Can A Tummy Tuck Give You The Toned Mid-Section You Want?
A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures and has even become appealing to men wishing to tighten up their abdomens.
Years of weight fluctuations and pregnancy can leave a woman with a bulging or sagging belly.
Abdomen muscles can become so stretched that not even exercise can help restore muscle tightness.
While there are other treatments to correct the problem of lost tightness and elasticity in the abdominal region, a tummy tuck may be the only viable option for some.
Women who do not plan on having anymore children and people who are at their ideal weight but have excess skin and/or a prominent belly bulge are good candidates for abdominoplasty.
A tummy tuck should not be viewed as a means to lose weight.
The Procedure Through a single incision in the pubic area that can be a few inches long or as long as the distance from hip to hip, your surgeon can tighten loose muscles and eliminate excess skin.
In a partial abdominoplasty , the surgeon makes an incision in the pelvic area.
Working from that incision, excess fat is removed, the underlying muscle is tightened and the skin is pulled taut over the area.
The excess skin is then removed and carefully sutured into place leaving a smooth surface without sagging.
In a full abdominoplasty , the surgeon makes the same type of initial incision as in the partial tummy tuck - from one hipbone to the next; however, in this procedure, the navel is detached, allowing the skin to be pulled up exposing the abdominal area up to the ribcage.
This allows the surgeon to work on the entire abdominal area, rather than just the area between the navel and the pelvis.
As in the partial abdominoplasty, the surgeon removes excess fat, tightens the underlying muscles, and pulls the skin taut over the area, trimming any excess.
The surgeon also creates a new, natural-looking navel.
After Surgery During the first week after a tummy tuck, you will experience some discomfort and difficulty standing upright.
During this time, it is important to walk around quite a bit to prevent blood clots from forming.
Your sutures, if not dissolvable, will be removed within 10 days to two weeks after surgery.
You may also have drains in place to facilitate healing in the first few days post-surgery.
Pain medication may be prescribed by your doctor, and you will need help showering and getting dressed for a while.
After two weeks, most patients are back to work and can gradually resume normal, daily activities.
It may take up to six weeks to fully recover from tummy tuck surgery.
Years of weight fluctuations and pregnancy can leave a woman with a bulging or sagging belly.
Abdomen muscles can become so stretched that not even exercise can help restore muscle tightness.
While there are other treatments to correct the problem of lost tightness and elasticity in the abdominal region, a tummy tuck may be the only viable option for some.
Women who do not plan on having anymore children and people who are at their ideal weight but have excess skin and/or a prominent belly bulge are good candidates for abdominoplasty.
A tummy tuck should not be viewed as a means to lose weight.
The Procedure Through a single incision in the pubic area that can be a few inches long or as long as the distance from hip to hip, your surgeon can tighten loose muscles and eliminate excess skin.
In a partial abdominoplasty , the surgeon makes an incision in the pelvic area.
Working from that incision, excess fat is removed, the underlying muscle is tightened and the skin is pulled taut over the area.
The excess skin is then removed and carefully sutured into place leaving a smooth surface without sagging.
In a full abdominoplasty , the surgeon makes the same type of initial incision as in the partial tummy tuck - from one hipbone to the next; however, in this procedure, the navel is detached, allowing the skin to be pulled up exposing the abdominal area up to the ribcage.
This allows the surgeon to work on the entire abdominal area, rather than just the area between the navel and the pelvis.
As in the partial abdominoplasty, the surgeon removes excess fat, tightens the underlying muscles, and pulls the skin taut over the area, trimming any excess.
The surgeon also creates a new, natural-looking navel.
After Surgery During the first week after a tummy tuck, you will experience some discomfort and difficulty standing upright.
During this time, it is important to walk around quite a bit to prevent blood clots from forming.
Your sutures, if not dissolvable, will be removed within 10 days to two weeks after surgery.
You may also have drains in place to facilitate healing in the first few days post-surgery.
Pain medication may be prescribed by your doctor, and you will need help showering and getting dressed for a while.
After two weeks, most patients are back to work and can gradually resume normal, daily activities.
It may take up to six weeks to fully recover from tummy tuck surgery.
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