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Tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure performed to remove excess abdominal skin and fat and tighten abdominal muslces in order to achieve a smoother, firmer tummy and improve body contours. About Tummy Tuck Surgery
The Best Tummy Tuck CandidatesWho should seek abdominal skin tightening If you have loose, sagging skin on your belly or can't get rid of that pooch no matter how many sit-ups you do, a tummy tuck may be recommended. Adult women and men may both benefit from tummy tuck surgery, as significant weight loss, aging, heredity and previous abdominal surgeries may all cause lax, excess skin to develop on the abdomen. Oftentimes, women whose abdominal muscles have been weakened or separated by pregnancy also benefit tremendously from abdominoplasty, especially if they wish to remove lax skin and stretch marks below the belly button as well. For women, a tummy tuck should be postponed until she is done having children, as subsequent pregnancies following tummy tuck surgery will generally make it impossible to maintain your tummy tuck results. As with all plastic surgery procedures, tummy tuck is suitable for adult men and women, 18-65 years old, who are non-smokers and are in generally good physical and mental health in have realistic expectations of what can and cannot be accomplished with tummy tuck surgery. Tummy Tuck SurgeryWhat to expect during tummy tuck surgery Dr. Motlagh will recommend either general anesthesia or local anesthesia with IV sedation for your tummy tuck procedure, depending on your unique needs. After anesthesia is administered, a horizontal incision will be made below the bikini line, the length of which will depend on how much muscle tightening and skin excision is needed to achieve optimal results. Muscle repair and plication (tightening) is performed and excess skin and fat tissue are removed from the lower abdomen. For a full tummy tuck, another incision is made around the belly button to remove excess skin and fat tissue from the upper abdomen. Because abdominal skin is pulled down toward the bikini line and inward as it is removed, your belly button will need to be surgically repositioned. Sutures, skin adhesives, tapes or clips close the skin incisions, and gauze dressings and mild compression are applied immediately following surgery. Liposuction of the hips and flanks is sometimes combined with tummy tuck surgery to further improve upper body contours. A tummy tuck may also be performed in conjunction with breast augmentation or breast lift as part of a post-pregnancy body rejuvenation procedure commonly referred to as a mommy makeover. Tummy Tuck vs. Mini Tummy TuckComparing full and mini tummy tuck procedures The primary difference between a full tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck is that a mini tummy tuck is designed only to address muscle repair and excess skin and fat in the lower abdomen and does not address the upper abdomen at all, as a full tummy tuck would. As a result, mini tummy tuck is only recommended to patients who have no need for upper abdominal muscle repair or tightening and no loose skin in the upper abdomen. Tummy Tuck ScarsScarring after abdominoplasty As with any surgical procedure, scars from tummy tuck surgery are unavoidable. However, nearly all tummy tuck patients agree that it's worth the scar to get rid of your tummy pooch, loose skin and abdominal stretch marks. Full abdominoplasty results in a hip-to-hip scar, however a skilled plastic surgeon can place the scar so low on your abdomen that it sits directly above your pubic region and is not visible in a swimsuit or low-rise pants. There is also a tummy tuck scar that results from re-creating your belly button during surgery, but this navel scar is small and can be mostly hidden by your surgeon. Tummy tuck scars
Tummy Tuck RecoveryRecovering after abdominoplasty Following your tummy tuck procedure, you will be encouraged to begin walking around within 12-18 hours. Drains, if used, will also be removed within the first 24 hours after surgery, and you will be given pain medication to manage discomfort the first few days. After two days of tummy tuck recovery you may shower, and after one week you may resume most normal daily activities, including driving. Most patients return to work within 1-2 weeks. A compression garment will need to be worn for about six weeks after surgery, and heavy lifting and vigorous exercise should be avoided for at least 4-6 weeks. Final tummy tuck results become apparent as swelling subsides, so most patients will see close to final results after 2-3 months. It may take several months to a year for swelling to entirely resolve. Tummy Tuck AlternativeNon-surgical abdominal skin tightening No non-surgical procedure can tighten the stomach muscles and repair separated muscles the way abdominoplasty can. Although, there are a few devices utilizing radiofrequency and infared energy that may be used to give patients some minimal skin tightening benefits in the tummy area. Realistically, any non-surgical skin tightening procedure cannot really be touted as a tummy tuck alternative because the results provided are nowhere close to what a tummy tuck accomplishes. If you wish to remove stretch marks on your stomach and have more than a negligent amount of abdominal skin laxity, skip the so-called tummy tuck alternative procedures and get the real thing. Tummy Tuck Terms
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