Do you follow a healthy diet and maintain a consistent fitness routine, yet still cannot achieve the lean, sexy stomach you desire? Do you have loose skin that hangs off the abdomen? If so, you might benefit from having abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck surgery, with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Florence Mussat.
Why People Pursue Tummy Tuck Surgery
Over time, the natural aging process, hereditary traits, major weight loss or pregnancy can wreak havoc on the midsection. The body gradually stops producing collagen and elastin, two proteins that are crucial for healthy, elastic skin. Without these proteins, the skin loses its elastic quality and begins to sag. Substantial weight loss or pregnancy can compound this cosmetic concern, stretching out the abdominal skin so it cannot shrink back to a smaller size and shape once the extra weight has been lost.
Pregnancy can also damage the abdominal muscles, often causing them to separate. Once these developments occur, no amount of diet and exercise can restore muscle tone throughout the midsection; plastic surgery becomes necessary to restore the look of a lean, sexy stomach.
Appropriate Tummy Tuck Surgery Candidates
To find out whether you are an appropriate tummy tuck candidate, it is best to visit Dr. Mussat at her Chicago plastic surgery clinic for a consultation. During your consultation, she can listen to your aesthetic concerns and goals for plastic surgery. Dr. Mussat will also evaluate your physique and determine your candidacy before suggesting an appropriate treatment plan to satisfy your cosmetic goals and anatomical needs.
Suitable tummy tuck candidates generally include individuals who:
- Cannot shape their midsection through diet and exercise alone
- Are frustrated with excess skin on the abdomen and / or damaged abdominal muscles
- Have poor skin elasticity (Those with good skin elasticity who are bothered by excess abdominal fat may be better candidates for liposuction alone.)
- Are in good overall physical and mental health
- Are near or slightly above their ideal body weight and are at a weight they feel they can maintain after surgery
- Are not pregnant and are finished having children (The aesthetic benefits of abdominoplasty can be reversed by gaining a substantial amount of weight after surgery.)
- Seek cosmetic improvement, not necessarily perfection
- Understand the possible risks and rewards of tummy tuck surgery, and feel the rewards outweigh the risks
About the Tummy Tuck Procedure
Tummy tuck surgery is generally performed as an outpatient procedure and is always performed with the use of general anesthesia. The plastic surgery procedure takes about three hours, depending on the complexity of your surgical needs.
To begin the tummy tuck procedure, Dr. Mussat first performs liposuction throughout the abdominal area, if necessary. She then 
makes a horizontal incision that runs from one hipbone to the other. Although the incision is significant, Dr. Mussat carefully positions it in an area that can be easily concealed by the bathing suit or underwear line.
The plastic surgeon then removes excess skin before repairing the abdominal musculature. She places permanent, internal sutures in a crisscross pattern in the muscle fascia. This pulls the separated or otherwise damaged muscles together and holds them in place after surgery.
Dr. Mussat re-drapes the remaining loose skin over the flatter, firmer abdominal profile, pulling it taut, and closes the incision with sutures. Using a second, hidden incision the navel area, she readjusts the position of the belly button, so it is in line with the new abdominal contour. The plastic surgeon dresses the treatment area with soft bandages and may place a compression garment over the bandages to minimize swelling and provide added support to the tissues while they heal.
Voilà — you have a sexier, leaner stomach.
Start on Your Way to Achieving a Sexy Stomach
If you are tired of working out and eating right without seeing the results you desire, contact Dr. Mussat for help. To schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Mussat, contact her office by calling (312) 751-9000. You can be on your way to achieving a sexier stomach today.
Chicago Tummy Tuck FAQs
To help you learn more before scheduling a consultation, our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Florence Mussat, provides answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about this body contouring procedure.