Tummy tuck before and after photos can be breathtaking, and a successful surgery can transform your relationship with your body. If you have some loose skin from pregnancy or rapid weight loss, a tummy tuck can be performed to safely remove it.
What can you expect before, during, and after your surgery? Find out what it takes to remove that excess skin and what your recovery process can look like.
What is a Tummy Tuck Surgery?
A tummy tuck surgery, also known as an abdominoplasty, is a major surgical procedure involving removing loose abdominal skin and excess fat. This excess tissue around the abdomen can result from a pregnancy or sudden weight loss. During each of these, the skin can become stretched beyond its ability to recover shape through its natural elasticity.
During a tummy tuck surgery, incisions are made along the lower abdomen above the hips. The excess skin is cut away, removing fat, skin with stretch marks, and other tissue around the stomach to better match the natural contour of the abdominal muscles. The remaining skin is pulled down to flatten the stomach and conform to your body’s natural figure.
How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Surgery Cost?
In Houston, tummy tuck surgery costs will typically be anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000 for a mini tummy tuck and $8,000 to $12,000 for a full procedure.
This price can vary depending on your body, surgery procedures, insurance, and other fees you might incur. Payment plans may be available to help you cover the procedure.
What to Do Before Your Tummy Tuck
Before your scheduled abdominoplasty, you should do a few things to help make your surgery a success.
Keep a Stable Weight
To get the best results, incorporate diet and exercise into your life to maintain a stable weight for six months to a year before surgery. Aiming to be around 10 to 15 pounds above your goal weight is best.
You will help shrink your loose abdominal skin as much as possible in the time ahead of your procedure while leaving a little extra tissue for the surgeon to work with.
Make Work And Home Life Arrangements
After a tummy tuck, you will have limited mobility for four to six weeks, even for household chores. It’s essential to make work arrangements before you schedule your surgery.
You may want to schedule an extended vacation, as even remote work can be challenging during this period. Someone should also be able to help you around your home, even with minor tasks and caring for yourself.
What to Expect After Your Tummy Tuck
Once your tummy tuck surgery is complete, there are a few things to know about tummy tuck recovery. Every patient should know this information to avoid surprises and to ensure your hard work doesn’t go to waste.
Lots of Downtime
A tummy tuck will disrupt your ability to do normal day-to-day activities for four to six weeks. During this initial recovery period, you should avoid strenuous exercise or too much physical activity. In the following months, you will also want to build up to more intense physical activity gradually.
Temporary Surgical Drains
After a tummy tuck, a surgeon will leave surgical drains in place to remove excess fluid and blood. Depending on your recovery, these usually stay in place for seven to ten days but may be kept for two weeks or longer.
Once the initial swelling is over, the drains are removed. The drains are painless, but a doctor may tell you not to bathe or shower for a period while they are in.
A Year-Long Healing Time
It can take till your surgery is a year old for your abdomen to heal after a tummy tuck. Many patients can expect significant redness, swelling, bruising, and lack of mobility for four to six weeks after your surgery. At that point, these side effects subside , but keep in mind that each patient is unique.
However, your skin will likely remain numb along the incision line for months, and swelling can come and go for months after your procedure.
A Loss of Sensation
Just like how your skin feels a little numb after you slap it, your skin will be numb after a tummy tuck. It can take weeks or even months for your skin to regain sensation fully. You may be vulnerable to injury if you’re not careful during this time.
If you’re feeling numbness, know that it’s entirely normal, and keep your physician informed while being mindful of dangers to the affected area.
Permanent Scarring
No matter how expertly executed, a tummy tuck will leave a permanent scar. This will run along your abdomen horizontally across your hips.
An expert surgeon can place it below your bikini line to hide it even when wearing a swimsuit. The scar will likely take years to fade, but you may be able to elect further procedures to make it less visible faster.
Review Before and After Photos
Before and after photos serve as powerful visual testimonials that showcase the transformative potential of various procedures. They provide prospective patients with a tangible representation of achievable results, which can give you confidence and trust in the process. View pictures, filter cases, and compare results from similar body types as you.
These images offer realistic expectations, helping patients in their decision-making process by illustrating the potential benefits and outcomes of treatments. Moreover, they highlight the expertise of the surgeon, reinforcing credibility and demonstrating the ability to deliver desired aesthetic goals.
Tummy Tuck FAQs
How Do I Care for My Incisions?
A tummy tuck will leave you with several incisions you must care for until they heal. If they have tape, leave it on according to your doctor’s orders, usually for about a week. Use warm water to clean the wound instead of hydrogen peroxide, which can kill new cells.
Am I at Risk of Pneumonia After a Tummy Tuck?
Yes, you may catch pneumonia after a tummy tuck. However, you can do breathing exercises to strengthen your abdominal muscles and help to prevent pneumonia.
Will a Tummy Tuck Make My Stretch Marks Go Away?
A tummy tuck will remove excess loose skin from your stomach and abdomen. However, the procedure won’t remove all of your stretch marks on your stomach, but it may make them less noticeable.
What Age is Too Old For a Tummy Tuck?
The procedure isn’t age-restrictive; excess skin and fat removal from the abdomen is viable for older male/female patients, offering rejuvenating results regardless of age, provider results may vary.
Are You Ready for Your Tummy Tuck Consultation?
If you’re considering undergoing a tummy tuck surgery, Dr. Ashley Steinberg is a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon who has served patients throughout Houston since 2019.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation and discuss what to expect from your tummy tuck case.
References
1. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/five-things-to-consider-before-getting-a-tummy-tuck
2. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/your-guide-to-a-tummy-tuck-before-during-and-after
