Also known as abdominoplasty

You’ve counted calories.  You’ve burned calories. You’ve done sit-ups, abdominal crunches and plank-holds. But you just can’t get rid of that stomach fat.

Now you are thinking about a tummy tuck.

You’re not alone.

Also known as abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures today. It’s popular because it offers immediate results, dramatically reducing the appearance of a protruding abdomen. It also provides long-lasting benefits for patients who stay fit and maintain their weight.

Women and men at many stages in life opt for tummy tucks. Some of Plastic Surgery of Fredericksburg’s tummy tuck patients are women who want to regain their figures after childbearing. Other patients are women and men who have lost weight and want to contour the excess skin around their abdomens. Still others simply need a little “help” to streamline their midsections.

Before/After Tummy Tuck with Liposuction

Actual patient of Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

A tummy tuck removes excess skin and fat from the mid and lower abdomen and tightens the abdominal wall muscles. An incision is made that can extend from hip to hip. Sometimes liposuction, a procedure that suctions fat from beneath the skin, is performed in conjunction with a tummy tuck.

Women who plan to have more children should wait to have a tummy tuck because vertical muscles in the abdomen that are tightened during surgery can separate again during pregnancy.

A tummy tuck is a same-day procedure so patients can go home the day of the operation. It can be performed in a hospital, at an outpatient facility or in an office surgery setting.

Just make sure the surgical setting is accredited, meeting medical standards.

Following the surgery, your abdomen will be swollen for a few days and you will need medication to control the pain and discomfort.  You may not be able to stand straight at first, but you should start walking as soon as possible. There is a relatively low risk of surgical complications or infection.

Some patients return to work after five to seven days, but others take several weeks to recuperate.

To help you get the best results, it is important to talk to a board-certified plastic surgeon and learn more about tummy tucks.