Most Asked Questions About Tummy Tuck Surgery Procedure
A tummy tuck is part of cosmetic surgery and a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat of the stomach and repairs the muscles that may have parted due to childbirth, weight gain, or aging; after this surgery, patients get a flat and tight stomach.
It’s common to have several questions in mind when you are considering a tummy tuck surgery. Here we have assembled the most commonly asked questions over tummy tuck surgery.
What will happen at tummy tuck consultation?
During the consultation, your board-certified plastic surgeon will have a complete and personalized discussion that involves a thorough patient history, physical examination, treatment decisions, and before and after visual guesses. During this consultation, the plastic surgeon will explain the procedure as per your desires and purposes for the tummy tuck.
What happens during tummy tuck surgery?
The plastic surgeon will extract the excess skin and fat from the stomach during the surgery and restore the parted muscles. You can ask your surgeon to add Liposuction to outline the stomach and sides.
Life after tummy tuck surgery?
After tummy tuck surgery, it is normal to feel pain or uncomfortable. You will be provided with a compression garment to wear for at least 4-6 weeks after the surgery to reduce swelling. Your surgeon may prescribe you some medication to lower the pain and help manage the discomfort within a few days.
After the surgery, you need to remain bent at the waist during standing or lie down for 7-10 days to protect the cuts and leave your skin to adjust. After this, you will be able to stand straight perfectly without any pain or issue. A drain may be placed, removed as soon as the condition normalizes; it takes about 1-2 weeks.
The time required to recover after surgery
Recovery may take some time, but you can walk the day of surgery performed. In most cases, plastic surgeons advise patients to walk three times the day of surgery to improve blood flow and avoid or keep it minimum any risk of blood clots in the legs. However, you have to avoid running or heavy lifting for a minimum of six weeks after the surgery.
Patients usually return to their job in about two weeks roughly. The bruising will be gone in a couple of weeks, but swelling will continue to approximately three months post-procedure. In 12-18 months, the scars will heal and become thinner and lighter in color.
Risks associated with tummy tuck surgery?
Any surgery, major or minor, comprises some risk, and in tummy tuck, there is a small risk of bleeding and infection. Care is taken to prevent all the risks and minimize any danger with minimum surgery procedures.
In some cases, there is a risk of blood clots in the thighs and lungs, and to avoid this risk, compression boots are placed on your calves during surgery to help blood circulation and may use a low dose of blood thinner. Sufficient hydration and regular walks are also necessary to lower the risk of blood clots after surgery.
Things to remember after a tummy tuck?
It is essential to keep your weight stable after the surgery. Take a proper diet and keep your weight maintained as with stable weight, the results remain steady for a more extended period.
Will there be any scars?
Since the cuts are commonly made at the bikini line, most bathing suits will usually be covered. The healing time differs from patient to patient, that’s why your scar may be noticeable in the first few weeks after the procedure, but it will fade eventually with time.
Is there any health-related risk?
It is sporadic to have a complication after tummy tuck surgery, as in most cases, it never happened, but complications can occur occasionally. Infection is the most common and highest risk potential after any surgical procedure. But if you take all the recovery measures as suggested by your plastic surgeon, and report if you find any redness or irritation, you will be able to limit the infection.
After surgery, an abdominoplasty prepares the body tissue, and during the process, sometimes it occurs in necrosis, which is termed as the death of the tissue. This happens typically in small, non-threatening parts of the body, but if a large amount of tissue dies in the process, you may require another surgery to remove it.
Blood clotting is an added risk associated with tummy tuck surgery. Mostly blood clots are not life-threatening, but you may require emergency surgery if they resemble some body areas.
In case you are thinking about having a tummy tuck surgery and having difficulty deciding whether it is right for you and your desired goals, do contact us and have a word with a board-certified plastic surgeon for a consultation.
