure for a wide range of individuals. A tummy tuck can eliminate excess abdominal skin that remains after pregnancy or weight loss and repair weakened abdominal muscles for a more attractive midsection, but now the surgical procedure is being celebrated for its potential medical benefits as well. In many patients, tummy tucks have improved urinary incontinence. Surgeons can help improve bladder control by adding a small amount of tissue in the affected area during a tummy tuck. An abdominoplasty also surgically tightens stomach muscles, leading to improved posture and reduced back pain. Finally, ventral hernias can be corrected and prevented by repairing the abdominal wall during a tummy tuck, minimizing the chance of adverse affects associated with hernias.

Tummy tuck surgeon Dr. Eric Swanson has tracked patient outcomes over the course of five years, determining that a specific method that combines liposuction with abdominoplasty carries low complication rates. This is good news for the countless men and women who benefit from having both procedures performed simultaneously. The lipoabdominoplasty technique reduces tissue trauma by proactively injecting tissue with a medication that decreases blood loss, eliminating the need for electrodissection. Dr. Swanson’s method allows surgeons to remove all necessary excess tissue without increasing complication rates for an outcome that offers optimal cosmetic results.