Houston Tummy Tuck Before and After A tummy tuck procedure is one of the most popular surgeries that our patients request. It’s a great way to get rid of loose skin after pregnancy and childbirth, but it can also be used to tighten up the abdomen from a variety of causes.
Our Houston-area surgeons will work with you and your goals to develop an individualized approach that fits your specific needs. From there, we’ll design a treatment plan for you based on your budget and expectations. In this blog post, we’re going to talk about what happens during a tummy tuck surgery, what results you can expect, and how long they last.
Read on to learn more about Houston Tummy Tuck Before And After
Houston Tummy Tuck Before And After
Abdominoplasty is our transformational Houston tummy tuck procedure at The Clinic for Plastic Surgery. With a tummy tuck, we enhance the abdominal contours and remove excess skin. We shape the midsection by drawing the muscles taut and frequently employ liposuction for the finishing touches. Your body’s contours can be sculpted to highlight your most appealing features. ON the clinic’s beloved blog, we do a deep dive on abdominoplasty and our other procedures to sculpt your silhouette.
TIGHTEN YOUR CONTOURS WITH ABDOMINOPLASTY
A highly customizable procedure, your tummy tuck will be completely tailored to meet your unique needs and cosmetic objectives. The most common type of tummy tuck Dr. Sukkar performs is called the traditional tummy tuck.
Performed under general anesthesia, it involves the largest incisions, which extend from hip-to-hip and involve a detour around the belly button. The traditional tummy tuck produces the most dramatic results. The tummy tuck allows us to remove unwanted fat and excess skin from the entire abdomen. It also gives him the opportunity to tighten and firm the underlying muscles. Because it’s an involved procedure, the traditional tummy tuck is ideal for patients who need to address a substantial amount of excess volume on both the upper and lower abdomen.Don’t let sagging skin and excess fat around your midsection cause you to feel self-conscious about your body.
BENEFITS
Even the abbreviated versions of abdominoplasty don’t negate the fact that it is an extensive surgery capable of life-changing transformations.
fact, many tummy tuck patients have already been through a transcendent ordeal, like massive weight loss of 100 lbs or more. Many women investigate abdominoplasty to repair the damage that childbearing and rearing can do to the body. A tummy tuck will tighten your midsection, including overstretched and damaged muscle tissue, if need be. Tighter stomach muscles can improve an individual’s posture because a taut abdomen better supports the spine.
QUALIFIED CANDIDATES
A tummy tuck will enhance your body’s symmetry while reshaping the contours of your life, but the procedure is not for everybody.
Qualified candidates for body sculpting surgery are men and women with loose abdominal skin and muscles due to massive weight loss or pregnancy. Tummy tuck patients should be in good health, close to their ideal body weight and have realistic expectations of the surgery. At your confidential consultation, our team shall determine your eligibility for abdominoplasty while he crafts your personalized aesthetic treatment plan.
How A Tummy Tuck Is Performed
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is cosmetic surgery to improve the shape of the tummy area (abdomen).
It can involve removing excess loose skin, fat and stretch marks and tightening the abdominal muscles.
The aim is to remove excess skin on the tummy that cannot be removed through exercise – for example, excess skin caused by pregnancy or losing a lot of weight.
It’s not a quick fix for losing weight as the procedure is usually only recommended for people with a healthy body mass index (BMI).
An abdominoplasty is regarded as cosmetic surgery, so it is not usually available on the NHS.
If you’re thinking of going ahead, make sure you’re aware of the cost and the fact that it’s major surgery, with risks to consider. Take time to reflect on your decision. It may help to read “Is cosmetic surgery right for me?”
How much does it cost?
It costs about £4,500 to £6,000 to have an abdominoplasty in the UK, plus the cost of any consultations or follow-up care.
Where do I go?
If you’re looking in England, check the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website for treatment centres that can perform abdominoplasty.
