For the past ten years, tummy tuck (also called abdominoplasty) surgery has consistently ranked in the top five most frequently performed cosmetic surgical procedures. Its steady popularity has to do with the fact that a tummy tuck slims the abdominal contour, removes excess abdominal skin, tightens the abdominal skin, and reduces the appearance of stretch marks.
Like all medical procedures, if you are considering tummy tuck surgery, a well-informed decision will likely yield the most satisfactory outcome. A tummy tuck is a contouring operation, not a weight loss procedure. Patients should be reasonable fit, and the closer an individual is to their ideal body weight the better the result; a tummy tuck cannot be performed on obese individuals. The best patients are those that have excess and loose abdominal skin following weight loss or childbirth.
If you’ve been considering a tummy tuck for a while now, below are three facts that you need to know before committing to surgery:
- It is best to wait for at least six months after childbirth before having a tummy tuck.
During the six-month period after delivery, your body is still in the process of returning to its balanced state. Body fluids and hormones are still unstable, making it difficult for your plastic surgeon to gauge the exact state of your skin elasticity and abdominal muscles. And, most women need time to lose weight they have gained during their pregnancy. In addition, you should not have tummy tuck surgery until you are finished having children.
- Numbness after a tummy tuck procedure is common.
This has to do with severed nerve endings in the lower abdomen and surrounding the incision. As healing progresses some of the sensation will return, but it will take several months. It is not uncommon for some areas of the lower abdomen to remain numb permanently; despite this, women do not find this particularly bothersome and the benefits of the procedure far outweigh this sensory change.
- It’s common to have liposuction done in conjunction with a tummy tuck.
In many cases, excess pockets of fat in the abdomen or flank often accompany the weak abdominal muscles and excess abdominal skin. A tummy tuck alone may not be effective in creating the best result. Therefore, liposuction may be necessary to enhance the results by removing excess. The flank and upper abdomen are the most commonly treated areas where liposuction is combined with a tummy tuck procedure.
Bonus fact: Always choose a board-certified plastic surgeon to perform your tummy tuck or other body contouring operation; this will help ensure the best and safest possible result.
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If you’re interested in a tummy tuck, call us to schedule a consult, 414-443-0033.