What You Should Know Before Getting a Tummy Tuck

When it comes to reshaping your midsection, diet and exercise only go so far. Patients whose abdomens have lost their tight, lean look after pregnancy or weight fluctuations often seek non-surgical body contouring solutions to restore their midsection. However, those options don’t target excess skin. But a tummy tuck can.

At Legacy Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics, our award-winning, board-certified plastic surgeons restore the toned, sculpted shape to your abdomen that may have softened due to age, genetics, or everyday life. 

Patients local to Exton, PA, and beyond all seek the expertise of Dr. Kim and Dr. Wingate in restoring their appearance.

Solid and shapely stomachs will always be in style. If you’ve been thinking about tummy tuck procedures, there are some things you should know. 

A Tummy Tuck Is an Effective Solution for Excess Skin

An abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, targets excess skin and separated stomach muscles (diastasis recti) and reduces fat. Patients can have abdominal liposuction without having an abdominoplasty, but liposuction alone won’t address excess skin or diastasis recti.

A tummy tuck is one of the best ways to rid the abdomen of excess loose, sagging skin and stretch marks. 

There Are Several Types of Abdominoplasty

Tummy tuck procedures tend to fall into three types: mini, full, or extended tummy tucks. Choosing the right tummy tuck to meet your goals is best determined when consulting with one of our talented plastic surgeons. 

Mini Tummy Tuck

A mini-abdominoplasty targets the navel and below. This procedure does not repair separated abdominal muscles; it focuses on removing excess skin and fat in the lower abdomen. 

Traditional or Full Tummy Tuck

Traditional abdominoplasty is the type most patients are familiar with. This procedure repairs abdominal muscles that have been stretched during pregnancy or weight fluctuations and removes excess tissue. It may include liposuction.

Extended Tummy Tuck

Patients who have lost a significant amount of weight may choose an extended abdominoplasty, which repairs muscles in the back, flanks, and abdomen and removes excess skin from the waist, hips, thighs, and back. Extended tummy tucks offer the most dramatic results. 

Tummy Tuck Patients Should Be Close to Their Goal Weight

While tummy tuck procedures offer patients a flatter stomach, tighter skin and muscles, and a shapely waist, the surgery isn’t intended for weight loss. Patients who see the best results from their tummy tuck procedure have excess fat or sagging skin in the abdomen alone, not throughout their bodies. 

Patients who benefit most from a tummy tuck are mothers whose skin and muscles have been stretched from pregnancy and men or women who have lost a significant amount of weight and have excess skin.

Patients seeking surgery that focuses on weight loss may benefit from a lap band or gastric bypass procedure before pursuing a tummy tuck.

A Tummy Tuck Has Non-Cosmetic Benefits, Too

Patients whose abdominal muscles are separated either wholly or partially due to pregnancy or weight fluctuations may experience lower back pain, poor posture, constipation, stress incontinence, and bloating due to diastasis recti. 

When the abdomen muscles are surgically corrected in a tummy tuck, the soft tissues that support the bladder and pelvic floor are restored. As a result, many of the side effects of diastasis recti resolve, and patients may experience a stronger core, better posture, and less back pain.

You Can Take Steps To Speed Your Recovery

Patients who undergo a tummy tuck should plan on taking up to two weeks off of work to recover and can expect to completely return to physical activities about six weeks after their surgery. Your body can recover stronger and faster by eating with your healing in mind, moving, and resting properly.

Eat Healing Foods

You can aid your recovery by eating healthy, high-protein foods like fish, chicken, and eggs to provide your body with the energy it needs to help the healing process. Additionally, you can fuel your immune system with foods high in fiber and probiotics, like yogurt and granola. 

Get up and Move

Moving after a tummy tuck procedure is instrumental in your healing process. Being active keeps your blood flowing, which aids in healing and prevents harmful blood clots. When our surgeons approve, start stretching to regain strength and flexibility in your muscles.

Take Time to Rest

While moving after surgery is critical, listening to your body and giving yourself time to recover is important too. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep and listening to your body when it tells you it’s time to rest.

Preparing for Your Tummy Tuck Is Essential

Patients looking for the best results and recovery from a tummy tuck procedure benefit from preparing their body by fueling it with healthy foods and maintaining a healthy weight. 

It’s also important to follow your surgeon’s instructions in ceasing the use of supplements and medications that can affect the healing process. These may include NSAIDS, some vitamins, herbal supplements, or aspirin. 

In addition, patients taking prescription blood thinners need to consult with their prescribing doctor before ceasing those medications.

Tummy Tucks Are Usually Once-in-a-Lifetime Procedures

Unlike body contouring or other non-invasive procedures, you won’t need to “refresh” a tummy tuck. The results of the surgery are generally stable and long-lasting, especially if you follow the aftercare instructions given by our surgical team.

Choosing the Right Plastic Surgeon Matters

Patients have many options when choosing a plastic surgeon. Each surgeon offers their own approach and style when performing a tummy tuck procedure. Do your research before deciding which surgeon is right for you.

At Legacy Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics, Dr. Wingate and Dr. Kim are board-certified plastic surgeons who employ the latest technology and techniques to ensure patients achieve optimal results. 

Legacy Plastic Surgery serves Exton, PA, and the surrounding areas. To learn if you’re a good candidate for abdominoplasty, call or schedule a consultation online today.