Am I eligible for an hourglass tummy tuck?
Am I eligible for an hourglass tummy tuck?
The hourglass tummy tuck is more than another variation of the classic abdominoplasty procedure. While it uses the techniques used by abdominoplasty to correct the imperfections of the abdominal wall, the procedure goes beyond this and aims to improve the overall shape of the body. This means that after patients can enjoy not only having a flat and firm tummy, but also the most desired silhouette type of all time: the beautiful hourglass.
Considering the multiple benefits of the procedure and the superior aesthetic results it delivers, many patients want to know if they are eligible candidates for the hourglass tummy tuck. This issue will be discussed during the pre-operative consultation with the plastic surgeon and only after he performs specific measurements on your body and asks about your medical history and expected results. There is no easy or simple answer to this question. However, we can discuss some guidelines that the plastic surgeon has in mind when assessing your candidacy:
– You have narrow hips
The hourglass tummy tuck entails fat transfer to the hips, hence the procedure targets patients with a square shape of the body mainly caused by hips that are too narrow. To create the beautiful hourglass figure, the plastic surgeon will use fat collected from the donor areas and inject it into the hips to give them a better projection. Having small hips can create an androgynous look for a woman, and many patients mention how they feel more like young boys than women when having such narrow hips.
– You have adipose tissue in excess on the flanks and the abdominal wall
To be eligible for the hourglass tummy tuck, the patient should have an excess of adipose tissue on the flanks and the abdominal wall. The plastic surgeon will address these areas with liposuction to collect the fat needed for transfer to the hips. Moreover, liposuction is needed in these areas to reduce the dimensions of the waist and make it smaller.
– You have excess skin on the abdominal wall
The hourglass tummy tuck is only performed on patients with an unsightly appearance of the tummy caused by a surplus of skin tissue. If the narrow hips and adipose tissue on the flanks are the only imperfections that bother the patient, another procedure might be recommended: the hourglass hip procedure. But when the patient is confronted with saggy skin on the lower part of the tummy, aside from narrow hips and an undefined waist, the hourglass tummy tuck is the optimal surgical plan to be followed.
– You have no preexisting health conditions
Just like any other plastic surgery, good candidates are women who don’t have preexisting health conditions that represent contraindications. Severe blood, lung and heart conditions can make you ineligible for an hourglass tummy tuck.
