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When nothing seems to get rid of stomach fat, you may consider a tummy tuck. Dr. Ellen of Dr. Ellen Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is board-certified with years of experience in the field, and is a great choice of surgeon for a tummy tuck procedure. During a tummy tuck, the doctor makes an incision, stretches the skin, and stitches it in place to create a sleek look. However, there are several factors to consider before going through with the procedure. Here are five of the main things you should think about before committing to a tummy tuck.
1. You Will Need Downtime
Since tummy tucks are a surgical procedure and require going under anesthesia, it means there is more downtime needed. It commonly takes four to six weeks to get back to normal activity, and around a year to fully recover. You won’t be able to lift over 10 lbs., bend from the waist, or stand straight for about one week. This means you need to plan to have help around the house, and you might want to get shoes with no strings.
2. You Have to Meet Criteria
Your surgeon will do an evaluation of your overall health to determine if you meet the requirements for surgery. Not only do you have to be at a stable weight, but you need a healthy heart, lung, and kidneys to withstand anesthesia. If you smoke, you will be advised to stop smoking prior to your procedure.
3. You Have to Be Done With Weight Loss
A typical patient has a healthy physique, but they carry extra weight on their waist and have loose skin in their abdominal area. Doctors prefer patients to be within 10-15 pounds of their ideal body weight, and done losing weight and having kids. Losing more than 30 pounds may cause excess loose skin that some may want removed with the help of a tummy tuck.
You need to be close to your ideal weight because extra weight could damage what has been done by stretching muscles and causing separation. It would require an extra procedure to correct it. If you can’t seem to lose the required weight, your doctor may be able to offer advice.
4. You Will Have to Wear Garments and Drain Tubes
Drain tubes catch the excess bodily fluids to prevent water retention after surgery. Your surgeon should give you instructions on how to clean and drain them.
You will also need to wear a compression garment for six weeks, which is made from a cloth material and works like a girdle, wrapping snuggly around the area. These garments reduce the chance of blood clots and swelling, as well as help improve circulation for healing.
5. You Have to Maintain Results
While a tummy tuck can permanently reshape the stomach muscles, it shouldn’t be considered a weight loss tool. Weight can come back as visceral fat, fat that develops under the abdomen and around the organs, so try staying within 10% of your pre-surgery weight.
Start a regular exercise and diet regimen based on doctor’s advice. A healthy diet before and after surgery is essential to proper healing. The body especially needs high amounts of protein to help build and heal tissue.
You can restore confidence in your body with a tummy tuck. If you have more questions or are ready to move forward with a tummy tuck procedure, contact Dr. Ellen to schedule a free consultation.
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