Cosmetic Surgery Tips

Plus Size Hourglass Tummy Tuck

plus-size tummy tuck or high BMI abdominoplasty is a plus-size plastic surgery procedure performed on patients who fall into the “overweight” or “obese” BMI categories, and it can be absolutely life changing. Dr. Singh and Dr. Abboushi take into consideration their patients’ surgical goals, health and anatomy and tailor the procedure to the individual, rather than using any specific BMI number as a limit. 

In this guide, we’ll provide answers to questions such as what is hourglass tummy tuck and what is a plus size tummy tuck.

What Is Hourglass Tummy Tuck

The hourglass tummy tuck, as the name suggests, aims to adjust your figure to a more hourglass shape and change your body more than a traditional tummy tuck. Knowing the difference is important to get the correct procedure for you and knowing what to expect. People may see the before and after images of an hourglass tummy tuck and think it is the traditional tuck. 

This procedure is more complicated than a traditional tummy tuck and involves more work to change the body shape. It involves a traditional tummy tuck, liposuction, and a Brazilian butt lift. Changing the body’s shape more than taking away excess skin and fat is more invasive, but the results are also more dramatic. 

You are more likely to achieve the look you want with an hourglass tummy tuck, especially if you want to change your previous physique. It will change not only your abdominal area, but also the silhouette of your waist.

How to Prepare

Like any medical procedure, you want to make the proper preparations to both have the surgery and recover safely. You will need to consult a plastic surgeon about all the required procedures and what will work for your body. You will have a complete medical exam done to ensure there won’t be any complications and review your medical history. 

Depending on your reasoning for a tummy tuck, your doctor may have additional questions. If you are getting it done for or after weight loss, you should discuss your history of weight loss and gain. Remember to mention any allergies to medications and your previous surgical experiences. 

Some steps would make your procedure safer, including quitting smoking and maintaining a stable weight. If you have undergone significant weight loss and want to remove the excess skin, it is usually recommended that you maintain your weight for about a year before getting the procedure. 

You may be asked to stop taking or avoid taking certain medications, like any anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin, as they can increase bleeding. But speak to your plastic surgeon about this and any other concerns, so you know what to expect. 

As the surgery is invasive, you will need to plan how you will recover and see who can help you through that process. The hourglass tummy tuck is more involved, so you will need to plan for time off to rest and recuperate. 

Plus Size Hourglass Tummy Tuck

This is a description of hourglass tummy tuck from a a board certified plastic surgeon

The hourglass tummy tuck is the next generation of body contour procedures. It is a procedure that I have developed after examining thousands of women’s before and after pictures. The hourglass tummy tuck is completely different from a traditional tummy tuck and one of the many hourglass procedures I perform.

So how can you get an hourglass shape with the hourglass tummy tuck and what are the components necessary to achieve these results? For starters, I always do liposuction on the upper and lower back. The lower back is more important to provide a better hourglass definition than the upper back. For example, I like to do liposuction on the waist from the backside as well as the flank. These two anatomical structures extend from the anterior part of the body all the way to the posterior, accentuating your hourglass shape in different profiles. Afterwards, I tighten the muscles and cut the excess skin like a traditional tummy tuck. I add liposuction to the abdomen to decrease the thickness of the fat layer to make the waist smaller before transferring fat to the hips. Even if you perform liposuction on the waist, you will not achieve an hourglass figure if you do not perform fat transfer to the hips. I essentially use the fat taken from the liposuction and inject this into the hip area to sculpt the hips. These are the procedures necessary in order to achieve a perfect hourglass figure.

Who is a good candidate for tummy tuck surgery?

A tummy tuck is a highly individualized procedure. You should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else’s desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image.

In general, you may be a good tummy tuck candidate if:

  • You are physically healthy and at a stable weight
  • You have realistic expectations
  • You are a nonsmoker
  • You are bothered by the appearance of your abdomen

How much weight must I drop before I qualify for a belly tuck?

“This is a question that I often get from patients that are considering a tummy tuck.

The vast majority of belly tuck patients have some degree of obesity. Most patients still have some excess weight at the time of their tummy tuck consultation and at the time of their tummy tuck treatment, regardless of whether they are having a tummy tuck due to weight reduction or after giving birth.

While it would be ideal for each patient to be at a perfect weight prior to getting a tummy tuck procedure, this is not realistic and may not even lead to the best result possible. I have found that the tummy tuck process alone can result in improved shape and some additional weight loss when designed and performed properly.

I often tell my patients to live a life with regards to diet and exercise that they are planning on maintaining after their tummy tuck. If they are planning on losing a significant amount of weight, delaying their tummy tuck may be reasonable so as not to have residual loose skin after the weight loss.

