17 Oct Should You Wait for a Tummy Tuck?
It’s a question asked by a lot of patients—especially by women who aren’t sure if they will have more biological children in the future. In the vast majority of cases, the answer is no. If you are a healthy adult, you probably don’t have to wait for a tummy tuck. There is a myriad of mothers who have had a tummy tuck and then gone on to have one (or more) children. However, do keep in mind that future additional tummy tucks may be required. Skin, especially on the abdomen, is designed to stretch and be elastic. Future major weight fluctuations, whether from pregnancy or otherwise, can stretch out skin even after a tummy tuck.
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a surgery that does a lot more than get rid of excess skin on the stomach. It requires a long, thin incision that is hidden below the underwear line. Extra skin is indeed trimmed away, but the abdominal muscles are also strengthened during the surgery. This deeper part of a tummy tuck is the exact same procedure as a medical surgery to correct diastasis recti. If you are postpartum and struggle with diastasis recti and excess skin, a tummy tuck can correct both.
In most cases, creating a new bellybutton is often part of a tummy tuck, too. This is technically a different surgery, but it is included in how a full tummy tuck is designed. The rare people who are good candidates for a “lower tummy tuck,” which only addresses sagging skin below the bellybutton, often don’t need a new bellybutton created. A lower tummy tuck is a less invasive procedure, often requiring a shorter incision, but isn’t suitable for most people since excess skin usually isn’t delegated to strictly below the bellybutton.
How Liposuction Can Help
Liposuction is not inherently included in a tummy tuck, but is a very popular add-on procedure. Liposuction permanently removes fat via a very small incision and a suction device. Most patients add liposuction of the stomach onto their tummy tuck procedure to get the best outcome. After all, both excess skin and pockets of stubborn fat can be the cause for a stomach that isn’t taut and flat. However, you can also have liposuction performed on other areas of the body during a tummy tuck. The back, thighs, upper arms, and below the buttocks are all popular areas.
Liposuction is a relatively minor surgery compared to other cosmetic procedures, but it still requires general anesthesia. Savvy patients typically undergo two or more cosmetic surgeries at once in order to maximize benefits from anesthesia and combine healing time. A compression garment is required for both a tummy tuck and liposuction, which will aid in the healing process and help with your comfort
What to Expect After a Tummy Tuck
In most cases, you will wake up already dressed in the compression garment (which looks and feels a lot like Spanx). The incision, often hip bone to hip bone for a full tuck, may be bandaged and dressed below the garment. In most cases, sutures that dissolve are used so you do not have to return for suture removal. Bruising and swelling may be present, especially if you add liposuction to the procedure. It is not uncommon for the stomach to feel “tight” after surgery, and this may be the case during the healing process. Don’t worry. This feeling will resolve as the body heals and adapts to its new shape.
Many patients will also have a “drain” attached to them, which helps to cleanly collect excess fluid. The drain encompasses a small tube and a collection bottle approximately the size of a Discman (for those who remember these!). Drains will be removed during your follow-up appointment, usually within one week after your surgery. They are not painful and are easy to hide under clothes.
Getting Ready for a Tummy Tuck
Abdominoplasty is a major surgery that requires downtime, but you can return to most facets of a sedentary daily life a couple of weeks post-surgery. Autumn and winter are the best times for a tummy tuck because you can allow the incisions to heal and lighten before next summer—where you can show off that new swimsuit body. To get started, schedule a consultation with Dr. Parson now. Give Dr. Shaun Parson Plastic Surgery & Skin Center a call or simply complete the online contact form for the quickest response.