How to Prepare for Your Tummy Tuck

Posted on May 12, 2021 in Tummy Tuck

The tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is one of the most popular types of plastic surgery. If you have lost a lot of weight but have been left with excess, sagging skin around the middle and want to have that area tightened and toned, a tummy tuck is probably the right procedure for you. Once you have decided to undergo the surgery and have scheduled it, you must properly prepare for the procedure. Here is what you must do in order to prepare.

What Dr. Ellen May Advise You to Do or Not Do

Prior to your tummy tuck, Dr. Ellen will provide a comprehensive guide to both preparation and recovery steps you should take to ensure that the procedure goes smoothly and that you have minimal risks. These instructions may include the following:

• Undergo a medical evaluation
• Get testing from a lab
• Take specific medications or adjust those you currently take
• Stop smoking
• Avoid taking aspirins, anti-inflammatories, and herbal supplements which can increase the risk of bleeding

Know the Different Types of Tummy Tucks Available

There are different types of tummy tucks available for patients with various concerns about their appearance. As part of being an informed patient, it helps to begin familiarizing yourself with the differences between abdominoplasty techniques. These techniques include the following:

• Full tummy tuck: A full tummy tuck is also known as a classic tummy tuck. It can be used when the area above and below the belly button needs to be addressed. It involves removing excess skin and fat as well as potentially firming up the abdominal muscles. A full tummy tuck relies on a horizontal incision from hip to hip along the pubic bone and occasionally, a second one around the belly button.
• Mini tummy tuck: The mini tummy tuck uses smaller incisions and works on a smaller area in general. Only the lower stomach (beneath the belly button) is addressed. Smaller bulges or stretched skin can be corrected with a mini tummy tuck. A small horizontal incision is made low on the abdomen and excess skin and fat are removed, leaving a firmer lower abdomen.
• Extended tummy tuck: An extended tummy tuck addresses a much larger part of the abdomen as well as the hips and flanks. Dr. Ellen makes a horizontal incision that reaches around the front of your hips and sometimes adds a vertical one as well. Excess skin is removed from the upper and lower abdomen and flanks. The remaining skin is pulled tightly to result in a slimmer figure. People who have lost a lot of weight or had multiple pregnancies are typical candidates for this type of tummy tuck.

Knowing the Risks and Requirements for a Tummy Tuck

Another way of preparing for an abdominoplasty surgery with Dr. Ellen is to understand the risks associated with the procedure, which include the following:

• Bleeding
• Fluid accumulation
• Prolonged swelling
• Numbness
• Skin discoloration
• Skin loss

You will also have to ensure that you’re a good candidate for a tummy tuck. If the following applies to you, you’re considered a good candidate:

• Overall good health
• Non-smoker
• You have excess skin that hangs or sags in your middle
• You lack abdominal tone
• Your stomach protrudes and your muscles are stretched
• You’re at a stable weight
• You have realistic expectations about the procedure

Schedule a Consultation

The best way to know how to prepare for cosmetic surgery in a way that’s personalized to your surgical plan and lifestyle is to hear it directly from board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ellen Janetzke. For a consultation about tummy tuck surgery in Bloomfield Hills, MI, contact us by calling our office or filling out a contact form online.

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