But, if the weight reduction is going to be moderate—say, 20–30 pounds—a stomach tuck can be done because the treatment frequently kickstarts that kind of weight loss and the overall belly tuck result won’t be compromised.

Hence, the best thing you can do if you are thinking about having a tummy tuck but are unsure if you are a good candidate is to book a consultation. You might still be able to have a great stomach tuck result despite your struggle with the extra weight.

What Are The Steps Of A Plus Size Tummy Tuck?

Certain abdominoplasty procedures allow for liposuction, while other procedures require liposuction to be performed first. Typically, liposuction is used to define the waistline and contour the belly.

The abdominal muscles are then sutured together restoring strength to the area. This part of the procedure is vital to obtaining a flat profile and to restoring abdominal strength.

Next, excess skin is removed and with it most of the stretch marks. An important aesthetic part of the procedure is the repositioning of the belly button, which must be moved to a natural position after the excess skin is removed.

The incision is then closed using a multi-layered technique, which evenly applies tension to the entire incision. These result in a very thin, almost invisible scar, once healing is complete.

What does a Plus Size Tummy Tuck treat?

A Plus Size Tummy Tuck® can be an effective way to treat the following:

  • Removing excessive and sagging skin tissue
  • Potentially minimizing or removing stretch marks
  • Tightening the abdominal muscles
  • Strengthening the abdominal walls
  • Lifting the buttocks and thighs
  • Tightening the buttocks and thighs

Recovering from Plus Size Tummy Tuck

Patients should arrange at least two weeks off from work and their daily activities for the initial phase of recovery. Exercise should be postponed for at least four weeks. Those who have strenuous jobs will need to get an estimate from their doctor on how much time to arrange for recovery.

Recovery is much easier when preparations are made well in advance. Since the abdominal muscles will be sore for several weeks, small movements will be difficult. Those with small children should arrange for full-time assistance, at least for the first few weeks. Lifting anything heavier than a few pounds is not recommended until well into the recovery.

What are the risks of a tummy tuck?

The tummy tuck is a safe procedure when done correctly, but as with all surgeries, it does come with a set of known risks, each of which can be mitigated by seeing only a board-certified cosmetic surgeon.

  • Risks associated with anesthesia usage (allergic reactions)
  • Bleeding or Infection
  • Seroma, i.e., fluid accumulation beneath the skin. We use drainage tubes after the surgery or remove fluids with syringes to prevent seroma
  • Skin loss, irritation or discoloration
  • Poor wound healing around the incision line. We provide antibiotics during and after surgeries to prevent wounds from getting infected.
  • Prolonged swelling
  • Numbness and changes in skin sensations around the upper thighs and abdominals. In most cases, the numbness and irritation diminish in a few months
  • Unexpected incision scars. We place incisions along the bikini line to help them remain hidden
  • Fat necrosis. Depending on the area, the tissues may heal on their own, or you may need a touch-up later. You should avoid smoking to minimize the risk of tissue damage
  • Deep vein thrombosis, i.e., accumulation of blood in the veins
  • Cardiac and pulmonary problems caused by deep vein thrombosis
  • Asymmetrical results
  • Persistent pain

What Is A Plus Size Tummy Tuck

A plus size tummy tuck, sometimes called a high BMI tummy tuck or an overweight tummy tuck, is a procedure where a plastic surgeon removes excess fat and skin from the abdominal area. When extra fat and skin are removed, the abdominal muscles can begin to tighten, and as a result, reveal a slimmer, smaller stomach. The process for a plus size tummy tuck is similar to a traditional abdominoplasty, but more fat is generally removed during a plus size procedure.

Benefits of a Plus Size Tummy Tuck

The benefits of having a high BMI tummy tuck vary from person to person, but may include:

  • Improved self esteem
  • More confidence in clothing
  • Smaller, slimmer tummy
  • Easier to maintain an active lifestyle once healed
  • Reduction in chaffing and uncomfortable skin folds
  • Tighter abdominal muscles for a leaner physique
  • Reduction in urinary incontinence
  • Ventral hernia correction
Pink Image

Risks of a Plus Size Tummy Tuck

Like any surgical procedure, a plus size tummy tuck has a number of potential risks to be aware of before moving forward. Historically, the surgical risks for plus size individuals are much higher than those with a “normal” or low BMI. Of course, these risks may vary depending on the patient and procedure, but complications with wound healing is the most common complaint. Keep in mind that if you do not achieve the desired results, it may be possible to have an additional procedure performed.

If you are considering an abdominoplasty of any kind, it’s important to note that it is not a replacement for weight loss. In fact, many surgeons will recommend that the patient loses weight prior to the procedure.

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