Tummy Tuck Archives - Page 2 of 2

An abdominoplasty, or Tummy Tuck is a procedure which improves sagging skin and loose muscle in the abdomen, both of which are very common after weight loss or pregnancy. A Tummy Tuck will often address the entire tummy, and correct the entire abdominal wall. The recovery is very similar to the Mini Tummy Tuck, and overall results achieved are much more pleasing to the patient.

Some patients can benefit from a Mini Tummy Tuck, which addresses an isolated problem of excess skin below the belly button only. Ideal candidates for the Mini Tummy Tuck have excellent skin elasticity and excess skin below the belly button only. If the upper abdominal fascia is loose as well, you will most likely be dissatisfied with the results of your Mini Tummy Tuck, due to the bulge that may appear at the top of your abdomen where the skin and muscle was not tightened.

I recommend that you have a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in your area to discuss which of these would be most appropriate for you. Be sure to have him perform a full exam of your belly, including assessing the separation of your rectus abdominis muscles that is so common with pregnancy and weight gain.

You and your surgeon should come up with a surgical plan together that addresses your concerns and meets your specific goals. If you feel you have extra skin above the belly button, then a mini tummy tuck is probably not going to give you a full correction.
The mini tummy tuck procedure is used to remove and tighten excess, loose skin and the fascia that is only below the belly button. This procedure involves a shorter incision and sometimes a faster recovery period.

This procedure can be a good option for women suffering from C-section scarring and minimal loose skin, or a female that has good muscle tone in the area above the belly button. It’s not recommended for everyone. If the patient has fascial weakness in the upper abs as well, the result can end up looking unsatisfactory, with a bulge in the upper area, and a flat lower area.

There are now procedures being done that offer tightening of the entire abdominal fascia with just a minor lower ab incision, rather than an incision around the belly button. However, this technique can be difficult and require specialized equipment, so those are some things to take into consideration before choosing the right procedure for you.
It may be best to do these procedures separately. One reason is that you may not able to achieve optimal results since the positions you are instructed to sit/lay in during your recovery are different for the two procedures.

For the Brazilian Buttock Lift, patients are advised to lay on their stomach and sides, and only on their backs for a short amount of time. Too much pressure to the area can hinder the survival of the fat-graft.
For the Tummy Tuck procedure, recovery is generally most comfortable in a recliner like position, which requires patients to lay propped slightly upright on their backs. This helps to protect muscle repair and keep the skin flap tension free, for optimal final results.

As you can see, the procedures are a bit counter-intuitive when it comes to the recovery process, and may make things more difficult than they really need to be. Consult with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, and map out a plan to do both of these procedures within a time frame that offers both safety, and the best results.
It is generally not advisable to have these three procedures done at the same time. Combining body contouring procedures such as this, especially when they are somewhat time intensive procedures increases post-operative complications.

These types of body contouring procedures are very common after a significant weight loss, but it is best to practice a bit of patience. You should consider factors, such as: is it safe? What might your recovery time entail?

Give it some thought, and decide on which procedure you absolutely can’t wait to have done, just in case multiple procedures prove impossible. It is advisable to first meet with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. The two of you should then discuss a surgery plan which is tailored specifically to your needs and goals and that prioritizes your safety.
In every case, it is always best to reach your goal weight first, if at all possible. At the very least, get down to a weight that you know you can maintain easily. This will only make things better for you, as you will reduce the amount of revisions that may be necessary. If you lose weight after everything is tightened then things might loosen a bit more, creating the possible need for additional surgery.

If you are actively trying to lose weight still, then keep up the good work until you are at your goal or very close to it, unless you have lost a significant amount and are experiencing itching and irritation because of the loose folds of skin hanging down.

In that case go ahead with the procedure, because there will always be SOME loosening of the skin post-op regardless, and there is no need to continue suffering needlessly. Also, if you have reached a stable weight and have stayed there for several months, it should also be ok to proceed with your tummy tuck without too much potential for loosening later.
Actual weight loss is less than you would think. A tummy tuck is performed to remove droopy extra skin, and address things like rectus muscles that have been forced apart due to pregnancy, as well as excess fat. For most patients the actual ‘weight’ loss is less than a few pounds.

There are some instances if a person is extremely overweight where more pounds may be lost, but it is still not a significant amount even then. However the APPEARANCE of weight loss is big because of changes in size and contour. A tummy tuck is a reshaping procedure, not a weight loss procedure. So satisfaction comes from fitting into slimmer, sexier clothing and getting a more toned and tightened looking abdominal area, not from how many pounds are actually lost.
Yes, unfortunately scarring is the price to be paid when you undergo surgery. In the case of a tummy tuck, similar to when a tailor removes extra fabric, a surgeon removes extra skin and scars are just a part of the tradeoff one needs to accept.

A meticulous surgeon will do everything he can do to minimize the visibility of the scars. Some scars tend to be more noticeable than others, and this can depend on several factors. Skin tone and elasticity, genetics, and skin quality as well as the actual length of the incision will all play a role in how visible the scar is.

Generally though, given at least a year a scar will heal nicely and lighten up considerably, which will decrease its visibility exponentially. And because of its location along the bikini line, it really isn’t something one notices unless looking for it. Most patients are so happy with improved abdominal contouring post-op that the scarring is just a minor nuisance.
There is never a good reason to have more electric plastic surgery than you absolutely need to achieve your aesthetic goals.Don’t ever apply the old adage, “While I’m at it I might as well…”.There are several “mini” plastic surgery procedures which are tailored to correct a specific facial or body feature you wish to improve without being unduly invasive or requiring long recovery periods.

The surgical procedure used to remove excess skin and also to tighten the abdominal muscles is referred to as abdominoplasty, but is more popularly known as a “tummy tuck”.This procedure is most often performed together with a full body resculpture following drastic weight loss or pregnancy or in conjunction with liposuction.There is, however, a modified procedure called the “mini tummy tuck” which can accomplish very pleasing results in specific cases.

How do you know if the mini tummy tuck is for you?Some of these conditions could make you the perfect candidate:
- Following a weight loss program your weight has reached your desired level and is stable but you still carry a roll of extra fat and below your belly button and in the waist area that you cannot get rid of.
- You exercise and eat healthy foods and feel toned but have been unable to firm or tighten your abdomen muscles.
- You’ve never had a weight problem and you’re happy with your general body shape but as you reach middle age you find your weight has shifted to your waist area.
- You are satisfied with your weight and shape, but the skin around your waist and abdomen is loose and flabby so you avoid clothing that reveals this area.
A consultation with a Board-certified plastic surgeon who will explain the various options available and what choices you can make to achieve your goals could be very rewarding.