Tummy Tuck

Abdominoplasty

What is a Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck, also known as an abdominoplasty, is a procedure that removes excess fat and skin from the stomach. In most cases, weakened and separated muscles are restored to create a smoother and firmer abdominal profile that the hottest celebrities would be jealous of!

While tummy tucks are popular for people trying to shed some excess weight, you may still have a loose or sagging abdomen even if you have an otherwise normal body weight. This can be caused by all sorts of things like aging, post-pregnancy, or a significant weight fluctuation.

Tummy tucks are not the same as liposuction, which is used to remove fat from a given area. Instead, tummy tucks require more contouring and shaping of the skin and tissue.

How Does it Work?

Surgery can be scary, and it’s normal to feel scared the day of your procedure. Let’s walk through how a tummy tuck works so you can have a gauge on what to expect. Just remember that everyone is different, so your tummy tuck might not work in this exact same way.

Anesthesia

Before we get started, we need to make sure you’re comfortable with the surgery. With an abdominoplasty, we will either give you intravenous sedation, which numbs your body but doesn’t put you to sleep, or we’ll use general anesthesia, which will make you unconscious for the duration of the procedure.
You and Dr. Zach will work together to decide which one makes the most sense for you.

Making the Incision

Once you’re comfortable, it’s time to get started! There are many different types of incisions that can be made depending on your goals for getting this work done, but a typical tummy tuck will go something like this. First, a horizontal incision is made in the area between the pubic hairlines and belly button, kind of along the waistline. The shape and length is determined by the amount of excess skin that you have. Depending on how much excess skin is in the upper abdomen, a second incision may need to be made around the navel, or belly button. This skin is then lifted, giving us room to repair the underlying weakened abdominal muscles. This lets us tighten them so it looks more toned once we close up the incision.Q

The “Tuck”

Then, the skin of the upper abdomen is pulled down, sort of like a window shade. Excess skin is trimmed and sutured together to remaining skin on your body. If needed, a new opening for the belly button is created, popped through the surface, and then sutured into position.
Sutures, tapes, clips, or other adhesives are then used to close incisions and ensure proper healing.

When Will I See Results of a Tummy Tuck?

The initial results of your procedure won’t be apparent immediately because of swelling. Additionally, you won’t be able to stand upright until your wounds are fully healed, which can obscure the results.

But within the first week or two, you’ll be able to stand and see a slimmer, sleeker profile than you’ve ever had before. It should result in a flatter, firmer ab profile that looks more proportionate to your body size and weight.

Due to the size of the incision in a tummy tuck, there will likely be permanent scarring around your waistline. This will fade for the most part after a few years, and it can also easily be covered with most swimsuits or shorts.

Additionally, if you’ve undergone a cesarean, or C-section, the existing scars might actually be incorporated into the new scar.

Additional Information

Benefits of a Tummy Tuck

Tummy tucks are great for your appearance, helping you achieve that contoured, firm abdomen that you’ve always dreamed of. But they actually have some benefits for your overall health.

For one, tummy tucks strengthen your core, which can help alleviate lower back pain and improve your posture. Plus, this can improve your flexibility and make it easier to perform certain exercises.

Also, it can make it easier to wear certain clothing items that may otherwise chafe or feel out of size. This can open up new opportunities for your wardrobe to give you more freedom of self-expression.

Not to mention, it has mental benefits like improved self-image, boosted self-confidence, and an all-around better outlook on life. Watching your body turn into its best body is an extremely satisfying thing for both you and us to see!

Potential Risks of a Tummy Tuck

Dr. Zach is a renowned plastic surgeon with years of clinical plastic surgery experience. You’re in good hands at PH-1, but as with any surgical procedure, there are some risks that you should know before moving forward.

One of the most common risks with this procedure, as well as other plastic surgeries, is that the end result does not look exactly how you expected. Fluctuations in weight and individual variations in the way your body responds to the skin tightening may result in unexpected results that can require subsequent procedures.

Additionally, it’s possible to feel changes in sensation in your abdomen. Repositioning your abdominal tissue can affect the nerves in this area which can result in reduced sensation or numbness. This is actually common following the procedure and should subside after a few months.

There may also be some anesthesia-related complications during the initial portion of the procedure, and it’s possible that the wound doesn’t heal as you’d hope or the visibility of your scars are more pronounced than you had hoped.

Recovery from a Tummy Tuck

Tummy tucks can take anywhere from one to five hours depending on how much fat and skin needs to be repositioned. Smaller tummy tucks, often called partial abdominoplasties, may take under two hours and you can usually go home in just a few hours.

For larger, full tummy tucks, the procedure may take upwards of five hours and you may need to stay overnight in a hospital depending on your circumstances. However, most patients are able to go home the same day.

Bandages and compression wraps will be placed over your wounds, and small tubes might be placed under your skin to help with fluid draining. Dr. Zach will give you specific instructions as far as how to take care of these dressings.

You will likely feel moderate pain, but you can take pain killers to help. And while your activity will be limited for the first several weeks after the procedure, we will ask that you walk as soon as the day after the surgery to help prevent blood clots.

A supportive garment may also be required. It’s called an abdominal binder, and it helps to prevent fluid buildup while simultaneously providing support during the healing process.

What to Expect at a Tummy Tuck Consultation

Before you can get a tummy tuck done, we’ll need to meet with you ahead of time to set some things straight. Consultations can be nerve-wracking, but at PH-1 we like to have as much fun as we can while still providing you with the necessary information you need to stay comfortable.

At the consultation, we’ll need to ask you some questions and perform a few different activities to make sure the surgery goes as smoothly as possible.

Before you arrive, be prepared to speak about things like:

Your medical history, including past plastic surgery procedures.
Your goals and expectations for getting a tummy tuck.
Any current medications you’re taking or allergies to medications.

After that, we will examine your body and take some measurements. This might include making some marks on your abdomen and taking some pictures so you can see the before and after. We’ll also evaluate your general health status to make sure you are healthy enough for a procedure.

let's starts with striking down your worries

We’ll also discuss courses of treatment. Tummy tucks aren’t the only type of abdominal enhancement out there, so it might be possible that you’ll be better suited with something else.

Regardless, we want you to leave the consultation feeling much less nervous and much more excited than when you walked in. If you have any questions, concerns, or hesitations, this is a great time to bring them up. We are here to help make this process as exciting as possible, and that starts with striking down your worries!

If you’re ready to take steps towards becoming your best self, fill out an inquiry form right here. We hope to see you in sunny Miami, Florida soon!