Getting to your goal weight is a great feeling—when you’ve been unhappy with your appearance, reaching your goals can boost your confidence. But when you lose weight and still have excess skin and tissue, a tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, can be a great option! This procedure with U Plastic Surgery + Aesthetics can give you the sculpted midsection you want. Before starting your cosmetic journey, knowing what to expect from a tummy tuck is essential.
Tummy tucks are one of the country’s most popular cosmetic procedures and with good reason. A successful tummy tuck can remove excess skin and tighten lax muscles that may cause a bulge in the stomach area after pregnancy, known as diastasis recti, but there are many more mental and physical benefits. Let’s explore this exciting option and what you can expect!
Types of Tummy Tuck
The first step in the tummy tuck process is to decide which type is best for you. The three types of tuck are:
Mini: a mini tummy tuck targets the skin around and below the belly button to remove excess fat and tissue and reduce any bulge in the lower abdomen. This tuck doesn’t always repair the muscles and typically leaves a scar slightly longer than a c-section.
Traditional: during a traditional tummy tuck, we’ll repair the abdominal muscles that stretch during pregnancy or weight fluctuations and remove any excess skin and tissue. A traditional tummy tuck scar will be from hip to hip below the bikini line. You’ll also have a scar around your belly button where we relocate it during the procedure. We often combine this type of tuck with liposuction—more on that in just a moment.
Extended: this type of tummy tuck is a great option if you’ve lost a significant amount of weight and want the best results. During an extended tummy tuck, we’ll remove excess skin from your abdomen, hips, and possibly thighs and back and repair and tone the muscles. The remaining scar will run from hip to hip and possibly up the midline of the abdomen, like an upside-down “T.” Your plan for an extended Tummy Tuck depends on how much loose skin and where and what your ultimate goals are.
The Best Time for a Tummy Tuck
You’ll want to consider a few things before scheduling your tummy tuck. First, you should maintain a stable, healthy weight. Losing more weight after the procedure can result in more loose skin, negating your initial results. It’s also important to quit nicotine before your tummy tuck. This chemical slows down blood circulation, impacting your healing process and final results.
While it’s entirely a personal choice when you have any cosmetic procedure, we recommend waiting until you’re done having children to pursue a tummy tuck. Additional pregnancies after the procedure can have the same results as gaining weight, and we want to help you get the best results that last.
Tummy Tucks Aren’t a Quick Fix for Weight Loss
Trying to get to your goal weight can feel frustrating, but a tummy tuck isn’t a quick fix to lose weight. While some people may lose a few pounds after the procedure, a tummy tuck isn’t weight loss surgery—instead, think of it as a body contouring procedure. Once you reach your goal weight or within 10-15lbs, a tummy tuck can help you shape up your body to get the look you want.
Tummy Tucks and Liposuction Make a Great Team
Tummy Tucks and Liposuction Make a Great TeamDon’t be surprised if your plastic surgeon recommends liposuction in conjunction with your tummy tuck. This fat-removing procedure is great to help sculpt and shape your waist and love handles.
During a tummy tuck, we pull down the skin of the upper abdomen, which can create a slight bulge at the hips or a lack of definition. To give you the best results, we pair a tummy tuck with liposuction to eliminate these issues from the start and give you stunning results. We also perform liposculpting to highlight your natural contours.
Recovering from a Tummy Tuck
Most tummy tucks are outpatient procedures, meaning you’ll go home after you wake up and get settled. You’ll need to arrange for someone to bring you to the hospital, stay during surgery, and take you home after. It’s also a great idea to have them stay with you for up to a week while you recover. Your body needs plenty of time to heal after surgery, so having someone to help you as much as possible goes a long way. You’ll need to avoid lifting more than 10 pounds for four to six weeks following surgery.
Find the Right Doctor
When it comes to having surgery, you want to make sure you do your research on the provider you choose. First, make sure your surgeon is board-certified. This will guarantee they’ve undergone extensive education and testing to ensure they can provide the best care and results. You’ll also want to ask about their approach to surgery and patient care—these things should be non-negotiable regarding quality and proficiency.
Dr. Tag at U Plastic Surgery +Aesthetics in Owings Mills has these qualifications and more. As your Owings Mills board-certified, award-winning plastic surgeon, Dr. Tag can walk you through every step of the tummy tuck process. At your initial consultation, we’ll discuss your options and create a one-of-a-kind treatment plan that achieves your unique goals.
Schedule a Tummy Tuck with U Plastic Surgery + Aesthetics
Schedule a Tummy Tuck with U Plastic Surgery + AestheticsNow that you know what to expect from a tummy tuck, you’re one step closer to getting the body you want! Contact our Owings Mills office to schedule your consultation with Dr. Tag.