Most abdominoplasty patients are women who have given birth to one or more children. During pregnancy, the rectus abdominal muscles stretch and separate allowing space to accommodate the growing fetus. In many women, the rectus muscles never fully return to their pre-pregnancy position. Mothers of multiple pregnancies are especially prone to this situation. The resulting laxity of the abdominal wall allows the intestines and other abdominal organs to push the skin outward, making the belly protrude. For most women, no amount of exercise can reverse this condition.
Tummy tuck patients should be in good overall health and finished having children. Having high blood pressure is not a problem as long as it is under control with medication.
You will probably be disqualified from surgery if you smoke, are diabetic, or have small blood-vessel disease, all of which diminish blood flow to the skin. Abdominoplasty further reduces blood flow to the skin, and there have been cases where the skin across the abdomen has died as a result of the operation.
Abdominoplasty is not a substitute for weight loss. In fact, many plastic surgeons recommend alternatives to abdominoplasty for patients who are more than 15 percent over their ideal body weight.
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