Tummy Tuck
For thousands of people, the quest for a flatter stomach is never ending. Diet and exercise may have taken you most of the way to a more slender figure, but the excess fat on your belly just refuse to respond to your best efforts. If you are struggling with an unsightly “pooch” on your abdomen, it may be time to consider an abdominoplasty.
An abdominoplasty, more commonly known as a tummy tuck, is a surgical procedure to reshape and repair your midsection. Pregnancy, weight gain and loss, age and heredity can all affect your abdominal contour, leaving you with stubborn fat, loose skin, and separated abdominal muscles. A tummy tuck can fix all of that, by removing excess fat and sagging skin, while also repairing and tightening your abdominal muscles. The result is the smoother, flatter stomach you’ve been working so hard to achieve.
The Tummy Tuck Procedure
During your abdominoplasty procedure, Dr. Terrasse will make a somewhat curved horizontal incision across your lower abdomen, in the area below the belly button and above the pubic area. He will lift the skin, and stitch together your separated abdominal muscles, which will help strengthen the abdominal wall. He will then remove excess fat-either by excising it or using liposuction, and pull the skin from your upper abdomen down, trimming away any redundant tissue. He will complete the procedure by creating a new opening for your belly button, and stitching the newly smoother skin together, leaving you with a flatter, more slender contour.
Dr. Terrasse can perform either a full or partial tummy tuck, depending on your specific needs. If you are undergoing a “mini” tummy tuck, or a more extensive procedure to remove a significant amount of skin due to massive weight loss, the process will be similar, although the incisions may be placed differently. A tummy tuck is usually performed using general anesthesia, and may require an overnight stay in the hospital. Dr. Terrasse will let you know ahead of time what to expect on the day of your surgery.
Recovery and Results
After your surgery, you will experience some discomfort and swelling. Dr. Terrasse will prescribe pain medication for you, and may have you wear a compression garment to provide extra support and to help reduce swelling. Many people don’t realize that a tummy tuck is a significant surgery, so you will need to follow Dr. Terrasse’s post-surgery instructions to the letter to ensure a safe, successful recovery.
You will need to rest and take it easy for the first couple of weeks following your procedure, although walking around the house is encouraged to prevent blood clots and to help reduce swelling. You shouldn’t lift anything over about five pounds for those first couple weeks as well, and Dr. Terrasse will let you know when you can start gradually adding daily activities back into your routine.
Schedule a Consultation
Schedule NowAlthough the change in your tummy is immediate, much of the swelling should subside over the first three weeks, giving you the satisfaction of your more slender stomach. However, it may take six months or more for your final outcome to be fully visible, as your body heals and settles into its new shape. The results of your tummy tuck will last as long as you maintain a healthy, stable weight, realizing that as life events unfold there will be softening of your result.
If you are frustrated with a persistent tummy bulge that refuses to respond to diet and exercise, an abdominoplasty might be the solution. Call Terrasse Aesthetic Surgery today at 800-555-1212 to schedule a consultation.