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Sagging skin and unwanted fat surrounding the abdomen can often pose a challenge and be frustrating to deal with, especially when your attempts to reduce it have fallen short. Pregnancy, weight loss, and aging are the most common events that can lead to loose, hanging abdominal skin. An abdominoplasty is a cosmetic procedure that reshapes the stomach area, producing youthful-looking results for patients. Our experienced team of plastic surgeons in Tacoma, WA perform abdominoplasty, which is specially tailored to each patient, depending on the amount of excess skin and fat present. This popular surgery at Aesthetic Surgery Centre & MedSpa allows individuals the chance to have a slimmer, tighter tummy and restored confidence. If you're interested in learning more about tummy tuck surgery and how it could benefit you, give our office a call and speak to a member of our knowledgeable team.
Abdominoplasty can be a wonderful solution for both women and men. If you often feel frustrated with sagging skin and unwanted fat in your lower abdomen, this cosmetic surgery can help you regain a tighter and slimmer silhouette. The surgery can be particularly helpful to women who have had multiple pregnancies, and as a result, stretched their abdominal muscles and skin beyond the point where they can return to normal. We suggest patients considering this operation to be at a stable weight prior to surgery. This is because abdominoplasty is not a procedure intended to help you lose weight — it only removes loose skin. Liposuction is usually implemented during surgery to eliminate fat, but these pockets of fat are typically small. If your lower stomach has healthy skin tautness, but you are still unhappy with the appearance of your midsection despite your attempts to firm and tone, we may recommend liposuction along with your tummy tuck. Women considering this treatment should be past their planned pregnancies to ensure that their surgical outcomes are not affected.
Body contouring of the abdomen is performed with general anesthesia and typically takes around 3 – 4 hours. There are numerous techniques that can be used with this surgery because each individual procedure is unique to the patient's specific goals. Your incision size is chosen based on the amount of excess skin present on your abdomen. Some patients with excessively lax skin may require a full tummy tuck. A full or extended tummy tuck places the incision from hip bone to hip bone, just above the pubic region. On the other hand, patients with minimal skin looseness may be better suited for a mini tummy tuck. Those who receive a mini tummy tuck will still benefit from skin tightening but will simply receive a smaller scar. Regardless of the type, all tummy tuck procedures at Aesthetic Surgery Centre & MedSpa involve the removal of sagging skin and fat removal.
Following this procedure, you will be monitored and released wearing a compression garment to reduce swelling. Our nursing staff will teach you the simple care needed for your drains and incisions. Most patients can go home on the day of their surgery. Walking upright will be a bit painful at first so you should rest for a few days. Moving about becomes easier once the tightness subsides and the incisions begin to heal. Most patients can resume everyday functions after about two weeks. Exercise can resume later, either after six weeks or when you are cleared by your surgeon. The abdominal area will feel tight and uncomfortable for some time, but you will start to look and feel normal again after your recovery is complete.
How much does a tummy tuck cost?
During your initial consultation, your surgeon will develop your unique abdominoplasty treatment plan based on your specific needs and goals before discussing costs. We will be better able to estimate your costs when the type of tummy tuck has been selected, including what technique will be used, what anesthesia is needed, and more. Aesthetic Surgery Centre & MedSpa helps to make your tummy tuck easier to afford by accepting many payment methods and helping patients secure low-interest financing.
What type of tummy tuck should I get?
There are three main types of tummy tucks: full, mini, and extended. During your consultation, your surgeon will ask about your needs and goals before examining your stomach. From there, we can better decide which tummy tuck will give you the best results. A full tummy tuck is good if you want to correct issues with the upper and lower abdomen while a mini tummy tuck is good if you only want to address issues below your belly button, like a "pooch." An extended tummy tuck is designed to improve the abdomen, hips, and upper thighs.
What will my scars look like?
Surgical incisions for your tummy tuck will depend on which type you are getting. For all tummy tucks, our surgeons make the smallest incisions possible to limit scars. They will also make incisions in less visible areas (in the pubic region or belly button) so they can be concealed by a swimsuit or underwear. After your surgery, it's important to follow your scar care instructions so your stitches heal flat and blend into your natural skin.
Can I get pregnant after a tummy tuck?
While you can get pregnant after a tummy tuck, it will alter your results. We recommend patients to be done with planned pregnancies and childbirth before they consider a tummy tuck. If you do get pregnant after a tummy tuck, a second surgery can be performed to refresh your results.
Can I get a tummy tuck with another surgery?
Many patients often add another surgery with a tummy tuck to give them more dramatic improvements. During your consultation, discuss your concerns with your surgeon so a unique treatment plan can be developed that addresses all of your goals. You may combine a tummy tuck with a thigh lift for a lower body lift, or several areas for body contouring. If you are trying to improve your body after pregnancy or losing a significant amount of weight, you could also be a good candidate for a mommy makeover or after weight loss surgery.
Many factors can lead to a stretched out abdominal area, which creates hanging folds of skin. We know that this can be an especially troubling problem to have. Thankfully, abdominoplasty helps patients overcome these difficulties. If you are embarrassed by the hanging skin on your abdomen, regardless of how minimal or severe, abdominoplasty performed by our skilled team of plastic surgeons can help you achieve the look you desire. Please contact Aesthetic Surgery Centre & MedSpa in Tacoma, WA to learn more.