Frequently Asked Tummy Tuck Questions
For Patients in Orlando and Winter Park, Florida
What is a tummy tuck?
The medical name is abdominoplasty, which means “shaping of the abdomen”. It is a major surgical procedure which is often combined with liposuction for additional contouring. The abdominal area is recontoured by removing excess fat and skin and tightening the abdominal muscles.
Can anyone get a tummy tuck?
No. Because a tummy tuck is major surgery, you have to be in good health, with no serious disease or medical condition.
Preferably you should be finished having children, (1) because your new tummy will be tight and might not stretch around another baby, and (2) because why go through this surgery, only to undo it, more or less, by getting pregnant again?
This procedure should not be considered a method of weight loss as the results are not as good and the complication rate is higher in overweight patients. Sometimes losing a lot of weight leaves you with loose skin that won’t shrink, and that IS a good time to get a tummy tuck. Or sometimes, for whatever reason, the weight can’t be lost by diet and exercise, so again, that makes you a candidate for a tummy tuck.
How are tummy tucks done?
The procedure is done under general anesthesia. Two incisions are made, one from hip bone across to hip bone, just above the pubic area, and the exact size will depend on how much tissue is to be removed. The other incision is a small one around the belly button to re-positioning it.
The vertical abdominal muscles are brought closer together to tighten them and liposuction may be performed to further contour the area. The excess skin is removed and the belly button re-positioned. Dressings are applied and sometimes a tube is inserted to drain out excess fluid but if so, it will be left in only a short while.
Do I have to stay in the hospital after the tummy tuck is done?
Most commonly, Dr. Greenberg’s patients stay overnight in the in-office accredited surgical facility.
How long does it take to recover?
Most patients are advised to take at least 2 weeks off from work to recover. They are usually able to return to work and to normal daily, non-strenuous activity at this time. Strenuous activity including exercise is not recommended for at least 6 weeks after the procedure. It takes a full 2-3 months for everything to settle down so you feel back to “normal.”
Will there be a scar after the tummy tuck?
Yes. At first the scars will be noticeable. Gradually, over perhaps as long as a year, they’ll become flatter, fade and become much less obvious. Although they’ll never disappear entirely, the incision will have been made low enough for the scar to be hidden under a bathing suit. The small belly button incision is usually camouflaged by the contours of the belly button itself.
Are there complications that might happen after a tummy tuck?
Complications are always a possibility after a major surgery, but they’re not common.
The people most likely to experience complications are smokers, diabetics and those in poor general health. If the final contours of the abdomen are not totally satisfactory, minor follow-up surgery can usually correct them. In the vast majority of cases, no major complications occur and the outcome is positive.
What is a mini tummy tuck?
It’s a partial tummy tuck for removing excess skin and fat below the belly button, whereas a full tummy tuck works on areas above the belly button as well. In a mini tummy tuck, only the lower abdominal contour (below the belly button) is addressed and no incision is made around the belly button.
To learn more about your tummy tuck options or to schedule your tummy tuck consultation, please call or e-mail Orlando plastic surgeon Dr. Greenberg today. Dr. Greenberg serves plastic surgery patients in Orlando and Winter Park, Florida.
