An Interview with Dr. Terry Zimmerman on Tummy Tuck
Dr. Terry Zimmerman 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 Tummy Tuck, also called an abdominoplasty, is an operation to reduce the distention of the abdominal wall caused by the muscle weakness and separation seen with weight gain and pregnancy, and to tighten the abdominal wall skin by removing excess fat and skin
Q. How is a tummy tuck performed?
I perform a tummy tuck in my office as an out patient surgery where the patient goes home the same day. It is performed under anesthesia, and a pain pump is available for post-operative pain control for patients that desire it. The surgey can be combined with other procedures such as a breast procedure or liposuction.
Q. How long does tummy tuck surgery take?
The actual procedure ranges from three to five hours depending on the amount of fat and skin to be removed and whether liposuction is also being performed.
Q. Are there risks and complications to a tummy tuck?
Every surgical procedure has potential risks. Those particular to a tummy tuck include, but are not limited to infection, bleeding, scarring, skin dying, numbnes of the abdominal wall, and clots in the legs. Precautions are taken to minimize the incidence of any of these potential complications.
Q. What should one expect after the operation?
I have ny patients take a full two weeks off from work to allow themselves to recover. The first two to three days after surgery are the hardest, and the pain pump greatly helps to deminish that initial pain. After six weeks I allow my patients to resume excersising and sports. The scar is not fully faded for at least nine to twelve months, but is designed to be below the panty or bathing suit line.
Q. How much does a tummy tuck cost?
The costs of a tummy tuck varies in my office depending on whether additional liposuction is required.
Q. How long do the results of a tummy tuck last?
The results of a tummy tuck will last for the rest of one' s life provided that they do not get pregnant again or put on a substantial amount of weight. There will alwys be some laxity of the skin which will occur over the years but there will be no forces to stretch out the abdominal muscles if substantial weight gain and pregnancy does not occur.
