| Dr. Carl Englebardt 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 is a procedure to remove excess, loose abdominal skin and fat and tighten up the abdominal wall muscles.
Q. What are the benefits of a tummy tuck?
A. The benefits are that it removes excess tissue, defines the waist, and restores a more youthful abdomen that one had before pregnancy. It is particularly valuable for people who have lost a lot of weight and have loose, excess skin and fat, and women who have lost their youthful tummy after having their children.
Q. How is a tummy tuck performed?
A. A tummy tuck is performed in the hospital under general anesthesia and usually requires an overnight stay. It is not covered by insurance. The excess skin and fat is excised, the abdominal wall muscles are tightened, the belly button is relocated. The scar runs from hip to hip along the top of the pubic area and is well hidden by bathing suits and clothing.
Q. Are there risks and complications to a tummy tuck?
A. There are potential complications with any surgery and that includes tummy tuck. The potential complications are bleeding, infection, healing problems, but these rarely occur. More serious complications such as blood clots and pulmonary embolism are very rare but can occur. I do not perform tummy tucks on people who smoke or use tobacco in any fashion. Smoking significantly increases the chances of healing problems as it decreases the circulation in the skin.
Q. What should one expect after the operation?
A. It takes several weeks to a month to fully recover from a tummy tuck. The abdominal tissues are tight and activities requiring use of abdominal muscles will be painful, but the discomfort is easily controlled with oral pain medications.
Q. How much does a tummy tuck cost?
A. The total cost of tummy tuck (surgical fee, hospital and anesthesia fees) is $7000 to $8000 for a simple tummy tuck. Some people require more extensive abdominal surgery, particularly after massive weight loss, and these more extensive operations obviously cost more.
Q. How long do the results of a tummy tuck last?
A. Tummy tucks should last forever unless ones weight changes significantly.
|
