| Dr. Daniel Sellers 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", also known as an "Abdominoplasty", is a surgical procedure designed to improve the appearance and function of the abdominal wall. In many patients, liposuction becomes a natural adjunct to the procedure, to contour the waistline into the nicer hourglass shape that is desirable.
Q. What are the benefits of a tummy tuck?
A. A properly performed tummy tuck results in a smaller waistline, shapelier figure, smoother skin, and more pleasing contours of even that part of the abdominal wall below the beltline. Although the procedure does not give one ’stronger’ abs, it tightens the envelope around the abs to make them lie flatter, and gives additional support to the lower back. Many individuals suffer from excess sweating and rashes (termed "intertrigo") along and under overhanging skin, which is eliminated. There is no arguing about the fact that Tummy-tucks give a wonderful boost to the self image, make intimacy more enjoyable, and the simple fact of shedding the associated weight makes exercise easier. One need only talk to another woman (or man) who has had this wonderful body-contouring procedure to realize the benefits.
Q. How is a tummy tuck performed?
A. A tummy-tuck is most safely performed in a hospital or accredited surgical center, with the expert assistance of Board-certified anesthesiologist administering General Anesthesia. An incision along the pubic line, similar to but longer than a C-section incision, is made. The skin and underlying tissue down to the muscle wall is then lifted up all the way to the lower ribs. The navel is circumscribed, and left attached to the muscle wall to be brought out later through a new surgical hole. While the skin is elevated, the abdominal wall fascia is tightened to give the flattening desired. The excess skin is removed from along the pubic incision line as the skin is stretched downward, with the patient flexed at the waist. The wound is closed over small plastic "drains" which remove the excess fluids which might otherwise accumulate under the flap of abdominal skin. Modifications of this basic procedure include "mini-tucks", in which the skin is elevated only to the navel level, and tightened from there down, without disturbing the navel itself. Another modification is a "circumferential abdominoplasty", also called a "body lift" or "belt lipectomy", in which the incision is carried completely around the torso, and via which the back skin is smoothed, and the buttocks and lateral thighs are lifted and smoothed.
Q. How long does tummy tuck surgery take?
A. The basic operation takes anywhere from 2-4 hours, depending on the complexity of the case, the size of the patients, etc. The addition of liposculpting, or the "circumferential" modification, can extend the operating time to 6-8 hours. A "mini-tuck" may only take 1 ½ - 2 ½ hours.
The drains are removed generally in 1-3 weeks; light activities are resumed the next day, and vigorous activity by 4-6 weeks.
Q. Are there risks and complications to a tummy tuck?
A. There are risks to all surgical procedures; the ability to anticipate them, help to prevent them, and to care for them properly is critical if a surgeon is performing cosmetic procedures. One needs to seriously ask themselves if they want a dentist posing as a plastic surgeon to perform such a procedure in his back office! The most common risk of tummy-tucks is that of slow wound healing or actual wound breakdown along the incision line. Rarely is this a major issue, however. Prolonged drainage is a nuisance, but not dangerous. Serious risks include blood clots in the legs, and pulmonary embolus which can be deadly.
Q. How much does a tummy tuck cost?
A. The cost of a Tummy-tuck again varies greatly as the procedure is modified to treat a particular patient properly to get the true desired outcome. One should expect total costs to be $5,000-$15,000, including fees for the hospital and anesthesiologist. Considering the magnitude of this surgery, and that it will most likely be a once-in-a-lifetime expenditure, one should consider costs secondarily, and trust, skill and safety issues foremost.
Q. How long do the results of a tummy tuck last?
A. All procedures performed to tighten the skin will "last" forever; in other words, the patient will never regenerate the lost skin and fat removed. However, skin does age with time, and stretches with weight gain and pregnancy as before. Therefore, attention to "protecting ones investment" by healthy lifestyle choices is certainly prudent to make the results look nice for the longest possible time! Obviously, the age of the patient, and the natural skin quality and elasticity have much to do with the longevity of the results.
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