What Is

What is Abdominoplasty?

Abdominoplasty, more commonly known as a “tummy tuck,” removes excess fat and skin from the abdomen and tightens the abdominal wall muscles. Abdominoplasty surgery helps achieve a flatter and more-toned abdomen and a slimmer overall appearance. Clothing fits better and confidence skyrockets, helping you feel more comfortable in your appearance.

Ideal Candidate

Am I an Ideal Candidate?

The individuals best suited for an abdominoplasty have pockets of fat or loose skin that haven’t responded well to diet and exercise.

  • Individuals who have lost weight or have excess skin from aging can experience a dramatic improvement in their abdominal area.
  • Women with stretched or pooched abdominal areas due to previous pregnancies can also benefit considerably from abdominoplasty, although they should have completed their childbearing.
  • Thinner patients who exercise frequently and have little fat but are looking to eliminate a protruding abdomen.

Benefits

Benefits of a Tummy Tuck

The size of a person’s waistline influences various aspects of their overall health. For many, a tummy tuck offers health benefits that outweigh the cosmetic.

Here are a few examples of just some abdominoplasty benefits:

Strengthen Your Core

An abdominoplasty can aid in restoring a weakened core, strengthen abdominal muscles, and improve overall flexibility. Stronger abdominal muscles can even relieve lower back pain and improve posture.

Increase Exercise Tolerance

Removing excess skin and strengthening the abdominal muscles can make exercise easier. Not only is it less taxing on the body by removing the weight of extra skin, but it also boosts your confidence at the gym. It’s not uncommon for a tummy tuck to lead to a more dedicated exercise regimen.

Minimize The Risks For Certain Medical Conditions

Removing excess skin and fat can help lower your risk of encountering diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, gallbladder disease, gallstones, and more.

Improve Bodily Function Control

Growing older, experiencing pregnancy, and losing a large amount of weight are all common parts of life that can leave you with reduced bladder and/or bowel function. By removing extra fat and skin around the tummy, these problems often improve naturally.

Prevent Hernias

When you strengthen your abdominal muscles, you avoid unnecessary stress on the stomach muscles that could lead to ventral hernias.

Relieve Urinary Incontinence

Removing excess skin and fat can help lower your risk of encountering diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, gallbladder disease, gallstones, and more.

What To Expect

What to Expect Before & After Surgery

During Your Consultation

Schedule your 45-minute consultation – be ready to discuss your patient history, desired outcomes, and any questions/concerns. Make your surgery appointment. Prepare for your procedure – follow all instructions given by the provider during your consultation.

Pre-Operation

  • Pre-operative visit – one week before surgery you will meet with Dr. Vega’s staff
  • Prep for surgery – you may be given prescriptions to fill and/or we may take “before” photos
  • Discuss concerns – as always, Dr. Vega will answer any questions so you feel at-ease as your surgery approaches

Surgery

  • Arrive early – check in and prepare for your procedure
  • After surgery – expect to remain in the recovery room for several hours following completion of the surgery
  • Once you get home – start taking your pain medication and antibiotics, and limit your activity for at least the next 24 hours

Final Preparation

  • Day before surgery – Confirm the arrangements for your procedure (including transportation) and prepare your home for a relaxing and comfortable recovery
  • Day of surgery – You will meet with Dr. Vega again to review your procedure with you and perform an exam to confirm that you’re in good health for your surgery

Recovery

  • Follow-up appointments – we will schedule follow-ups as necessary throughout your recovery
  • Meet with Dr. Vega – he will assess your healing, remove or change dressings, and document your results. Based on your progress, he will also let you know when you can expect to resume normal activities

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Recovery Period Like?

A abdominoplasty is an invasive procedure, which means there is a long recovery period, usually around 8-12 weeks. The recovery will depend on the type of tummy tuck, your age, postsurgical care, and your general health pre-surgery.

Will It Leave a Scar?

A tummy tuck will leave a permanent scar between the hips and low on the abdomen, although it is usually very low and easy to cover with a swimsuit or underwear.

How Soon Will I See Results?

It will take a few months for full results to show. In the first few weeks after surgery, there is often swelling and bruising that takes about 4 weeks to recede. It’s reasonable to expect 90% of the swelling will be gone after three months, but it may take longer to completely resolve so you can see your final results.

When Can I Resume Normal Activities?

How soon a person can return to their normal activities will vary. We typically recommend up to 2 to 3 weeks for tasks such as cooking, driving, and shopping. However, it will often be around 2 to 4 weeks until you’re able to return to work.

Can I Get A Tummy Tuck Before Having Children?

While there aren’t any major risks associated with becoming pregnant and having children after an abdominoplasty, we do typically recommend that interested patients wait to have the surgery until after they’re done having kids. This helps ensure that results after the procedure are maintained and not compromised by the bodily changes that often take place during and after pregnancy.

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