All independent clinics and hospitals that provide cosmetic surgery in England must be registered with the CQC, which publishes inspection reports and performance ratings to help people choose care.
You should also research the surgeon who is going to do your surgery. All doctors must, as a minimum, be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). Check the register to see the doctor’s fitness to practise history.
You may also want to find out:
- how many operations they’ve performed where there have been complications
- what sort of follow-up you should expect if things go wrong
- their own patient satisfaction rates
What does it involve?
There are 2 types of abdominoplasty, and both are usually done under a general anaesthetic.
A partial abdominoplasty involves:
- making a large cut (incision) across the lower tummy
- separating the skin from the abdominal wall below the belly button
- removing excess fat and skin
- pulling together the remaining skin and stitching it in place
A full abdominoplasty involves:
- making a large incision across the lower tummy, from hip to hip, just above the pubic area
- making a second incision to free the belly button from the tissue that surrounds it
- separating the skin from the abdominal wall
- realigning the abdominal muscles
- removing excess fat and skin
- cutting a new hole for the belly button and stitching this back in place
- pulling together the remaining skin and stitching it in place
The operation can take between 2 and 5 hours. Most people need to stay in hospital for a few nights.
You will probably be in some pain after you wake up from the general anaesthetic. Painkilling medicine can be provided if needed.
You will leave hospital with dressings and a pressure garment (corset) on your tummy, or tummy-control pants. Someone will need to drive you home and stay with you for the following 24 hours.
Recovery
You will need to take about 4 to 6 weeks off work and exercise. You will not be able to drive for a few weeks after the operation (your surgeon and insurance company can advise you about this).
It takes about 6 weeks to fully recover and to see the full effect of a tummy tuck.
You’ll usually need to wear a special type of corset or tummy-control pants for 6 weeks, to encourage your skin to heal properly and to reduce any swelling. Generally, you’ll need to take it easy during this time and keep your knees bent while in bed, to avoid putting strain on your stitches.
After a few weeks you will probably be asked to attend a follow-up appointment to make sure the wound is healing properly.
After 6 weeks you will usually be able to stop wearing a corset and may return to doing most of your usually activities.
Side effects to expect
You will be left with a scar running across your lower tummy and, if you had a full abdominoplasty, a scar around your belly button.
It’s also common after an abdominoplasty to:
- find it difficult to stand up straight – it may feel like your tummy is being pulled (this will improve over time)
- have pain and bruising
- feel numbness in your tummy for a few months to years
- have a temporary fluid-filled swelling above the scar
- have red, raised scars in the first 6 weeks which eventually fade
What could go wrong
Abdominoplasty can occasionally result in:
- thick, obvious scars developing
- bulges under the skin
- “dog ears” (extra skin) at the edges of the scar
- wounds failing to heal
- a collection of fluid in the area that was operated on
- a collection of blood underneath the skin (haematoma)
- numbness or pain in the tummy or down the leg
- tummy cramps or pain
- breathing problems
Any type of operation also carries a small risk of:
- excessive bleeding
- developing a blood clot in a vein
- infection
- an allergic reaction to the anaesthetic (very rare)
The surgeon should explain how likely these risks and complications are, and how they would be treated if they happened.
Occasionally, people find the desired effect was not achieved and feel they need another operation.
What to do if you have problems
Cosmetic surgery can sometimes go wrong and the results may not be what you expected.
You should contact the clinic where the operation was done as soon as possible if you have severe pain or any unexpected symptoms.
If you have abdominoplasty and are not happy with the results, or you think the procedure was not done properly, you should take up the matter with the surgeon who treated you.
If you have concerns about your care, you should contact the CQC.
Who should not have it?
Abdominoplasty is not a procedure for someone who is overweight. If you’re overweight, find out how to lose weight safely and effectively.
If you’re not overweight but would like to tone up a flabby tummy, you may like to try the 10-minute home toning workout and 10-minute abs workout.