| Dr. Edwin Pound is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Here the Doctor has answered some of the common questions bizymoms visitors have about Tummy Tuck.
Q. What is a Tummy Tuck?
A. A tummy tuck is an operation where excess skin and stretch marks of the stomach area from the belly button down are removed and the stomach muscles are tightened up. The trade-off is that it leaves a scar, which goes hip to hip across the lower part of the abdomen.
Q. What are the benefits of a tummy tuck?
A. Patients like tummy tucks because it gives them a flatter stomach, allows them to wear their clothes more comfortably, and may take some of the strain off their lower back
Q. Who is an ideal candidate for a tummy tuck?
A. The ideal candidate for a tummy tuck is someone with excess skin and stretch marks of the lower abdominal area. This cannot be improved upon with diet or exercise and liposuction of the area will simply leave the patient with more loose hanging skin. The only way to improve this skin is to remove it.
Q. How is a tummy tuck performed?
A. A tummy tuck is performed by making a long incision from hip to hip across the lower abdomen. The incision goes through the skin and underlying fat down to the level of the stomach muscles. The stomach muscles are NOT cut. We then go under the skin and fat up to the level of the chestbone and ribs on each side. When we get to the belly button, we cut around it and leave it attached to the underlying muscles. We go right around it. Once all of the skin is freed up, we can see the stomach muscles. If they are loose, we can tighten them up while we are in there. We then flex the patient at the waist, bring all of the skin down like a big window shade, and remove the excess skin. The skin edges are sewn back together and a hole is made to bring the belly button back out where it is supposed to be. The operation generally takes two and a half to three hours and can be done as an outpatient. After the surgery, the patient is placed in a compression-type garment to wear for three weeks. Routine activity can be done when the patient is able, but more strenuous activity should be delayed for three weeks following the surgery.
Q. Are there risks and complications to a tummy tuck?
A. As with any surgery, there are potential risks and complications with a tummy tuck. The most common ones include the scar that goes from hip to hip and around the belly button. Scars flatten and fade over time but no one can predict the ultimate outcome of a scar. There may also be some numbness of the lower stomach, which may persist for a long time. A more dramatic, although thankfully rare, risk would be loss of skin along the edge of the scar from insufficient blood supply to this area. This is a greater risk in smokers but can happen with anyone.
Q. What should one expect after the operation?
A. After healing is complete, the patient should expect a flatter stomach and a better ability to fit clothes.
Q. How much does a tummy tuck cost?
A. Prices may vary among plastic surgeons and regions of the country. One should always be careful not to choose a surgeon based on prices alone. A low price may be compensation for lack of experience, training, or certification.
|
