Abdominoplasty is a corrective surgery to help individuals who struggle with loose tissues in the abdominal area due to weight fluctuation, hormonal changes, or pregnancy. A tummy tuck is a complex surgery that alleviates other issues like stress urinary incontinence and hernia. Board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Russell Hendrick specializes in cosmetic surgery that improves body contours and addresses excess fat, skin, and damaged muscles.
Tummy tuck surgery offers medical and aesthetic benefits through comprehensive abdominal correction. This post will address much of the necessary information you will need to make an informed decision, starting with what is a tummy tuck and how does it work?
What Is a Tummy Tuck, and How Does It Work?
A tummy tuck, also known as an abdominoplasty, is a surgical correction to eliminate excess fat and skin from the midsection to improve appearance and contour. Typically, Dr. Hendrick tightens the abdominal wall to improve the abdominal shape and create a sleeker waistline.
Abdomoniplasty is popular with women and men struggling with unwanted fat layers around the midsection or who have lost a significant amount of weight and have issues with lax abdominal skin. It is not an alternative for weight loss but a procedure to help create a flatter stomach and slimmer waist when diet and exercise prove unsuccessful.
What Happens During a Tummy Tuck?
For your safety and comfort, Dr. Hendrick performs abdominoplasty under general anesthesia. First, he makes an incision above the pubic bone and below the bikini line. Then he’ll repair the abdominal wall with dissolvable sutures. An additional incision is typically made to reposition the naval into its new location. Next, Dr. Hendrick will remove excess skin and fat, then he will stretch abdominal muscles to tighten them with sutures and close the surgical wound. Finally, drains are placed within the incisions to help drain extra fluids accumulated after surgery.
Dr. Hendrick can employ a variety of techniques to achieve optimal results. The surgical plan for your tummy tuck will be thoroughly discussed during your initial consultation. In addition, this is the time to ask questions and address any concerns you may have regarding the surgery. The ultimate goal of this consultation is for you to leave feeling comfortable, informed, and prepared.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck can be appropriate for women and men with no severe medical conditions. Further, it’s necessary to be mentally and emotionally stable, as the procedure has an extensive recovery and will take weeks to heal and recover fully.
You should be close to your ideal weight, and it should be stable for at least six weeks prior to undergoing surgery. Losing additional weight after surgery may result in loosening skin and compromising tummy tuck results. Also, there is no ideal age for a tummy tuck. Women should consider waiting until they finish having children before considering the surgery.
Abdominoplasty can help with the following:
- Excess, sagging skin
- Unwanted fat pads
- Stretch marks
- Fitting into form-fitted clothing
- Eliminate unwanted belly pooch
- Strengthen core for better posture
- Correct stretched abdominal wall
An extended tummy tuck can address excess skin on the hips or lower back for patients who have lost significant weight.
How Should I Prepare for a Tummy Tuck Procedure?
Ideally, you’ll take several months to prepare for abdominoplasty to find the right surgeon, achieve and maintain your optimal weight, and prepare for aftercare and recovery
Some patients may not need six months to prepare, but you’ll still want to ensure that you’ve taken enough time to research, plan, and choose your surgeon. The better prepared on the day of tummy tuck surgery, the more profound the benefits.
Here are a few hints with a timeline to prepare for your abdominoplasty:
Four to Six Months Before Surgery
As soon as you start considering abdominoplasty, get serious about your diet and exercise habits. Eating well, hydrating, and working out should be your focal point. If you smoke, start quitting. If you drink, start limiting your intake. These two lifestyle choices can affect how your body recovers and reduce risk. In addition, stress management helps with chronic stress that can affect your immune system.
Start researching plastic surgeons. Look for board-certified plastic surgeons with experience in body-sculpting procedures. Scan before and after photos of abdominoplasty patients on their website.
Four Months Before Surgery
You should begin scheduling your tummy tuck consultations and meeting with the top plastic surgeons you researched. In most markets, the best surgeons book out for three to four months, sometimes longer.
Three Months Before Surgery
After you’ve selected your plastic surgeon and booked your abdominoplasty, plan your time off from work. Also, make childcare arrangements and set up a support system to help with transportation during the tummy tuck recovery phase.
One Month Before Surgery
Begin stocking up on supplies you’ll need during recovery. Also, prepare a recovery area in your home to relax while reading or streaming movies. Dr. Hendrick will provide you with a list of supplies to buy. Here are some items our patients found helpful to aid in their recovery:
- Gauze pads
- Extra pillows
- Comfortable garments for easy removal
- Over-the-counter pain medication
- Ice packs
Create a meal prep plan to make and freeze food for later. Eliminating the worry of what to eat will reduce stress, keep you from choosing convenient unhealthy foods and help maintain your new, improved lifestyle.
Day of Surgery
Wear comfortable clothing and bring a responsible adult to drive you home.
What Type of Anesthesia Is Used for a Tummy Tuck?
Dr. Hendrick typically administers general anesthesia through an IV to put you to sleep completely. However, it requires a breathing tube for significant surgeries like tummy tucks.
