A tummy tuck is a cosmetic surgical procedure that helps improve the appearance of your abdomen. The procedure is also known as abdominoplasty, and it aids in removing excess skin and fat from one’s abdomen. During this treatment, the abdomen’s connective tissue is tightened with sutures, and the remaining skin is repositioned to produce a more toned body outline.
Whether you’re doing a tummy tuck in Beverly Hills or New York, there are many reasons why you might want to get it done, including aging, pregnancy, weight fluctuation, abdominal surgery, and so on. However, tummy tucks aren’t suitable for everyone. Your doctor might warn you against it if you are considering future pregnancies, are a smoker, plan to lose a lot of weight, have a body mass index greater than 30, have a chronic condition, or have had an abdominal surgery that led to significant scar tissue.
When you decide to get a tummy tuck done, you should be aware of the risks, including tissue death or damage, wounds not healing properly, unexpected scars, changes in skin sensation, and accumulation of fluid beneath your skin. When you go to a plastic surgeon to discuss the possibility of a tummy tuck, they will go through your medical history, conduct a physical exam, and ask you what you expect from this procedure.
Before the procedure, you will have to observe certain restrictions, such as not smoking, maintaining a stable weight, avoiding certain medicines, and also taking medicines in order to keep complications at bay. Tummy tucks usually take place in a hospital or an outpatient surgical facility. You will be given general anesthesia during the procedure.
It takes about two to three hours to conduct the procedure. Feeling moderate pain and experiencing slight swelling near the surgical area is normal, and the pain can be controlled with the help of medication. You will be given a supportive abdominal garment that you need to wear up until six weeks post-tummy tuck. Be careful during this period, and schedule as many follow-up visits as needed with your doctor.