26 May Research Says Tummy Tucks are “Worth It”
You can peruse all the celebrity gossip sites you want trying to figure out which plastic surgery is “worth it,” but nothing compares to the hard facts of a peer-reviewed research article. Researchers Mark Domanski and Naveen Cavale published their findings of which plastic surgeries are deemed “worth it” in their “Self-Reported ‘Worth It’ Rating of Aesthetic Surgery in Social Media,” originally published in the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery journal. These researchers found out what we all want to know: just how happy are patients after various surgeries, and which one will truly make you happier and healthier?
Domanski and Cavale knew that there were countless surveys designed to validate patient satisfaction after cosmetic surgery. However, they were also aware of the limitations. These surveys usually had just a few patients and surgeons featured, so how unbiased could they be? Thanks to social media, the discussion and rating of satisfaction is now available on a much larger scale—but it needed to be analyzed by real researchers. According to Domanski and Cavale, “the views of aesthetic procedures patients expressed in social media provide unique insight into patient satisfaction.”
Tummy Tucks Top the List
The researchers considered numerous factors when they began their analysis, including what they call the “worth it” percentage, number of respondents, and average cost of each procedure. They primarily used the popular website RealSelf.com for their study, which collates thousands of real reviews in one central site. The researchers then split up the categories into surgical, non-surgical, liposuction (relatively minimally invasive surgery), and cosmetic dentistry. The respondents were ranked in order of their “worth it” score, and the researchers performed a literature search to identify the most commonly rated procedures to compare satisfaction rates.
The results? Tummy tucks absolutely dominated the “worth it” research. Also known as abdominoplasty, 93% of respondents who underwent a tummy tuck said it was worth it. Including all procedures, there were a total of 16,949 evaluations in 159 aesthetic surgery topics, and 1,589 of those evaluators underwent a tummy tuck. Researchers note that, “social media has opened a new door into how procedures are evaluated and perceived” and urged plastic surgeons to consider the “worth it” score alongside satisfaction scores often reported in literature. There’s simply more data and raw responses on social media than in any medical literature available.
What Exactly is a Tummy Tuck?
A traditional tummy tuck removes excess skin from the belly while also tightening the abdominal muscles. In most cases, liposuction is also performed to remove any lingering areas of excess fat. However, keep in mind that a tummy tuck is generally a skin-tightening procedure. In a lot of tummy tuck cases, the belly button is reconstructed and this is considered part of the overall procedure. The exact length of a tummy tuck incision varies person to person, but is always hidden below the beltline. It’s common for a full tummy tuck incision to stretch from hip bone to hip bone.
There’s also the mini tummy tuck, which is reserved for those who only have sagging or lax skin below the belly button. The incision and recovery time are both shorter. The underlying muscles are only tightened below the belly button in this procedure. Only certain patients are a good candidate for this procedure, and you can learn more about which tummy tuck might be right for you during a virtual consultation with Dr. Parson.
When Should I Have a Tummy Tuck?
This question is most often asked by women who are thinking of having biological children in the future. You aren’t required to wait until you’re sure you’ve finished having biological children to get a tummy tuck. However, do keep in mind that belly skin stretches during pregnancy and may not “snap back” naturally. Everyone has different levels of collagen production, which is what causes skin elasticity, and we produce less as we age. You may or may not benefit from an additional tummy tuck in the future if you do have children or otherwise experience weight fluctuations.
There’s no “best time” for a tummy tuck as long as you’re a healthy adult. Find out more about tummy tuck options today when you schedule a virtual consultation with Dr. Parson for just $100. Call Dr. Shaun Parson Plastic Surgery & Skin Center today at (480) 282-8386 or chat with us online directly on our website.