Tummy Tuck Information and Surgeons

Tummy Tuck Checklist

If you’re considering a tummy tuck, the first thing you need to do is obtain as much information as possible in regards to the procedure. Below you’ll find a checklist of information as it relates to this procedure. However, for individualized information, your starting point should be to contact a cosmetic surgeon for a consultation.

Tummy Tuck Background
The background of the tummy tuck dates back many years, and its medical moniker is abdominoplasty. The purpose of the surgery is to reduce the unsightly bulge that can appear around the waist of some patients, and the result is a slimmer, trimmer look.

Best Candidates for a Tummy Tuck
The best candidates for a tummy tuck are those people who are generally in good medical health and otherwise in decent physical shape. However, these best candidates tend to have a “spare tire” that forms around their waist that simply can not be removed through diet and exercise.

Uncertainty and Risk of Tummy Tuck Surgery
As is the case with any medical procedure, there is an element of uncertainty and risk associated with a tummy tuck. Generally speaking, these risks include infections and bleeding as a result of the incision, prolonged scarring that can only be corrected by additional surgery, and slower healing as a result of smoking.

Planning for Tummy Tuck Surgery
Planning for surgery involves a collaborative effort between you and your doctor. Generally speaking, planning for surgery involves taking care of the “little” things including dietary, alcohol and smoking guidelines that, if followed properly, will make the entire process easier for the patient.

Preparing for Tummy Tuck Surgery
Preparing for surgery involves several things as well. Common steps taken in preparing for surgery involves making sure that you’ve provided yourself enough time for recovery, that you have your prescription medications ready after your procedure and that you have people in your life that will support you as you move through the recovery process.

Where Surgery is Performed
The question of where surgery is performed can be answered in several ways. If your tummy tuck is not too large in scope, it will generally take place at the doctor’s office or in an out-patient facility. However, with more extensive procedures, surgery may be performed at the hospital.

How Tummy Tuck Surgery is Performed
How surgery is performed involves a complicated description, and can vary based on the extent of the work you need. Basically, the surgeon will cut an incision in the abdominal area and tighten the abdominal muscles underneath the skin. The skin is then tightened and the excess skin is removed.

Anesthesia
Generally, doctors will prefer general anesthesia for this procedure given the relative invasiveness of a tummy tuck. However, some doctors will recommend local anesthesia for those procedures that are less intrusive in nature.

Recovering from a Tummy Tuck
The post-op considerations associated with a tummy tuck can also vary based on the extent of the procedure. You may be released from the surgical facility on the same day as your procedure, while other post-op protocols require a short stay in the hospital. You will feel some pain and discomfort in your abdomen, but this is treatable with medications.

Tummy Tuck Candidacy

If you’re considering a tummy tuck, the first thing you need to do as you consider its benefits is to find out whether or not this procedure fits your needs. Generally, three questions are most prevalent in regards to tummy tuck candidacy, and they are, “How can I tell if I’m a good candidate for a tummy tuck?”, “How will I be evaluated for tummy tuck?” and “Will my insurance help offset the costs of tummy tuck surgery?” Each of these questions is answered below in general terms, but your best starting point is by contacting a cosmetic surgeon for a consultation.

How can I tell if I’m a good candidate for a tummy tuck?

The best candidates for a tummy tuck are those patients who are in otherwise good medical health and generally in good physical shape. Most candidates are people who simply can not lose the “spare tire” that’s formed around their waist for any number of reasons, including multiple pregnancies and a period of time when the patient may have been overweight.

How will I be evaluated for tummy tuck?

Your evaluation will be quite thorough prior to being approved for a tummy tuck procedure. Specifically, your doctor will want to take a long look at your overall medical history, your current state of health and the physical status of your abdominal region. You will also be checked for the presence of any other medical conditions or any psychological issues that may impede your progress towards recovery.

Will my insurance help offset the costs of tummy tuck surgery?

This is always a complicated question to answer, but generally speaking, while keeping exceptions in mind, insurance companies will not cover a tummy tuck. The reason is that insurance companies will cover procedures that are considered medically necessary, but not those that are seen as elective or cosmetic in nature. There are times, however, when a tummy tuck could be seen as necessary if it’s a preventative cure for other maladies, so the best thing you can do is speak to your doctor regarding this issue. Subsequent to this conversation, you’ll need to communicate with your insurance company in order to come to a decision. Make sure you document any and all communication between you and your carrier to avoid any confusion or problems after the procedure is complete.

Overall, three of the most common questions patients ask in terms of a tummy tuck procedure are, “How can I tell if I’m a good candidate for a tummy tuck?”, “How will I be evaluated for tummy tuck?” and “Will my insurance help offset the costs of tummy tuck surgery?” While general questions are provided above, no two situations are exactly alike, which means that you should seek out the advice and help of a cosmetic surgeon. He or she will be able to apply these answers and others to your specific situation, and at that point you’ll be able to make an informed decision regarding whether or not to move forward with the procedure.

