| Dr. Philip Humber 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. Men should be thankful everyday that they will never be expected to look good in a bikini. They will never experience pregnancy and will never have stretch marks. They will never go through menopause nor experience a hot flash. Unlike women, most men will never experience a sudden, dramatic change in their bodies.
Pregnancy leads to three basic changes to a woman's figure: her skin is not as tight, her muscle tone is not as good, and there is often increased fat deposition in the lower abdomen and flank area. For most women, these changes are fairly minimal and can be improved with proper diet and exercise. For those with reasonable skin and muscle tone but with increased fat, liposuction may provide a simple solution. For some women, however, the damage is more severe. Skin and muscle can be stretched beyond its ability to be toned. They may be left with loose inelastic skin that may even hang like an apron. Abdominal muscle may have split to accommodate the pregnancy creating what we call a diastasis. A diastasis cannot be corrected by exercise because there is no longer any central abdominal muscle to tone.
A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is the surgical procedure done to correct the damage to the abdomen caused by pregnancy. There are mini tummy tucks, standard and extended tummy tucks, and total body lifts. The type of tummy tuck performed is based on the severity of the deformity and the patient's desires.
Q. What are the benefits of a tummy tuck?
A. Many people think that the typical tummy tuck patient is a woman whose idea of exercise is eating potato chips on the couch, while watching an exercise video. This could not be further from the truth. My typical tummy tuck patient has tried hard to regain her prepregnancy figure. She exercises regularly and eats sensibly, but she has become frustrated that she is not seeing the results she expects. A tummy tuck does what exercise and diet cannot do. It removes excess skin; repairs damaged muscle, and contours excess fat.
It is important to consider what a tummy tuck will not do. It is not a weight reduction technique. Most women experience very little weight loss following the procedure. A tummy tuck is also not a substitute for a sensible diet and exercise. A woman must continue a sensible diet and exercise program following a tummy tuck if she expects to maintain the improvements.
Q. How is a tummy tuck performed?
A. The three components of most tummy tucks are removal of the excess skin, tightening of the muscle, and contouring of excess fat. The amount of skin and fat removal, and the degree of muscle tightening will vary considerably from patient to patient, and these considerations will affect the length of the incision as well as the length of recovery.
All tummy tucks leave a scar. This scar is always in the lower abdomen, usually just above the pubic area. It may be as short as six inches, and can, at times, extend all the way around to the back. Most tummy tucks also leave a scar around the belly button, as well. These scars are permanent, but in most patients fade to a very faint, thin scar in a year or so. I perform all of my tummy tucks under general anesthesia, although some plastic surgeons may use only sedation.
Q. How long does tummy tuck surgery take?
A. A standard abdominoplasty takes me about two and 1/2 hours. However, since I am often doing some liposuction to the abdomen and back, this may add an hour or more to the operative time.
Q. Are there risks and complications to a tummy tuck?
A. I don't think I have ever had a patient tell me a tummy tuck turned out to be a lot easier than she expected. Most patients find it to be major surgery with an extended recovery. I'm frequently asked how the recovery from a tummy tuck compares to the recovery from a C-section. I tell patients they can expect the same type of pain as a C-section, but it is likely to be more severe. They can expect a longer recovery than with a C-section. Most patients feel 75% back to normal in two to three weeks, but it is often two to three months before tummy tuck patients feel entirely back to normal.
As with any major surgery, potentially serious complications can occur with a tummy tuck. Infection, bleeding, blood clots, poor scarring and pneumonia can occur after tummy tucks. The risk of death from cosmetic surgery is very low, but tummy tuck surgery carries the highest risk of death of any cosmetic procedure. The risk of complications is considerably higher in the obese (body mass index 30 or greater), patients with preexisting medical problems, and patients who smoke. It is always a good idea to discuss your health with your regular doctor before any major elective surgery to be sure you are in the best shape for surgery.
Q. How much does a tummy tuck cost?
A. The cost of a tummy tuck includes the surgeon's fee, the facility fee, and the anesthesia. Prices are going to vary based on the extent of the planned surgery, whether a general anesthetic is used, whether the procedure is performed in a surgicenter or hospital, and whether nursing care will be required for the first few days after the procedure. The average cost of a standard tummy tuck in my practice if all of the above is included is about $10,000.
Q. How long do the results of a tummy tuck last?
A. The results of a tummy tuck are long lasting if the patient maintains a healthy lifestyle. Significant weight fluctuations and lack of exercise will cause relaxation of the tummy tuck. A woman should not have a tummy tuck until she is as sure as she can be that she is through having children. Further pregnancies can do significant damage to the abdomen after a tummy tuck.
A tummy tuck is certainly not a procedure that most women need or would ever consider. However, for the woman who is not comfortable in a bathing suit and who feels she is always dressing to camouflage her abdomen, a tummy tuck can produce a wonderful result and a very happy patient.
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