6 Things You Should Know About a Tummy Tuck

Many women are frustrated by the stomach. Whether it’s from weight fluctuations, pregnancy, or aging, extra fat and skin tend to accumulate around the middle, even if we eat right and exercise. Fortunately, the abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, is an effective cosmetic procedure that smooths the belly and sculpts the waist to give you back your youthful contours.

A tummy tuck trims away extra tissue and fat, as well as tightens weakened stomach muscles to give you the smooth abdomen you’ve dreamed of. But a tummy tuck is a serious surgery, so you should gather all the information you can before going ahead with the procedure. Below are the five things you should know about a tummy tuck before scheduling your consultation.

You Won’t Lose Weight

Plastic surgeons stress that a tummy tuck should only be done on someone near their ideal weight. It isn’t a weight-loss procedure intended to sculpt and contour the abdomen to eliminate loose skin and tighten the muscles.

Also, a tummy tuck doesn’t necessarily eliminate stretch marks. But your abdominal skill will be pulled down, so your stretch marks may be shifted to a less visible area.

Be At A Stable Weight Before Surgery

The tummy tuck is a beautiful way to sculpt the body, but you should be close to your goal weight for about six months before you have surgery. Many plastic surgeons recommend that you be within 10 pounds of your goal weight before surgery.

This is vital to understand because gaining or losing weight after the tummy tuck can undo your results. Then you would need another surgery to get back to the way you were before.

You’ll Need Help At Home For A Week 

Most tummy tucks are done on an out-patient basis, so you will go home after the procedure. You will be sore and experiencing moderate pain, so you should have someone there to assist you for at least a few days and up to a week.

This is particularly important if you care for young children because you should not lift anything heavy or engage in strenuous activity for several weeks. In the first week or two, many patients report that they cannot roll over, sit up, or stand without assistance.

On a related note, you will probably be partially bent over for a week or two because the abdominal skin and muscles were tightened, so you can’t stand up straight. Having someone in the house to help you temporarily with children and other household chores will ensure that your recovery goes smoothly.

You Will Have Scars

The tummy tuck is a serious cosmetic procedure that leaves a long scar along the abdomen. It usually runs from hip to hip, just above the pubic bone. The scar will fade, but it will be visible for a few years.

But a skilled plastic surgeon can place the incision in a hard place to see, such as below the under or bikini line.

You May Need Liposuction, Too

The tummy tuck eliminates loose and sagging skin, but it won’t do much for any extra fat you have in your abdomen. That’s where liposuction can make a big difference. Many surgeons use liposuction first to get rid of any stubborn fat pockets on the belly, then they perform the tummy tuck.

Many patients like the fact that they can get liposuction and a tummy tuck in one procedure. It’s more cost-effective, and you get all of your recovery done at once.

You May Need Drains

Many patients are concerned when they hear that they need drains after surgery. While it’s understandable to be worried about their inconvenience, drains can make a big difference in your comfort level and recovery.

The surgeon places drains in the incision to remove excess fluid that may accumulate, which will reduce swelling and help you heal faster. Without drains, fluid can build up, leading to discomfort and necessitating extra doctor trips to drain the wound.

Your surgeon will fully explain how the drains will be placed and what you need to do to care for them, including when you want to take a shower. The drains are usually removed after one or two weeks.

Complete Healing Can Take Up To A Year

You will not see the benefits of your tummy tuck right away. Over the first month after surgery, you will have bruising, swelling, redness, and stiffness. These will resolve over the next six weeks, and your tighter, firmer belly will start to appear.

But surgeons say that swelling can linger for six months or as long as a year. Some patients also have a temporary loss of sensation or numbness along the incision, but this will disappear in a few weeks. You should feel like the old you after three or four months, but you may need a whole year to heal the stomach fully.

Outlook

The tummy tuck is a popular and successful procedure that can sculpt your abdomen flat and smooth again. Most patients express great enthusiasm about their tummy tuck results and wear clothes again without worrying about how their abdomen looks. And most enjoy a significant bump in their self-esteem as they have their pre-baby body back.

You should schedule a consultation with your plastic surgeon about the goals you wish to achieve with a tummy tuck today.

Learn more about Hill Country Plastic Surgery by visiting them online.

References:

Five Things To Consider Before Getting A Tummy Tuck. (2019). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/five-things-to-consider-before-getting-a-tummy-tuck

Tummy Tuck Facts. (2019). Accessed at https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a19996976/tummy-tuck-facts/

Hill Country Plastic Surgery Tummy Tuck. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.hillcountryplasticsurgery.com/procedures/body/tummy-tuck/