| Dr. Amy Wandel 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 a procedure performed to recontour the abdomen. It is most commonly performed in women who have lost weight or had pregnancies that have left their abdominal wall loose with lax skin. The procedure removes the excess skin and also tightens their muscle wall so they have a flat abdomen again.
Q. What are the benefits of a tummy tuck?
A. Most women are very happy with the youthful, flat look they achieve after this procedure. Some women report a reduction in back pain and also improved continence of urine, but there are no studies that have studied these areas after tummy tuck.
Q. Is anesthesia used during the tummy tuck procedure?
A. The tummy tuck is performed as an out patient procedure under anesthesia. Most patients prefer a general anesthesia but the procedure can be performed under what is commonly called "twilight sleep". The choice of anesthesia is made after discussion with the patient and the anesthesiologist.
Q. Are there risks and complications to a tummy tuck?
A. The risks with tummy tuck are the same as for any surgical procedure. There are involved with this procedure some of the most common reported risks which are: infection at the incision site, healing problems (especially in smokers), deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolis, re-operation for infection or bleeding, and dissatisfaction with the cosmetic result. It is of utmost importance that the patient discuses their risks with their surgeon. My job as the surgeon is to do every thing I can to prevent these problems from occurring.
Q. What should one expect after the operation?
A. The recovery from a tummy tuck is variable from patient to patient, but most have pain for which they will need medication for about 3-4 weeks after surgery. The incision takes is usually covered for 24-48hrs and then the patient can shower. Activities are limited and every plastic surgeon has his own regimen for post operative activities. My regimen is: Walking only for the first week- no lifting. Second week -the patient can lift a carton of milk but nothing heavier. The patient can increase their walking distance but no running or impact sports. Third week -the patient can start to introduce exercise as tolerated with the limitation they cannot lift more then 10#. They can ride an exercise bike or walk on a treadmill or elliptical. Four weeks- slowly advance the activities done in week three may include swimming if the incision looks good. Sixth week -the patient can start doing impact sports such as running. Also may start increasing the weight lifted and may start doing abdominal crunch but not sit ups. Could restart pilates. The patient is told to "listen to their body" through out their recovery and if something hurts they are
instructed to refrain from that activity. I use drains after surgery and these usually stay in for the first week, so this also limits what the patient can do and I have them wear a compressive garment (like a girdle) for 6 weeks- the first two weeks they wear it all the time even when they sleep. The third through the 6th week they wear it when they are up and about. They may remove it for sleep.
Q. How long do the results of a tummy tuck last?
A. It is difficult to say how long the results of any surgery will last. For tummy tucks, the results will last quite a while as long as the patient maintains a healthy exercise and diet program and does not gain a lot of weight or become pregnant.
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