Pregnancy, age, and obesity can all contribute to excess abdominal skin and fat. In some cases, this excess skin can hang over the pubic area, putting you at risk of rashes, sores, and infections and effectively damaging your self-esteem. A surgeon experienced in tummy tuck – like Drs. Marc Soares and Julio Soares at the Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery in Santa Barbara, California – can remove this excess baggage and restore your self-confidence in a single surgical procedure. To find out if you’re a candidate, contact the Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery today.
Tummy tuck, also called abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure performed to remove excess fat and skin from the abdomen and tighten the remaining skin and muscles. A tummy tuck can help patients achieve a smooth, tight abdomen after significant weight loss, pregnancy, or changes related to aging.
Abdominoplasty is an invasive procedure available only to patients who are in optimal physical health. To be eligible for abdominoplasty, you must:
If you meet these criteria and have loose, excess skin in the abdomen, you may be a good candidate for the procedure.
Most patients wait until they’re done having children and doing losing weight to schedule their abdominoplasty surgery. This limits the risk of needing a repeat operation later.
Recovery from abdominoplasty is similar to recovery from other invasive surgeries. When you leave the hospital, you may be experiencing severe fatigue as well as nausea and mild confusion as a result of the anesthesia used during surgery. Many patients leave with drains to allow fluid to drain from the surgical site.
You should walk slowly three to four times daily but avoid physical activity until your doctor releases you from restrictions. You’ll also receive a girdle to wear for the first several weeks after surgery; this is important in promoting healing and preventing complications.
You’ll be sedated during the procedure and will not experience pain, but you can expect some pain during recovery. Patient experiences vary from slight discomfort to intense pain, all of which can be kept under control with the right combination of over-the-counter and prescription medications.
Depending on the kind of work you do and your progress during the recovery period, you may return to work between two and four weeks post-op. It’s important that you wait for your doctor’s permission before returning to work.
