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Tummy Tuck - Abdominoplasty
Tummy Tuck - Abdominoplasty
Are You A Good Candidate
Meeting With The Doctor
How The Procedure Is Performed
What To Expect After Surgery
Possible Side Effects And Risks
How Long Will The Results Last
Questions You May Have
Tummy Tuck - Abdominoplasty
A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that repairs and retones abdominal muscles and removes excess fat and skin. The procedure, also known as abdominoplasty, is especially beneficial after pregnancy or weight loss. The doctors and staff at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery have performed thousands of successful tummy tucks and will work with you to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure and to ensure results you are pleased with.
Are You A Good Candidate for Tummy Tuck - Abdominoplasty?
Multiple pregnancies and/or significant weight gain can overly stretch abdominal muscles, causing them to protrude even with diet and exercise. If you have been unable to reduce your protruding stomach with weight loss or exercise, you are most likely a good candidate for a tummy tuck. Individuals who have stabilized at their desired weight or who plan no additional pregnancies have better success with tummy tuck surgery.
Meeting With the Doctor
The doctors and staff at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery are dedicated to helping you achieve the body you want in a safe and appropriate way. Therefore, you will meet at length with the Institute staff before scheduling your tummy tuck surgery. At this meeting, your abdominal muscles will be evaluated and you will discuss how you want your abdomen to look after your surgery.
The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery doctors and staff will:
· Review the various tummy tuck options with you
· Clearly discuss the potential risks of the procedure
· Outline in detail how the surgery is performed and what you can expect before, during, and after the procedure
· Provide detailed cost and payment information
· Answer all your questions
You will be asked to provide:
· Details about your medical history
· A list of all medications you currently take including over the counter medications such as aspirin, vitamins, and herbal supplements
· Information regarding your tobacco and alcohol use
How The Procedure Is Performed
Your tummy tuck surgery may be performed as an outpatient or inpatient procedure. The surgery is performed under anesthesia and usually takes about two to four hours to complete. The doctor makes an incision across your abdomen; every effort is made to make the incision below the bikini line. In some cases, the incision extends vertically up the middle of the abdomen. The placement of your incision will be discussed with you during your initial consultation, especially as it relates to clothing styles and swimwear.
Once the incision is made, the doctor removes unwanted skin, fat, and tissue and tightens up your abdominal muscles. Stitches are then used to close the incision. Tummy tucks are classified into three categories: standard, mini, and modified, with each category resulting in a different rate of healing. The type of tummy tuck that will be used will be discussed in detail during your meeting with the Institute's doctors and staff so that the most appropriate technique is used for your body. Once the incision is stitched, gauze dressings are applied and an elastic abdominal binder is placed around your abdomen. You will wear this binder for several weeks to facilitate the healing process.
What To Expect After Your Surgery
Activity |
When |
| Shower | Two to Three Days After Surgery |
| Bath | After Drains are Removed |
| Back to Work | Two to Six Weeks After Surgery |
| Driving | Two to Six Weeks After Surgery |
| Strenuous Activity | Six to Eight Weeks After Surgery |
| Fading of Scars | Several Months to One Year |
Immediately After Your Surgery
Tummy tuck surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, but a short hospital stay may be requested. Once you go home, you will want to have someone stay with you for the first few days since you may experience mild to moderate discomfort. Pain medication will be prescribed to alleviate as much post-surgery pain as possible. You may experience some degree of pain for the first ten to twenty days after your surgery. Though you may not be able to stand up completely straight for at least a week after surgery, it is important to start moving and walking within a day of surgery. Once you return home, it is important to move around the house every few hours to reduce the chance of blood clots.
The First 24 to 48 Hours After Your Surgery
During the first 24 to 48 hours after your procedure, you will feel tired from the anesthesia and may experience mild to moderate discomfort. The doctor will prescribe pain medication to alleviate as much of the discomfort as possible. Your discomfort level will improve rapidly after the first two days. To reduce the chance of blood clots and to facilitate the healing process, it is important to start moving and walking within a day of your surgery. You will wear an elastic abdominal binder for several weeks after your surgery to provide gentle, healing pressure, to provide stability, and to help reduce swelling.
