Tummy Tuck

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Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) Overview

Tummy Tuck is one of the best procedures, which is used to reshape and firm up the abdominal area. This surgery is also known as abdominoplasty surgery in which removing of unwanted fat and skin from the lower abdominal area include. Mainly, this surgery is performed on those people who have abdominal fat which do not seem to respond to diet and exercises.

If you are an adult who is in overall good health and relatively close to your ideal weight but still have a protruding belly, abdominoplasty could help. This surgery removes excess skin around the abdominal area that cannot be shed through regular diet and exercise. It can also tighten abdominal muscles that have been stretched, for example through pregnancy or other circumstances. This surgery reduces the size of a bulging, extended abdomen-with dramatic effects. Tummy tuck surgery can take years off your appearance and inches off your waist, helping you to look your best.

Get A Flatter Tummy

During a tummy tuck, loose skin and excess fat are removed and muscles are stretched and tightened to give the patient a flatter tummy. In most cases, an abdominoplasty is performed in conjunction with liposuction to give optimum results.

Benefits

A tummy tuck can help to streamline and sculpt the midsection, removing flabby or droopy skin and tightening the abdominal musculature. Tummy tuck procedures can help patients can achieve the following:

• Better shape: A tummy tuck can streamline and sculpt the midsection, removing flabby or droopy skin and tightening the abdominal musculature, getting rid of "love handles."
• Lose stubborn fat: A tummy tuck can help get rid of a stubborn belly bulge that has been impossible to remove through diet and exercise.
• Boost self-confidence: Some patients report that they experience an improved attitude about themselves, an increased level of confidence and an improved outlook on life because of their new appearances.
• Clothes fit better: As a side bonus, you might fit back into that favorite old pair of pants, or perhaps into a new and smaller pair!

Why Get A Tummy Tuck?

If you are self-conscious about the appearance of your stomach, whether because of loose skin in the abdominal area or a prominent "pooch," then this procedure could help you.

A number of factors contribute to an unflattering waistline or an unattractive tummy. Weight gain is, of course, the primary culprit. Dieting and exercise can eliminate some fat; however, if the fat has stretched the abdominal skin or caused new skin to grow, no amount of exercise can remove it. Even if a person lives healthy and loses large amounts of fat, he or she might not return to his or her previous appearance.

For women, pregnancy is a major culprit in creating unflattering tummies. As many mothers know, a pregnancy can cause the creation of stubborn pockets of fat in the abdominal region that can be hard to lose. Even women who manage to go back to their pre-pregnancy weight often find that they haven't quite regained their pre-pregnancy appearance. A pregnancy can stretch the abdominal skin, creating a wrinkly and droopy appearance and stretch the abdominal muscles, causing them to protrude outward. That combination contributes to a flabby appearance, even when there is relatively little abdominal fat.

Tummy Tuck Surgery and Most Popular Techniques and Terms

An abdominoplasty takes two to five hours and can be performed in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures, such as liposuction and breast augmentation. It is typically performed under general anesthesia and leaves visible scars that can be covered by clothing.

Your tummy tuck experience will never be exactly like someone else's. The need for the surgery and the possible outcomes from it are highly related to your genetics, your history of weight fluctuation, your skin's elasticity and your surgeon's experience and technique used.

Just like with any plastic or cosmetic procedure, patients must maintain realistic expectations about the possibilities from their surgery. The more realistic the patient is, the more chances he or she has for a successful outcome.

Several tummy tuck techniques are available today, and each is designed to address the different degrees of a prominent stomach and loose skin in the abdominal area.

Endoscopic tummy tuck: An endoscopic abdominoplasty is minimally invasive and has a shorter recovery time than other tummy tucks. It has less scarring, swelling and bruising. It is sometimes advertised as a "scarless tummy tuck."

Mini tummy tuck: A mini tummy tuck, or partial abdominoplasty, is more invasive than an endoscopic tummy tuck, but still less than other forms of this surgery. It is frequently recommended for patients who are within 10% of their ideal body weight because it is less traumatic, though somewhat less versatile than a standard abdominoplasty. This procedure is highly recommended for people who are in relatively good shape, whose abdominal problems are not severe and who have not been able to get rid of their protruding stomach and excess belly fat with diet and exercise alone.

Because of its relative simplicity, the mini tummy tuck is one of the least expensive tummy tuck techniques.

Traditional tummy tuck: This procedure is sometimes referred to as a standard abdominoplasty. It is highly recommended for cases where bulging fat and sagging skin are highly prominent. During a full tummy tuck, the excess skin is removed, the loose muscles are tightened, and if needed, liposuction will be performed to remove the excess fat.

Extended tummy tuck: This procedure is recommended for patients who have excess skin and fat around the "love handle" and hip areas. This surgery is performed in a similar manner as a traditional abdominoplasty, and it treats a larger portion of the abdomen. The incision is much larger; it stretches across the patient's lower abdomen and reaches all the way to the back of the patient's hips. This large incision means a longer scar, although the scar can typically be hidden beneath underwear or swimsuits.

Tummy Tuck Price Tag

In very general terms, the price for a tummy tuck can range from $3,000 to $15,000. Because your surgery will include a number of smaller bills (such as the surgical facility and anesthesia), make sure that the figure your surgeon quotes you includes all associated fees. The total will also depend on whether you combine this procedure with another cosmetic surgery.

Given that abdominoplasty is most often performed as an elective and cosmetic procedure, your health insurance will most likely not cover it; however, financing is often available. Your surgeon might offer in-house financing, or he or she might refer you to a third party who can finance your surgery.

What to Expect - Tummy Tuck Results

An abdominoplasty is a procedure that will give you lasting results as long as you maintain a stable weight and do not get pregnant after the surgery.

Every surgery is different, and it is impossible to perfectly predict how you will look after your surgery. Your results will be unique. Even if a friend or someone you know has achieved a certain result by going to a certain surgeon, it doesn't necessarily follow that your results will be identical. If you are realistic about the results that you can obtain from an abdominoplasty, you will have a much better chance of having a successful and fulfilling outcome.

A lot of people worry that their results will disappear. Abdominoplasty results are typically permanent unless something happens to change them. Severe weight gain or pregnancy in women could cause old problems to reappear or new problems to develop. Some changes will occur with age, but this is the case with any part of the body, whether or not it has been surgically altered.

The best way to maintain the results from this procedure is to keep an active lifestyle and to maintain a healthy diet. If you do this, then you will enjoy the benefits of your surgery for a very long time!

Finding the Right Surgeon

Although getting an abdominoplasty involves a number of choices, the most important one that you will make is choosing the right surgeon.

It is of the utmost importance that you find a surgeon whom you can trust, in terms of their skill set and business ethics.

The surgeons on our site are medical professionals. They are highly trained and experienced surgeons. They operate only in accredited medical facilities, and they complete ongoing medical education requirements. Our Surgeon Locator makes finding a qualified surgeon in your area more convenient and reduces the need for expensive and potentially dangerous travel to and from your surgery.

You might select more than one surgeon for a consultation. Your consultation might be free, or there might be a cost associated with it that will be applied toward surgery.