Body Procedures:
Tummy Tuck
A flat firm abdomen... everyone wants one, but few women over 30 actually have one. Blame it on aging, on pregnancies, and on chocolate cake. As we age, the body preferentially stores fat in the lower abdomen and hips; and with pregnancy the abdominal wall and the abdominal skin stretches to a point where it can't shrink back as tight as it was before pregnancy; in addition, the changes of pregnancy often include the development of unsightly stretch marks or an unsightly C-Section scar. Diet and exercise will have NO effect on any of these changes.
The tummy tuck procedure is one of the most satisfying procedures in all of plastic surgery because it has the ability to treat all of these undesirable changes. It will remove the lower abdominal fat (pooch), remove all of the lower abdominal stretch marks, tighten the stretched out abdominal wall, and revise the C-Section scar if present. The scar can usually be hidden in the underwear or bikini line.
The best results are often seen when the tummy tuck procedure is combined with either a breast enhancement procedure or liposuction of the hips and thighs..
Recovery
Most patients are back to work in 10-14 days. Bruising and swelling take 2-4 weeks to improve. Drains which are placed at the time of surgery to prevent fluid collections are removed in 7-14 days. An abdominal binder is required for 6 weeks. The first postoperative visit is a day after your procedure. Pain is moderate to severe in the first 2 to 3 days. Pain medications and antibiotics are prescribed. Exercise except for walking is discouraged for 6 weeks. Incisions are generally closed with absorbable sutures under the skin... there are no sutures to be removed. The scars normally take about a year to mature.