The stitches used during your tummy tuck surgery are dissolving. Occasionally, small tags are left at the skin surface and are clipped at an early post-operative office visit. The drains that were inserted into the surgical area will be removed within a week of your surgery. Upon release from the hospital, you will be instructed on how to take care of the drains, which are used to allow fluid to drain from the surgical area. You can shower the day after the drains are removed.
The First Two Weeks After Surgery
You will notice a marked improvement in your discomfort level during the first few weeks after your surgery:
· Any bruising you experience will usually disappear in about two weeks.
· You can most likely resume light activity within ten to twenty days of your surgery.
· The stitches under your skin will be removed fourteen to twenty-eight days after your surgery.
· Sleeping on your back in a semi-upright position will most likely provide the most comfort and will help with the healing process.
· You can shower or bathe as soon as you feel comfortable doing so. Treat the surgical tape placed over your incision like your own skin - bathe and dry off normally. If the strips become loose, or curl on the ends, you can snip the ends off or remove them completely.
During the first two weeks after surgery, you should also:
· Wear the elastic abdominal binder placed on your abdomen after surgery at all times except while showering.
· Avoid heavy lifting (greater than 15 pounds) and straining for at least six weeks.
Resuming Your Normal Routine
Everyone heals at different rates and you are the best judge of when you are ready for certain activities, but the following are general guidelines:
· You can most likely return to work or school within two to six weeks after your procedure, unless your work is strenuous.
· You can resume driving within six weeks as long as you experience no pain in the abdominal area.
· Six weeks after surgery you can begin to go without the elastic abdominal binder. If the binder is extremely uncomfortable for you, call the staff at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery to see if it can be removed earlier.
· Strenuous exercise can begin in six to eight weeks after surgery depending on your comfort level. Our patients are encouraged to plan an exercise program and discuss it with the staff prior to resuming exercise.
· The scars on your abdomen should be protected from sunlight for at least a year after surgery.
Things To Be Aware Of After Your Surgery
· You may experience a loss of sensation or numbness in the area of your surgery. This is entirely normal and may take several months to disappear.
· The skin of your abdomen may appear shiny due to swelling. Within a few weeks, the swelling will disappear and the skin will return to a normal appearance.
· You may notice a tingling sensation in the surgical area. This feeling is a result of the healing of the nerves in the area and will go away within several months of your procedure.
What Are Possible Side Effects or Risks?
Like all surgical procedures, there are risks associated with tummy tuck surgery. During your initial consultation with the doctors and staff of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery, your individual risks will be assessed and discussed and it will be determined if you are a good candidate for the procedure. As with any surgery, you can help reduce the risks by closely following the pre and post-surgery instructions provided to you. And the doctors and staff of the Institute will be with you every step of the way to ensure a safe and beautifully contoured outcome.
Specific potential risks include:
· Areas of numbness
· Skin changes including skin flaps or bulges
· Scarring
How Long Will the Results of Your Tummy Tuck Last?
Tummy tuck surgery will result in a flatter and smoother abdomen since abdominal muscles and stretched skin are tightened during the procedure. The results of the surgery are permanent except in cases of large weight gain or pregnancy after surgery.
Questions You May Have
· Are there other procedures that could be done along with tummy tuck surgery to enhance the overall appearance of my abdomen?
The doctors at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery are the first specialists in the Washington DC area certified to perform LipoSelection, a much gentler form of liposuction that can be used to remove fat in the area near your tummy tuck.
· Will my insurance coverage pay for my tummy tuck?
Tummy tuck surgery is considered cosmetic surgery and, therefore, is not covered by insurance. You are responsible for the full payment of the procedure. Cost and payment information will be fully discussed with you during your initial consultation.
· Are there alternatives to tummy tuck surgery?
Some patients may do well with non-excisional techniques such as LipoSelection. The patient's goals for contouring are critical in determining which technique is best. For severe skin and muscle laxity, abdominoplasty is the only technique that restores desired contour and tone.
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