Why Tummy Tuck Is Still the Best Choice for That Unwanted Belly Fat

Diet and exercise are great ways to stay healthy and manage your weight, but there are some conditions this dynamic duo just can’t fix. Stubborn belly fat and stretched-out skin can defy your best efforts.

If that sounds familiar, you’ve probably begun to research your options, and there’s no shortage of treatments and procedures out there. While they all address your problem abs with varying degrees of success, none of them come close to the results you can get from a tried-and-true tummy tuck.

When you choose Rick J. Smith, MD in East Lansing, Michigan, you get the peace of mind knowing you are in the hands of an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with countless satisfied patients. Known for his skill as well as his personal demeanor, Dr. Smith approaches your tummy tuck with a customized plan that addresses your unique needs. 

Here’s why Dr. Smith favors this procedure for getting rid of unwanted belly fat and why nearly 98,000 people get tummy tucks every year.

Tummy tucks address sagging skin

Unlike other fat-loss procedures, including liposuction, tummy tucks (also called abdominoplasty) can treat loose skin. Whether you’ve recently lost a lot of weight, or your abdominal skin has been overstretched from pregnancies, Dr. Smith can trim away excess skin that has lost its elasticity.

A tummy tuck tightens muscles

One of the unique characteristics of a tummy tuck is that it doesn’t just remove sagging, loose skin, it also tackles your ab troubles deep within. Dr. Smith fortifies weakened muscles, which strengthens your abdominal wall and gives your stomach a flatter appearance.  

Tummy tucks come with health benefits

In addition to the obvious cosmetic perks, a tummy tuck can improve your health, too. When weakened abs lead to lower back pain and poor posture, a tummy tuck can restore the support you need to keep your spine straight and strong. 

Women who experience stress urinary incontinence — a common occurrence after childbirth — often report improvement of their condition after a tummy tuck.

Tummy tucks can eliminate stretch marks

When you gain and lose a significant amount of weight, whether it’s from body fat or a pregnancy, your skin expands and contracts quickly, leaving you with silvery striations called stretch marks where the tissue ruptures. Dr. Smith can eliminate stretch marks in the area below your belly button during the procedure. 

Tummy tucks and liposuction work well together

Dr. Smith often recommends a combination procedure that includes both a tummy tuck and liposuction to deliver the best of both worlds. While the abdominoplasty removes excess skin and tightens muscles and fascia tissue, liposuction refines the job, removing fat layers and smoothing your contours.

Your tummy tuck results are permanent

During a tummy tuck, excess tissue is removed from your body, and it won’t return unless you gain weight again. 

If a healthy diet and regular exercise aren’t improving your physique because your ab muscles are weak and you have too much stretched-out skin, it may be time to consider a tummy tuck — it’s still the best way to get rid of that stubborn belly fat.

To learn more about what a tummy tuck can do for you, call Rick J. Smith, MD, at 517-225-2297 or request an appointment using our online booking tool today.