A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a cosmetic surgery that makes the abdomen thinner. This cosmetic procedure involves the removal of excess skin and fats from the middle and lower abdomen in order to tighten the abdomen muscles. Unfortunately, some people have stubborn body fat that just does not respond to exercises and diets. A very common example of this is pregnancy fat, along with stretched, sagging, or loose skin. Luckily, you can get rid of this stubborn fat with medical assistance, by opting for a tummy tuck.
People often confuse this procedure with liposuction, but the two are different. Liposuction removes small fats from the hips, bottom, stomach, and thighs for body contouring whereas abdominoplasty is a procedure for removing excess skin and fat from the abdomen to tighten the abdominal muscles. However, you can choose to get liposuction done during abdominoplasty, as well.
Before finalizing the abdominoplasty procedure, here are five things you must consider:
The tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that, like any other surgery, requires some time to heal. The surgery could leave the patients fatigued, sore, swollen, and aching for the first few days. Expected duration of two weeks with no strenuous activity is given to the patients for recovery. In order for the area to heal quickly and without any issue, patients are advised to take it very easy the first four weeks with light walking for physical activity recommended after that.
A tummy tuck is not a weight-loss technique, so don’t use it for that purpose. A tummy tuck will not result in a drastic decrease in your weight. In fact, sometimes patients are advised to lose weight before the procedure. Medical experts suggest that abdominoplasty patients lose weight so they are in a range of least 10-15 lbs of their goal weight. It's important because changes in weight can affect how much excess skin is available for removal.
Even though most patients are very happy with their tummy tuck, it will leave a scar along the abdomen. The size and location of the scar depends on the type of tummy tuck. In case of the traditional or full tummy tuck, the scars stretch from hip to hip. Most doctors make the scar easily hidden by a standard bikini. Just like other scars you may have for most people these fade drastically with time. It is worth looking at before and after photos of the belly button.
Finding an excellent plastic surgeon who can consult you properly based on your own body profile and heath is critical. We recommend getting multiple consultations to ensure consistent surgical plans and consistent answers to your questions. If you are in search of a doctor in the United States, be careful to ensure that they are Board Certified Plastic Surgeon by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Even though a tummy tuck surgery comes with its own side effects, it can make people more confident. But tummy tucks aren’t just limited to their cosmetic benefits! They also have health benefits. Tummy tucks can help with urinary in continence, which is a condition where you lose control over your urinary sphincter. People who deal with rectus diastasis, a partial or complete separation of the rectus abdominis, can regain core stability after a tummy tuck. The procedure also helps with back pain and bloating.
A tummy tuck is no small procedure, so it's important to know these things before you decide to get one. Only opt for a tummy tuck if you have two weeks of recovery time. Also, remember that your abdomen area will remain bruised and swollen for a few weeks after the surgery. It takes around six months after the treatment for the abdomen to be completely healed.
While a tummy tuck, with medical advancement, has become a much more common and safer procedure, it’s important to be educated about the various complications involved. Hence, it’s vital that you consult the right doctor and take both pre-surgery and post-surgery precautions.
