Nothing says sexy quite like high heels and a great pair of jeans. But that muffin top around your belly just ruins the look. You may have tried exercise and dieting, but if pregnancy or weight loss has left you with stretched-out skin that sags over your belly, all the sit ups in the world won’t help you. Your best solution is a tummy tuck.
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, removes excess skin from the abdomen and tightens the abdominal muscles. The results? A smoother, firmer profile and a shapely new figure for you!
During the procedure
The procedure is done under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis. I make a horizontal incision on the lower abdomen, along the bikini line. If possible, I’ll use the incision from a previous C-section. Through the incision, I repair the abdominal muscles and suture them together, and I remove any excess fat, tissue and skin. I then pull the remaining skin down toward the pubic bone, to give the stomach a tight, flat appearance.
As I reposition the skin over the belly, I create a new hole for the belly button, to keep it in its proper position. The belly button will look essentially the same as it did before, with a barely noticeable scar around it.
Stretch marks are a big concern for many women, and unfortunately, there is no good solution for stretch marks. However, a tummy tuck may help. Because extra skin is removed (generally from the lower abdomen below the belly button), some of the stretch marks on your lower abdomen will also therefore be removed. The skin above the belly button is generally not cut, but you can at least reduce the amount of skin with stretch marks.
Patients also frequently enquire about liposuction. I can perform a limited amount of liposuction during the tummy tuck, but if more aggressive liposuction is needed, I’ll do it as a separate procedure so as not to compromise circulation to the skin. I may recommend liposuction as a secondary stage, six to twelve months after the tummy tuck, to further refine your results.
What to expect during recovery
A pain pump will deliver a local anesthetic to the surgical area for three to four days to reduce pain and keep you comfortable. A small, thin tube will be inserted into the wounds to drain fluid for seven to ten days. You’ll wear a binder for four to six weeks, then Spanx for another six to eight weeks for additional support.
Plan to be off-work for a minimum of two weeks. You’ll need to limit your physical activity for three months, especially if you’ve had muscle work done, to allow the muscle repair to reach maximum strength. But early on you can walk for exercise, and after three months, you can start jogging and using weights.
It’s best if you hold off on your tummy tuck until you’re done with pregnancy, otherwise you’ll potentially stretch both the skin and muscles again. And of course, you can reap the full benefits of your tummy tuck with diet, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle.
Consider abdominoplasty if nothing you’ve tried has given you that flat stomach you crave. With your tummy tuck, you’ll be fabulous with a toned, tighter body. You might just have to buy yourself a treat. How about a pair of Seven jeans for your stunning new look?
