Tummy Tuck Inland Empire
May 10th, 2010 Troy Andreasen M.D.Tummy Tuck Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Q: How will an individual benefit from tummy tuck surgery?
The benefits of a tummy tuck procedure include: reduced skin laxity of the abdomen, reduced fullness of the lower abdomen, and, if combined with liposuction, reduced fullness of the love handles and “muffin top” areas. The suturing of the muscle can also bolster the abdominal wall. Although tummy tucks do not strengthen muscles, they can realign them if they have been excessively stretched due to weight gain or childbearing.
Often combined with liposuction, this surgery is one of the most satisfying procedures we do in aesthetic plastic surgery because the results are immediate, recovery is not extreme, and results are very satisfying. Tummy tucks can be performed on patients after weight loss or on women following childbirth if the skin and musculature of the abdomen was damaged and stretched due to these conditions. Men and women alike can enjoy the benefits of tummy tuck surgery.
Q: How do you determine who is an ideal candidate for a tummy tuck?
The ideal candidate for a tummy tuck procedure is someone with looseness of the abdominal skin who is at a reasonable weight. Tummy tucks are not weight loss procedures, per se, and should not be thought of as a way to affect the scale. With that in mind, patients do not always need to be at their ideal weight to benefit from tummy tuck surgery. If, for example, a patient has an overhanging roll of lower abdominal skin that prohibits him or her from exercise and further weight loss, a tummy tuck might be a solution. Patients with a lower abdominal stretch injury and stretch marks can improve the appearance of the skin if the damaged portions are excised with a tummy tuck. Any patient with laxity of the abdominal skin can be evaluated for tummy tuck surgery. Since there are surgical risks, like any other procedure, only the surgeon can make the decision regarding the appropriate timing for surgery.
Q: How do you perform tummy tuck surgery?
Tummy tucks are most commonly performed under general anesthesia. Once asleep, the surgeon makes an incision along pre-determined lines in the bikini area of the lower abdomen. The abdominal skin flap is raised “like the hood of a car” up to the navel. The belly button is removed from the skin and remains attached to the muscle. This allows the abdominal skin flap to be elevated to the ribs. Once the skin is elevated, the muscles can be directly addressed. The patient is then sat more upright on the operating table and the flap is pulled downward. Skin and fat can be pulled below the level of the incision, trimmed away, and the wound is closed over a couple of drain tubes. The belly button is brought back out through the skin and reconstructed. The patient is then awakened from general anesthesia and begins recovery.
Q: What are the associated risks and side effects?
Risks of tummy tuck surgery are similar to risks for other procedures: bleeding, infection, anesthetic risks, and poor scarring. Systemic risks such as blood clots in the legs and lungs are the most concerning; patients are evaluated and stratified into risk categories so that treatment can be administered according to their level of risk. There are additional risks that are unique to tummy tucks, such as fluid collections under the flap and belly button deformity.
Q: Will scarring be noticeable?
Depending on the extent of the skin laxity, the scar length can vary from patient to patient. The tummy tuck procedure creates a scar in the lower abdomen in the bikini line.
Q: How much does a tummy tuck cost?
Each patient has a unique anatomy and ideal outcome; therefore, tummy tucks can vary greatly in price depending on the procedure. Mother of four with a small amount of excess skin hanging over a C-section scar, and a man who has lost 200 pounds after a gastric bypass cannot be quoted at the same cost due to their varied procedures. Only after a full evaluation of risk and anatomy can a tummy tuck be accurately quoted.
Q: How long do the results of a tummy tuck last?
Tummy tuck results can be permanent. The excised skin will never make it back onto the patient’s abdomen! However, additional pregnancies or weight gain can stretch the skin again even after the tummy is tightened. It also repairs or tightens the abdominal muscles to help flatten the rounded appearance.