What Can I Expect During the Tummy Tuck Recovery?
Depending on the extent of your tummy tuck, Dr. Hendrick will most likely advise you to take one to two weeks off from work. Also, it’s best not to resume any sort of exercise regime until six to eight weeks have passed.
After the surgery, you should expect your abdomen to feel tight. It’s also normal to experience soreness, and for the first several days following surgery, it will be challenging to stand in an upright position.
For any discomfort you may experience, Dr. Hendrick will prescribe pain medication. You will also be fitted with a compression garment for some time to help reduce swelling and inflammation. In addition, Dr. Hendrick will position drains within the incisions to allow potential fluid to escape. Then, he’ll take them out within a few days or weeks after surgery.
Incisions must be cared for daily. You should keep the incision clean with mild soap and water. We’ll remove external stitches during your follow-up examination.
We will provide you with complete aftercare instructions prior to your surgery. In addition, if at any time you’re feeling excessive pain or discomfort after surgery, we recommend you contact us immediately.
What Are the Risks and Complications Associated with a Tummy Tuck?
As with any type of surgery, there is always the potential for risks, even during a tummy tuck procedure. Because this surgery loosens and rearranges skin, fat, and other tissues, there is the risk that these specific parts can inadvertently become detached from their blood supply, resulting in tissue death, also known as necrosis.
We expect some fat to become necrotic. If other tissues succumb to this condition, an infection may develop. To further avoid this risk, we recommend you refrain from smoking during your recovery and properly care for your incision wounds.
Patients often combine liposuction with a tummy tuck, which carries risks like infection or blood loss. Yet, all risks become less likely if you hire a board-certified plastic surgeon.
How Long Will It Take to See the Results of a Tummy Tuck?
An abdominoplasty offers noticeable results, but don’t expect to look instantly slimmer when you get home from your appointment. Since tummy tuck is a surgical procedure, it’s normal to experience some bruising, swelling, and other minor side effects. So, don’t be alarmed if you don’t immediately see the new look you want.
Here’s a timeline of what to expect during your first stages of abdominoplasty recovery and when you should start seeing your new look.
Your First Month After Tummy Tuck Surgery
Expect significant swelling during the first several weeks to a month after your abdominoplasty. It might seem like you initially gained rather than lost fat, but try to be patient with the recovery process.
Dr. Hendrick will likely send you home with a compression garment for at least the first month. This compression garment can help to reduce fluid buildup and swelling to minimize your risks and help you feel more comfortable.
Three Months After Tummy Tuck
Around the three-month mark, you should see a noticeable improvement in swelling, which means that your tummy tuck results are taking shape. You should return to your routine and daily activities at this stage.
Every patient recovers at a different pace, so allow your body to heal at its own speed. For some people, swelling can take around six months to resolve entirely.
What Are the Alternatives to Tummy Tuck Surgery?
The surgical alternatives to abdominoplasty include liposuction to eliminate unwanted fat. But, unfortunately, it does nothing to address the remaining sagging skin or weakened muscles. And because liposuction offers minimal downtime, it is a much more desirable choice for women and men with busy schedules.
However, the non-surgical option BodyTite offers patients similar results as a tummy tuck, just not as extensive. BodyTite removes stubborn fat and lifts tissue to resolve loose, sagging skin. This radio-frequency assisted lipolysis (RFAL) emits energy from an internal probe to melt excess fat with safe and effective radiofrequency heat. When optimal temperatures are reached, skin and underlying tissue contract.
How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost, and What Are the Financing Options?
You can expect to pay between $7,900 and $10,000 for tummy tuck surgery in New Orleans. Cost depends on the surgeon’s expertise and the cosmetic issue’s extent. New Orleans Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery offers two finance options for aesthetic surgery.
How Do I Choose the Right Plastic Surgeon for My Tummy Tuck Procedure?
Selecting the right plastic surgeon for your tummy tuck is critical to achieving outstanding results. Here are a few steps to ensure a highly qualified tummy tuck surgeon performs your procedure.
Look Only for a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
The first step to finding the right plastic surgeon for your abdominoplasty is to check for board certification. The American Board of Plastic Surgery is an independent organization that certifies plastic surgery specialists who adhere to the highest standards of quality and professionalism.
Inspect the Surgeon’s Facility
A safe surgical center should have state licensure or be accredited by recognized bodies like the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), the Title XVIII Medicare, and the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
Assess Surgical Approach
During your initial consultation visit, you can ask the surgeon about their hands-on approach to understanding how they tackle the job. Don’t hesitate to request additional patient testimonials and case studies that give you an unbiased view of the surgeon’s style and work process.
Are You Ready To Get Started?
With so many choices, the most vital step to take is scheduling a personal consultation with a skilled tummy tuck plastic surgeon. During your consultation, Dr. Hendrick will examine your abdomen, ask you questions about your aesthetic goals, and make recommendations on the best suirgical plan.New Orleans Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery offers a full range of cosmetic treatments, including plastic surgery, non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments, and spa services. Ready for a positively life-changing experience? Call us at (504) 533-8848 or contact us today to schedule a consultation.
