If pulling those abs closer together with a diastasis recti repair won’t fix your tummy issues, consider a tummy tuck. Most people think of a post-partum mom when tummy tucks come to mind. Others may realize a tummy tuck can benefit someone who has lost significant weight.
What is a Tummy Tuck?
There are several steps to a beautiful tummy tuck. Each procedure is tailored to individual needs.
- A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is done under a general anesthetic. Once you are unconscious, the surgeon begins with an incision from hip to hip. This incision is between the belly button and the pubic area, below an underwear line, so it is unnoticeable.
- The belly button will either be repositioned or perhaps re-created by the surgeon. Sometimes the belly button can be set aside and then replaced; however, in some cases, the plastic surgeon makes a new belly button out of the skin. A belly button is small and serves no function; however, it must be in the right spot to give a natural-looking result.
- Now, the surgeon can tighten the muscles in the abdominal area, giving the patient a tight tummy again. The surgeon pulls the muscles together to achieve this and stitches them in place. Now it’s time to pull the skin tight for the final result. At this stage, the surgeon will use liposuction to remove the excess fat and loose skin in the belly area. When a tummy tuck is done after a major weight loss, there can be a large amount of excess skin that diet and exercise don’t eliminate. The skin is cut away, and the fat is removed. Then, the skin is pulled tight and put back into place.
- One of the results of this fat and skin removal is eliminating stretch marks.
- Finally, the surgeon inserts a drain to catch excess liquids and closes the incision. The drain is removed with the stitches, and the recovery process begins. Many people return to work in a week, while full recovery is 6 to 8 weeks.
Is a Tummy Tuck Right for You?
If you are considering having a tummy tuck, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Shteynberg at Vantage Plastic Surgery. You can count on excellent results.