Tummy Tuck Specifics

If you’re considering a tummy tuck, you need to understand as much about the procedure as possible. This includes the specifics of the surgery itself, and three common questions that patients ask include, “Where are incisions placed for a tummy tuck procedure?”, “What are some variations to the common tummy tuck method?” and “What are some of the risks associated with tummy tucks?” Each of these questions is answered in general terms below, but for more specific information, you should contact a cosmetic surgeon for individualized information.

Where are incisions placed for a tummy tuck procedure?

The incisions for a tummy tuck can vary somewhat, but generally speaking, incisions are always placed in the abdominal region. These incisions can range in size from the biggest, which extends from one hip bone to the other, to the smallest, which would be no more than a few inches in length. The incisions are not made any larger than absolutely necessary in order to promote the fastest and most comfortable healing process possible.

What are some variations to the common tummy tuck method?

The most common variation to the standard tummy tuck method is called the partial tummy tuck. In a partial tummy tuck, the skin is separated between the incision line and the navel and no further. This newly-created skin flap is stretched down, the excess is removed, and the flap is stitched back into place. Otherwise, a tummy tuck is a very standard procedure, which means that you should have a good idea of what will happen during your surgery.

What are some of the risks associated with tummy tucks?

In general, the risks associated with a tummy tuck are rare in number, as this is a very safe procedure. However, in those rare instances when complications do arise, they can include infections and bleeding around the incision, blood clots if the patient doesn’t begin to move around soon enough after surgery, poor healing which can result in additional scarring that needs to be removed by another surgery or slow healing which is most often caused by smoking.

Overall, three of the most common questions asked in relation to the specifics of a tummy tuck procedure are, “Where are incisions placed for a tummy tuck procedure?”, “What are some variations to the common tummy tuck method?” and “What are some of the risks associated with tummy tucks?” Each of these questions is answered above, but no two abdominal regions are exactly alike. Therefore, you need to contact an experienced cosmetic surgeon so that your body can be examined and your solutions can be specifically plotted by your surgeon. This will allow you to have proper expectations and will help you determine if this procedure is right for you.

Tummy Tuck Preparation and Recovery

Two extremely important considerations when it comes to a tummy tuck procedure are the preparation and recovery periods that are a part of any surgery. Specific questions that are most-often asked by patients in regards to these phases of a tummy tuck are, “What steps should I take to prepare for tummy tuck surgery?”, “What can I expect the day of surgery to be like?”, “How will I look and feel immediately following the surgery?”, “When can I pursue my normal activities again?” and “How long can I expect results to last?” Each of these questions is answered below, but for more specific information, you’ll need a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon.

What steps should I take to prepare for tummy tuck surgery?
There are specific steps that need to be taken in preparation for a tummy tuck procedure. Specifically, the doctor will instruct you on what to eat and drink and what vitamins you’ll need in order to be fully prepared for a tummy tuck. If you’re a smoker, you’ll need to stop smoking for at least one and probably two weeks prior to a tummy tuck, as smoking seriously impedes your overall recovery.

What can I expect the day of surgery to be like?
You can expect your day of surgery to seem like a whirlwind. Things will happen fast, and you’ll experience an entirely varied set of emotions. You will feel a combination of fear, happiness, excitement and anticipation, and these are all normal emotions. Your surgery will seem like a nap in most cases, as you’ll be under general anesthesia, and before you know it you’ll be in recovery mode.

How will I look and feel immediately following the surgery?
You will be sore immediately after your surgery, and you should expect that pain to continue for at least a few days. It will be managed with medication, but this is a normal result of any surgery. You will also notice a bit of bloating around your abdomen immediately, but that will also subside over time.

When can I pursue my normal activities again?
Resuming your normal activities will occur in stages. Generally, you should be able to return to work within a couple of weeks, but it will take much longer to get back into your active aspects of your lifestyle. Exercise will help you heal faster and more comfortably, but this should be properly planned and monitored in order to avoid aggravating the incision area.

How long can I expect results to last?

If you live a healthy lifestyle and make sure to eat properly and to maintain a recommended level of exercise, there’s no reason to expect that your results won’t last a lifetime. However, this is entirely up to you.

Overall, examples of questions asked by patients in regards to a tummy tuck include, “What steps should I take to prepare for tummy tuck surgery?”, “What can I expect the day of surgery to be like?”, “How will I look and feel immediately following the surgery?”, “When can I pursue my normal activities again?” and “How long can I expect results to last?” If you’d like specific answers to these questions, please contact a cosmetic surgeon immediately for a full consultation.