Patients of a tummy tuck procedure frequently have a whole list of questions they want to ask at their consultation appointments. And really, this is wonderful! Knowledge is power, so the more you know about your surgery going into it, the better.
If you are new to plastic surgery in general or are considering tummy tuck surgery for the first time and want to learn more, we’ve created this blog post to give you some general information about the procedure.
Understanding the Tummy Tuck Procedure
Your plastic surgeon will naturally go over the steps of a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) with you prior to surgery. They may even show you a special tummy tuck video.
Basically, they’re going to be outlining for you the steps of the procedure and what to expect during tummy tuck recovery. Let’s look at a brief overview of these topics below.
Abdominoplasty Steps
An abdominoplasty begins with anesthesia. You’ll need general anesthesia for this surgery.
Once under anesthesia and comfortable, your tummy tuck surgeon will perform a series of incisions. For a full tummy tuck (standard tummy tuck), an incision is made low on the abdomen from “hip to hip”. There is also a small incision made around the navel. Other types of tummy tuck procedures will require different incision patterns (we’ll go more into detail on these options later).
Next, the abdominal muscles will be tightened. Sometimes, liposuction is also used to remove unwanted fat. And finally, like a window shade, the abdominal skin will be pulled downward. Any excess skin will be cut off, and finally, that lower abdominal incision will be carefully closed.
Tummy Tuck Recovery
When excess fat and skin are removed during tummy tucks, this does a number on the body. Add to that a tightening of the muscles on the abdominal wall and recovery can be a challenge.
Fortunately, most patients do very well during their tummy tuck recovery. Even though it is one of the more difficult cosmetic surgery procedures to recover from, you should be feeling better in just a few days.
Most patients are able to transition from a prescription pain medication to an over-the-counter pain medication after this time.
Swelling, bruising, some soreness, and tightness are to be expected. These symptoms should dissipate over the first few weeks of recovery, and after a few months, you should notice the swelling significantly go down.
Do keep in mind that you may not see your tummy tuck results for at least 6 to 12 months. During this time, the swelling will slowly be disappearing.
Other Important Facts About Tummy Tuck Surgery
There are different types of tummy tucks.
There are several different types of tummy tuck surgery.
First, there’s the full tummy tuck. This is the classic or standard tummy tuck. A lateral incision is made low on the abdomen, and another incision is made around the belly button.
The next type of tummy tuck is the mini tummy tuck. This typically requires a slightly shorter incision, made low on the abdomen, and it does not require an incision around the belly button. However, the abdominal muscles cannot be tightened above the belly button with a mini tummy tuck (mini abdominoplasty), and the patient usually requires less skin removal in general.
Then, we have the extended tummy tuck. This is generally used when the patient has excess skin that extends beyond the normal length of a full tummy tuck incision. So, they’ll need more skin removed from their sides or flanks, and this means that the lower lateral incision will extend further around the sides of the abdomen.
Finally, there’s the flour-de-lis tummy tuck surgery. This is a surgery that requires a vertical incision to be made from the lower abdominal incision up to the belly button. This is usually utilized when a lot more excess skin and fat needs to be removed from the stomach area.
You’ll have at least one tummy tuck scar.
Any time there’s an incision, there will be a scar. However, the good news is that an abdominoplasty typically requires only incisions that are easy to hide beneath clothing and within the natural folds of the belly button, thus tummy tuck scars are not that visible in most cases.
It’s best to be done having children before your tummy tuck.
When removing excess skin from the abdomen, it’s clear that you’ll be left with less skin to “stretch” in the future. So, if you do get pregnant after surgery, it’s not that you or your baby will be at risk. Rather, the issue will be that your remaining skin will stretch again and you may again be left with loose wrinkled skin after giving birth.
As with any surgery, there are risks.
Is a tummy tuck safe? As long as you choose a board certified plastic surgeon, your risks are very low for this surgery. However, there could be problems such as remaining skin on the stomach, excess fluid buildup, poor wound healing, results that you’re not happy with, infection, and other risks involved. Your surgeon will go over these with you at your preoperative appointments.
FAQ: Tummy Tuck Surgery
Is tummy tuck surgery for obese patients possible?
When it comes to a tummy tuck, obese patients typically have higher risks. However, a tummy tuck for obese patients can be performed, and there have been many successful cases.
The overwhelming majority of these patients have wonderful outcomes and are happy with their results.
How does a tummy tuck change your body?
After a significant weight loss or pregnancy, many individuals struggle with excess loose skin and sometimes unwanted fat on their abdomens. Even with diet and exercise, it can be hard to get rid of this.
A abdominoplasty can remove the loose skin, tighten the muscles, smooth out the contours of the abdomen, and even remove unwanted fat with liposuction. This gives patients back their confidence, and it makes it easier to perform regular daily tasks, walking, exercising, and more.
What if you experience weight loss or weight gain after surgery?
While many plastic surgeons will perform abdominoplasty on obese or overweight patients, we do recommend that you be at a stable weight that you want to stick with before undergoing a typical tummy tuck. This is because significant weight loss or weight gain after surgery could change your results.
Find Out More at Your Consultation
Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ashley Steinberg frequently performs tummy tuck surgery for patients at her Houston practice.
If you would like to learn more about tummy tuck surgery and schedule a consultation with Dr. Steinberg, please call our practice today so we can get you on the books. We look forward to hearing from you!
