subject: Get Bikini Ready This Summer With Abdominoplasty (tummy Tuck) [print this page] As summer has quickly begun, are you ready for the beach? If sit-ups are just not giving you the tight appearance you have always desired, it may be time to talk to your plastic surgeon in Naperville. Too much flab, or excess skin in your abdomen can be eliminated with an abdominoplasty, also commonly known as a tummy tuck. This procedure is used to flatten your abdomen by removing extra fat and skin, while tightening muscles in your abdominal wall.
Many people strive to have a flat, well-toned abdomen, but it does not always happen easily. Through workout routines and diets, sometimes you just can't achieve this goal. When this occurs, abdominoplasty may be an appropriate solution. The most common causes of an abdomen that protrudes or is loose and sagging include:
*Pregnancy
*Aging
*Significant fluctuations in weight
*Heredity
*Prior surgery
By getting a better understanding for this procedure, in addition to a consultation with your plastic surgeon, you can better understand your need and qualifications for a tummy tuck.
The Abdominoplasty Procedure
Depending on your desired results, your abdominoplasty could take anywhere from one to five hours. The complexity of your current situation also plays a large role in determining whether your procedure is to be performed as an in-patient or an outpatient. On the day of your surgery, your plastic surgeon will provide you with general anesthesia, which will put you to sleep during the operation. Because general anesthesia is required, you will need to have someone with you to drive you home. It is also important to have someone stay with you for at least the first night after surgery if you live alone.
A complete abdominoplasty is used when the most correction is needed. The incision will be made low on the abdomen, and extends from hip bone to hip bone. Your plastic surgeon will manipulate and contour the skin and muscle as needed. You will have an incision around your belly button if you undergo this procedure, as it is necessary to free your naval from surrounding tissue.
Partial or mini-abdominoplasties are often performed on patients whose fat deposits are located below the navel and require shorter incisions. During this procedure, your belly button will most likely not be moved, but your skin will be separated between the line of incision and your belly button. This type of surgery can also be performed with an endoscope, which is a small camera on the end of a tube. A mini-abdominoplasty may take only two hours, but depending on your personal situation and complexity of your needs it could take longer.
When can I Resume my Normal Activities?
It is important to understand that the amount of time it takes for a person to recover varies from individual to individual. Depending on the extent of your abdominoplasty and your general physical condition, you may be able to return to non-strenuous work anywhere from one to three weeks after your surgery. In other instances, you can resume most of your normal activities, including mild exercise, after a few weeks. When you begin to resume your normal activities you may experience some mild, periodic discomfort and swelling, but this is normal and these feelings will subside in time. However, if you experience severe pain, it is important to contact your plastic surgeon immediately.
If you have loose abdominal skin and fat that is concentrated in the abdomen, you may benefit from abdominoplasty. Contact your board certified plastic surgeon in Oak Brook for more information on abdominoplasty and to see if it is an appropriate procedure for improve your appearance.
