What is a Tummy Tuck?

May 8th, 2009 by Mike

Let’s be honest, who couldn’t use a tummy tuck? From a little to a lot, most of us could use the help a tummy tuck gives, I know I could!

A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure preformed by a plastic surgeon that removed the excess skin from your abdomen, that can result from many things, including weight loss or gain, and pregnancy. By making a cut into the abdomen, typically from hip to hip, the doctor is then able to remove excess skin, making the abdomen area flat, and then suturing the area together via staples or stitches. This procedure removes excess skin, fat, and can tighten the abdominal muscles within the abdomen. The surgery takes from two to five hours, and is done under general anesthesia. Some people require an overnight stay in the hospital after surgery, while others do not.

The recovery time for this process is the same as with other abdominal surgeries. As a general guideline, you can start light to moderate activity after four weeks, and after six to eight weeks, be able to resume all exercise and activity.

A scar will be visible where the entire cut was made. The scar will fade overtime, however how much it fades is unique to each individual. The healing process is different for each person, and your doctor can tell you what your outcomes should be.

Some risks include anesthesia risks tissue loss, infection, collection of blood beneath the skin (hematoma), collection of fluid under the skim (seroma), blood clot to the lungs, aspiration pneumonia, bleeding under the skin flap, insufficient healing that may result in the need for a second surgery, or death. This is not as bad as it sounds, most people do just fine and have no problems, but legally all the risks have to be stated. Your doctor will be able to tell you if this is the right surgery for you.

The first step on the road to a tummy tuck for you is to find a board certified plastic surgeon to meet with. The next step…you in a bikini!