Abdominoplasty: Everything You Need to Know About Tummy Tucks
During a tummy tuck surgery, or abdominoplasty, the abdominal muscles are tightened and excess sagging skin is eliminated. This creates a flatter, better toned midsection. Having a flatter abdominal area has a major impact on the way clothing fits and looks, making you feel more confident and comfortable in your body. Tummy tucks are for both men and women, especially those who have experienced extreme weight loss or pregnancy. The surgery takes approximately one to two hours, and you will be put under general anesthesia. A Good Candidate… Is in good health Carries excess weight in midsection Has loose skin Has attainable, reasonable expectations for the surgery Is committed to maintaining the results through diet and exercise A Poor Candidate… Is a smoker Has a medical condition that could conflict with the surgery Plans to lose a large amount of weight Plans to become pregnant Essentially, the ideal tummy tuck candidate is an adult who is within 25 pounds of his or her ideal body weight, with an abdominal area that does not respond to diet and exercise. Preparing For Your Tummy Tuck The first step after choosing a surgeon is to schedule a consultation. During the consultation, your surgeon will assess your psychical health, discuss cosmetic goals with you, and develop a personalized treatment plan. Make sure to use this time to ask your surgeon any questions you may have. Common questions include: What medication will I be prescribed after surgery? Will I have bandages after surgery? When will they be removed? When will the stitches be removed? How will I bathe? When can I resume normal activity and exercise? When do I return for follow-up care? If you are a smoker, quit smoking before the surgery. Avoid rapid weight loss and crash diets. Make plans to have someone you trust drive you home after the surgery. Get your home ready. Make sure you have ice packs, petroleum jelly, loose clothing, Tylenol, your prescribed pain medications, etc. Post-Surgery Care It is very important to follow your surgeon’s instructions on how to care for the bandage in the days following surgery. Your surgeon will also instruct you on how to best position yourself while sitting or lying down to ease pain. Be prepared for swelling after your tummy tuck surgery. The medical term for swelling is edema, so you might hear that word occasionally. To keep the swelling at bay, make sure to stay hydrated, eat a proper diet, and watch your sodium intake. You should not drive or lift heavy objects until your doctor gives you the OK. It’s important to limit strenuous activity for at least six weeks. Your doctor will advise you on what you need to do or not do. You will be instructed to wear a support garment, similar to a girdle or Spanx, after your surgery. This helps support your abdominal muscles as they heal and will allow your new body shape to heal evenly and smoothly. This binder is usually worn for 4-6 weeks after surgery. Never wear a binder that is too tight, and always consult your doctor with any questions. Everyone deserves to feel comfortable in their body. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and change the way you look and...
Read MoreHow Long Should a New Mother Wait Before Abdominoplasty?
Most mothers won’t hesitate to tell you that childbirth takes a certain toll on the body, but the notion that a new mother’s aesthetic appeal has to be permanently diminished after pregnancy is a total misconception. Tummy tucks (abdominoplasty) are administered to remove unnecessary skin and fat from the stomach area, making them a very popular cosmetic procedure for women who have been pregnant. This common procedure can return flatness and smoothness to the stomach, and even has a comparatively short recovery time relative to other kinds of plastic surgery—on average, most women find that after just four to five weeks they can return to their normal activities. But how soon after pregnancy is abdominoplasty generally advisable? The most important consideration for most women is whether or not they plan to have another child. While a tummy tuck won’t interfere with future pregnancies, it’s generally best to wait until you’re quite sure that you’re done having children so that the cosmetic enhancements won’t be undone. On average, most women will be advised to wait at least three months after having given birth before having abdominoplasty, with the general recommendation being to wait six months and/or until breastfeeding has ceased. This is so that the body has time to return to its prior state, both in terms of weight and hormonal levels. Tummy tucks are not weight reduction procedures. These procedures are intended to contour and shape the stomach for a more desirable appearance. Thus, the normal weight gain associated with pregnancy should be lost before having abdominoplasty. Similarly, hormones produced by the body during pregnancy affect the elasticity of the skin. These hormones won’t usually return to a pre-pregnancy state immediately, since breastfeeding maintains higher hormonal levels in the body even after pregnancy. Extra skin elasticity is of course desirable during pregnancy to accommodate the space a baby needs, but after giving birth these hormones may leave the skin looking and feeling “saggy.” Again, these physical changes typically last about six months. However, everyone’s body is different, so consulting with Dr. Sherbert is likely to provide you with answers pertinent to your unique needs. After the body has returned to its normal state, abdominoplasty is a method that many women have successfully utilized to enhance their abdominal profile for a smoother, firmer...
Read MoreLiposuction and Skin Tightening/Lifting Combo Procedures
Liposuction, also known simply as lipo, is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedures in the United States. It involves the use of a suction-assisted cannula to remove deposits of unwanted fat from the body. Liposuction is often performed in areas where patients have trouble shedding excess fat, such as the stomach, thighs, buttocks and back of the arms. The procedure itself dates back to 1926, when French surgeon Charles Dujarier pioneered liposuction. More recently, some patients have been seeking combination procedures consisting of both liposuction and some other skin tightening or lifting procedure. Abdominoplasty (also known as tummy tuck) is frequently performed in conjunction with liposuction. “Lipotuck” offers the benefits of both liposuction and a tummy tuck, compounding the positive benefits for the patient. Liposuction is a highly effective procedure for removing pockets of excess fat. While it shouldn’t be used as a substitution to dieting and exercise, it’s often recommended to men and women who have trouble burning fat in certain areas of their body. After removing the fat, however, excess skin often remains. Although it doesn’t cause any serious need for concern, the excess skin left behind from a liposuction procedure may hurt a person’s self-esteem and body image, which is why some surgeons recommend a combination procedure like lipotuck. Performing a tummy tuck after liposuction allows for the removal of excess skin. The surgeon will carefully remove some of the excess skin, and then tighten the remaining skin. Most patients will agree that the end result is better than just liposuction alone. Of course, the risk of complication is greater with combo procedures, such as a lipotuck, and recovery times are also longer. A typical liposuction procedure requires around two days to two weeks for a full recovery. When a second procedure like a tummy tuck is added, it can extend the recovery time by several weeks. So, is a liposuction and skin tightening and/or lifting combination procedure right for you? Schedule a consultation with Dr....
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