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What makes an ideal tummy tuck candidate?

Submitted by Dr. Bernabe Vazquez on April 30, 2021
Are you a good candidate for a tummy tuck?

The ideal candidate for abdominoplasty.

Are you an ideal tummy tuck candidate?  This is the first question you should ask yourself if you’re considering a tummy tuck. There’s so much information available to help you make a safe and informed decision that it can feel overwhelming. In one quick search, you’ll find ample discussion on topics such as “how safe is tummy tuck surgery?”, “what’s the difference between a mini and a regular tummy tuck?”, and “how long is tummy tuck recovery?”. 

What you won’t find much of, however, is a clear and direct answer on who shouldn’t get a tummy tuck. 

A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a fantastic option for those looking to tighten up and add shape to their midsection. This plastic surgery procedure is commonly utilized to remove excess skin, and repair the appearance of the abdomen and flanks, often after major weight loss or after having children. 

The miami tummy tuck can improve your mid-section.

Board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Bernabe Vazquez, is the pioneer of an advanced tummy tuck technique called The Miami Tummy Tuck. This approach combines the smaller, shorter scar of a mini tummy tuck, with advanced shaping (via liposuction and liposculpture) of the waist, flanks and upper/lower abdomen. 

When you opt into a plastic surgery procedure with Dr. Vazquez — you can take comfort in knowing he genuinely cares about you as a person, and your health. This has led to him consistently maintaining one of the best surgical safety records in South Florida for more than three decades. A consultation with Dr. Bernabe Vazquez can help you determine if you are an ideal tummy tuck candidate.

Not everyone is an ideal candidate for the tummy tuck.  

Because Dr. Bernabe Vazquez cares about you, your health and safety — he won’t operate on patients who aren’t in good health or are not an ideal tummy tuck candidate. Sometimes this means he‘ll pass on performing the procedure you’re hoping to have, in an effort to preserve and protect your health. Here are some potentially complicating issues that may mean you’re not the right candidate for a tummy tuck …

  1. If you have a history of poor scarring, a tummy tuck may not work well for you. Because the surgical scar will approximately run from hip bone to hip bone, poor scarring can lead to undesirable results (however, a tummy tuck scar can often be incorporated into a previous cesarean scar — should you have one of those). 
  1. If you’re a smoker, and/or are in poor health generally, a tummy tuck may not be a safe choice for you. Smoking leads to a higher rate of complication, such as clotting issues or slow healing. Those in poor health for any reason should not subject themselves to elective surgery due to the risk of complications and potentially harmful stress on the body. 
  1. Those who are seriously overweight or obese (anything above a BMI – Body Mass Index – of 36) are not a good candidate for plastic surgery. Working on losing weight? Great! You should be at a stable weight consistently for at least a few months before you’ll be cleared for surgery, so keep up the great work!
  1. Are you planning, or open to the possibility of getting pregnant after your surgery? If yes, then a tummy tuck isn’t the right fit for you at this time. Candidates should be finished with childbearing before undergoing this sort of procedure. 

Who IS an ideal tummy tuck candidate? 

The best candidates for a tummy tuck are healthy individuals with excess skin/ skin elasticity issues and fat deposits in the midsection they’re ready to do something about. Ideal tummy tuck candidates will have no issues with scarring; lead a healthy lifestyle; be able to maintain their weight post-op; and are non-smokers, or ready to commit to becoming a non-smoker for several weeks prior and post-op.

For those who have excess fat deposits they’d like to target, but no apparent issues with excess skin or skin elasticity, liposuction or liposculpture may be a better plastic surgery choice. Start the conversation with Dr. Bernabe Vazquez to see if you’re an ideal tummy tuck candidate and to see if this procedure is the best choice to achieve your goals.

Do you have questions? Contact Dr. Vazquez’s office to book a consultation to learn more about the different tummy tuck options and any other options that might be the right choice for you.  Give us a call: (305) 858-8222