| Dr. Lisa Peters 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 that is designed to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen and, at the same time, tighten the abdominal muscles. The surgery is particularly helpful for men and women who, through episodes of weight gain and loss or pregnancy, have stretched their abdominal muscles and skin. A tummy tuck can dramatically reduce the appearance of a protruding abdomen and can narrow the waistline.
Q. How is a tummy tuck performed?
A. An incision is created along the lowest portion of the abdomen, similar to the location of a c-section scar, which extends from hip to hip. The skin and fat of the abdomen is then lifted off the underlying muscles and sutures are used to tighten the muscles (this results in a flatter stomach as if you’re sucking in your stomach all the time only you don’t have to think about it). The excess skin and fat is then removed from the lower abdomen. In most patients, I am able to remove all the skin and fat between the scar and the belly button. The remaining skin is then stretched to cover the whole abdomen and the belly button is reattached to the tighter surrounding skin.
Q. How long does tummy tuck surgery take?
A. About 2 ½ hours.
Q. Are there risks and complications to a tummy tuck?
A. With any surgery there are risks involved. The most common risks in this procedure would be bleeding, infection, wound-healing problems, fluid accumulation under the skin, or wide scars.
Q. What should one expect after the operation?
A. Following surgery, the patient is fitted in a snug abdominal binder to minimize bruising and swelling and to help support the area during healing. Drainage tubes are left in place for 1-2 weeks to help prevent fluid from accumulating under the skin. Most patients go home the same day of surgery, but some prefer to spend a night or two in the hospital. Patients usually take 1-2 weeks off work to recover from surgery. The scar fades over the 12 months following surgery and, although it will not disappear completely, it will be covered by most clothing and bathing suits
Q. How much does a tummy tuck cost?
A. The cost of surgery will vary depending on where the procedure is performed and whether an overnight stay in a hospital is desired. As an outpatient, the average cost is about $7000.
Q. How long do the results of a tummy tuck last?
A. There is no definitive answer to the question of longevity with any cosmetic surgery. The excess skin and fat is permanently removed with a tummy tuck and should not recur unless there are future pregnancies or a significant change in the patient’s weight. As part of the normal healing process, there is a little loosening of the skin of the abdomen, but this is not significant enough to require re-operation for most patients. With time, the muscles that have been tightened may stretch resulting in a slightly less tight abdomen, but again, this is not a common concern for patients. The bottom line is that a tummy tuck may be repeated as many times as desired, but there are very few patients who are in need of a second tummy tuck.
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