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What is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck can assist you in attaining a smooth, toned abdomen regardless your stomach is drooping or bulging due to getting older, childbirth and diastasis recti, weight reduction, or previous procedures. An incision will be created laterally across your belly between the navel and the pubic area during the surgery. An additional incision surrounding the navel is essential if the skin is being excised from the upper abdomen. The abdominal muscles are restored and remodelled after the extra skin is eliminated. After that, the skin of the abdomen is repositioned, extra skin is cut away, and the surgical site is sealed. Based on how much skin is excised after a tummy tuck, a new place for your belly button may be made. The outcome is a core that is flatter, stronger, and more sculpted. During your visits with your cosmetic surgeon, he or she will go over the specific steps in your tummy tuck. Liposuction surgery may also be discussed if you have additional fat in other areas of the body.
Types of Tummy Tucks
Traditional Tummy Tuck
Patients with a loose upper and lower belly area might consider a traditional abdominoplasty. Skin loosening and muscle weakening are common symptoms of those who opt for the traditional tummy tuck. In a typical procedure, two incisions are made: one below the navel within the pubic area and the other around the belly button. Sutures are utilized to tighten the muscles and remove excess skin.
Extended Tummy Tuck
An extended tummy tuck is exclusively for those who have lost a lot of weight and have additional skin folds on their stomach. To achieve the best outcomes, this technique can be combined with post-bariatric figure contouring operations. A lengthier incision is required for the extended procedure, which runs over the hips, down the pubic area, and potentially onto the back. This incision will be used by your plastic surgeon to eliminate superfluous skin and improve your body form
Mini Tummy Tuck
It’s important to remember that although surgery is an option that can improve your physique and help sculpt your body, there will never be a substitute for the power of proper strength training. There are a number of easy routines and even diastasis recti exercises that you can use to gain strength and sculpt your body whether you’re recovering from injury, a pregnancy, or from years of neglectful healthcare routines.
What Is the Recovery Time After a Tummy Tuck?
After your tummy tuck, you will have a significant amount of bruising, tenderness, and swelling. Putting on a compression garment during your recovery will assist to reduce edema and improve your outcomes. However, within two to four weeks, you will be able to return to light activity, and in a little over a month, you can resume your usual exercise regime.
Your surgeon will provide you with detailed instructions on how to recuperate at home. These guidelines will include the following
-what you should eat
-how much rest you will need to recover
-the length of time to wear the compression garment
-follow-up appointments with the surgeon
-what to abstain from the next six weeks as far as physical activity that will harm your incision line
-what to look out for in regards to infection or your general health
-the best way to care for your incision site and drainage tubes
However, for the first couple of days after your operation, you’ll need someone to drive you home from the healthcare facility and assist you with your care. After removing your drainage tubes, you can shower two days later. Until you are able to shower, you may wish to take a sponge bath. When showering for an extended period of time, you may be advised to sit in a chair.
Antibiotics and perhaps anticoagulants will be prescribed. You may be prescribed a topical medicine to apply to your skin. Follow the directions on any pain medicine you’re taking. You should only take aspirin-containing medications if your doctor has prescribed it.
If you’re on pain medication, you should refrain from drinking alcohol and any type of nicotine for a little over a month. Smoking might slow down the recovery process and increase the risk of complications.
Are There Any Potential Side Effects?
The majority of the severe pain will occur in the days after your procedure. As stated earlier, you can take pain medication to help you manage the pain you’re likely to feel. Keep in mind that it’s possible that you’ll be swollen for up to three months following the procedure.
If you attempt to stand upright, your belly may feel like it’s being tugged. For months or even years, you may experience numbness in your stomach. The presence of bruises in the abdomen area is common. A fluid-filled bulge may appear above the scar, but it will subside. Your scar may also appear red and elevated at first, but it will fade over time.
Bottom Line
There’s a lot to think about when it comes to tummy tuck surgery and the healing process, but it’s all doable and tolerable. So all you have to do is think about and plan for all facets of the healing process, including the timeline.
It’ll take time, so concentrate on getting better every day as you work toward your ultimate objective of complete recovery. If you have any questions or concerns, make an appointment with a top tummy tuck surgeon in Houston.
