Abdominoplasty

Is Tummy Tuck Right for Me?

Tummy Tuck is appropriate for a wide variety of people concerned with the contours of their abdomen. It’s important to note that abdominoplasty is not a treatment for obesity. You should be at or near your preferred weight before undergoing the procedure. You might be a candidate if you have experienced any of the following:

• Massive Weight Loss: After losing large amounts of weight, many people are left with extra skin and residual fat.
  Recent Pregnancy: Pregnancy stretches the abdominal muscles and skin in a way that is often impossible to reverse without surgery.
• Aging: Over time, everyone’s skin begins to lose elasticity and sag. Genetic factors are partially to blame, but eventually time catches up with almost everyone.
• Basic Requirements: Patients also need to meet certain basic requirements, including a minimum level of health, to qualify for a tummy tuck.

How Do I Prepare for the Surgery?

It’s extremely important that you fill out your paperwork correctly regarding any medications or supplements you take as they might interfere with the smoothness and safety of your surgery. Also, if you’re a smoker, you should stop smoking at least 15 days prior to your procedure.

What to Expect After Tummy Tuck Surgery?
Drains may be placed during surgery to prevent fluid collections seromas. Patients will be instructed on how to empty and care for drains. They will also wear a supportive garment, called an abdominal binder, for 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. This helps prevent fluid buildup and provides abdominal support during healing.
Bruising, swelling, and pain around the abdomen are to be expected and will subside over the coming weeks.
The doctor usually removes stitches about a week after surgery. At this point, most tummy tuck patients are ready to begin a light exercise regimen that will speed the healing process and help prevent blood clots. Patients need to continue wearing their compression bandages and exercising gently for several weeks, but should avoid strenuous activity for up to 6 weeks as they heal.
How Does the Scar of Tummy Tuck Surgery Look Like?
The length of the surgery incision varies based on the amount of skin to be removed. In some cases, the incision will stretch from hip bone to hip bone, while in others it will be shorter. The scar will fade and become less conspicuous with time. The final appearance of your abdominoplasty scar will depend on the amount of skin that is removed, the technique used by your surgeon and your body’s ability to heal.

What Is a Mini Tummy Tuck?
A mini tummy tuck is much smaller in size than the traditional and does not require such a large incision. A mini tuck also does not require that the belly button be moved.
During a mini tummy tuck, only a small portion of your skin is removed. Since the procedure is not as detailed and intense, most people undergoing a mini tuck will only have a small area of fat to get rid of. If you have a small amount of fat you cannot get to disappear, then this surgery is ideal for you.
What Is an Extended Tummy Tuck (Circular Abdominal Lift)?
An extended tummy tuck is designed to remove all sagging and drooping skin on the stomach, lower back, and the hips. Candidates for this procedure should have additional fat or skin in areas other than just the stomach.
The incision is much greater and is made from across the stomach all the way to the lower portion of the back. During an extended tummy tuck, the patient will receive liposuction at the same time to remove extra fat from the area. Once all of the additional fat is removed, the muscles in the stomach and hips will be tightened and the excess skin removed from the body.
Since an extended tuck is an extensive procedure and requires a large amount of skin removal, your belly button will need to be removed and repositioned.

Can Tummy Tuck Get Rid of Stretch Marks?
Abdominoplasty does not directly address stretch marks. However, because some abdominal skin is removed, it’s possible that stretch marks in that area of the abdomen may be removed as well. Stretch marks may also shift position as a result of abdominal skin being pulled downward during a tummy tuck.
What Potential Abdominoplasty Complications Should I Be Prepared For?
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with abdominoplasty. Bleeding, numbness, infection, fluid build-up and unfavorable scarring may occur. Less common risks include blood clots, insufficient blood supply to the tissues or persistent abdominal pain. These risks and others will be discussed with you in detail prior to surgery. Address all questions and concerns directly with your surgeon during your consultation.

How Long Will the Results of Tummy Tuck Last?
Provided your weight remains stable, the results of your abdominoplasty will last a very long time. Your skin will continue to age and relax over the years, but the improvements from your procedure will be relatively permanent — your stomach will always look better than it would have been without surgery.
Pregnancy or weight gain after a tummy tuck can reverse the results of the procedure, so ideally, we recommend postponing surgery until you are done having children and maintaining a healthy lifestyle in the years that follow.