When men and women lose a massive amount of weight, they are almost always left with excess skin around the abdomen. In most cases, no amount of additional training or toning can eliminate this unsightly fold of skin.

This can be extremely frustrating, particularly after surmounting the achievement of 50, 75, or 100 pounds of weight loss. One increasingly popular solution to removing that excess skin is a tummy tuck.

San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Stuart Kincaid has performed numerous tummy tuck (“abdominoplasty”) operations and mini-tummy tucks for patients who have lost a massive amount of weight and want to look as great as they feel. But one question that often arises is whether it’s best to get a tummy tuck before or after the patient’s ideal weight has been reached. Many men and women set certain goals for themselves and come very close to meeting them. However, the last 15 to 30 pounds are often the most difficult to shed. Because many doctors recommend that patients reach a stable weight before having a tummy tuck in order to avoid the need for touch-up operations, these patients end up delaying the reward of a smoother, tighter stomach while they continue to work towards those last few pounds.

On the other hand, some doctors suggest that patients go ahead with the operation, especially if they’ve reached a plateau in their weight loss regimen. Those last couple of pounds can be removed via liposuction at the same time as the tummy tuck operation. Or, as is more common, the patient feels so reinvigorated after their tummy tuck that they resume their exercise routine with renewed confidence, which helps them meet their weight loss goals.

If you are within 15 to 30 pounds of your weight loss goals, you may wish to speak with a board certified plastic surgeon in order to explore your options. Depending on your circumstance, additional weight loss after your tummy tuck may not require a follow-up surgery. Talking to a plastic surgeon face to face will help you understand how a tummy tuck can play a role in your weight loss goals.

By now, most anyone researching abdominoplasty (commonly known as a tummy tuck), knows what its purpose is and how it can benefit a patient looking to tone their mid-section. A new use for the mini-tummy tuck, however, is growing in popularity.

New mothers are using the mini-tummy-tuck after childbrith to tighten up their lower abdomens (the abdominal region most affected by pregnancy) and return their figure to their pre-pregnancy days.

With a mini-abdominoplasty, the incision is made below the waistline, and only about the size of a cessarian incission, so it is well hidden. A mini-tummy tuck differs most from a traditional tummy tuck in that there is no navel incision and only the loose skin is tightened, not the muscle.

Most plastic surgeons say however, that the majority of people who would require having a tummy tuck following weight loss or even childbirth, typically require a tradtional (full) tummy tuck. Many patients also require some amount of liposuction, accompanied with just about any tummy tuck procedure.

In the cases where new mothers do not require a full tummy tuck, the mini-abdominoplasty is a viable and beneficial option. The best way for you to know for sure is to consult a plastic surgeon, preferably certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and one who specializes in abdominal procedures.