Tummy Tuck in Charlotte - Abdominoplasty in Gastonia

Improve your figure with a Tummy Tuck

Obtaining a tight, sculpted tummy is difficult to achieve, even after spending hours in the gym and working with exercise videos. For many of us it is difficult to find adequate time to achieve the shape we want. Eating right can also be challenging. Many factors contribute to excess fullness around the waistline, including:

• Childbirth
• Significant weight gain and loss
• Lack of exercise
• Age
• Genetics
• Poor diet

Abdominoplasty, commonly referred to as the “Tummy Tuck,” can be an effective way of eliminating excess fat and stretched skin. It is also effective at tightening weak and lax abdominal muscles, helping to flatten the waistline.

What it won’t do

This procedure has yielded great results for countless people; however it cannot replace proper diet and exercise. When abdominoplasty is used in conjunction with adequate exercise and a healthy diet, the results can be both dramatic and long-lasting. When considering an abdominoplasty, there are some things that you should consider before proceeding. If your plans include dramatic weight loss or pregnancy, it makes sense to postpone abdominoplasty. Significant weight loss and pregnancy can significantly diminish the results from Tummy Tuck.

Many stretch marks can be removed with tummy tuck, however there often remains a number of these after the surgery. The marks that are present beneath the bellybutton are usually removed; however those over the hips and above the bellybutton remain. Those that remain above the button, however, are repositioned beneath your new bellybutton.

Is it right for me?

Making a decision about cosmetic surgery is a very personal decision. You must decide what your goals and expectations are. You should not undergo a tummy tuck-or any other cosmetic procedure– to please anyone but yourself. You must carefully consider your emotions and motivations for any cosmetic procedure.
The abdominoplasty or Tummy Tuck may be a good option for you if you:

• Maintain good physical health and weight
• Don’t smoke (smoking increases the risks of the procedure)
• Have realistic expectations
• Are frustrated by your attempts at weight loss and firming of your abdominal area with diet and exercise
• Have stretch marks from lack of elasticity
• Have a lot of excess skin from previous weight loss or pregnancy
• Have a loose abdominal muscles or “diastasis”

The Consultation: What to expect

The consultation is the time for you to ask your surgeon any questions that you might have. It is also a time for your surgeon to help you to evaluate and discuss your desires and expectations. The surgeon will also discuss the technique, possible risks, and potential overall affect on your health, lifestyle and general well-being. It is a good idea to prepare by considering the following before your consultation:

• General medical history, including the results of laboratory work and past surgeries
• A detailed account of current prescription medications, supplements (vitamins or others) that you take
• Any use of tobacco or other drugs
• What are your motivations for surgery? What are your expectations?

At the consultation, your surgeon is likely to:

• Evaluate your current health
• Photographically document the abdominal area
• Discuss your surgical and non-surgical options and recommend a course of treatment
• Disclose the risks and common complications associated with abdominoplasty surgery and the use of anesthesia
• Cover what to do the day of surgery
• Cover post-operative care and recovery
• Discuss possible operative sites/operating rooms for your procedure

Preparing for surgery
In preparation for surgery, your surgeon may request:

• Further laboratory testing or medical evaluations
• Adjusting current prescriptions
• That you avoid the consumption of alcohol, drugs and abstain from smoking for a certain period surrounding surgery

Important facts about the safety and risks of abdominoplasty

Ultimately, the decision to undergo the Tummy Tuck procedure is yours alone. After careful consideration of both the risks and benefits of surgery, you must weigh the risks against the potential benefits in order to make an informed decision. Your surgeon and his staff will go over the great majority of the potential risks of surgery and will make themselves available to answer any and all of your questions. You will have the opportunity to review a detailed informed consent form.
Some of the potential risks associated with Abdominoplasty include:

• Adverse scarring
• Excessive bleeding (hematoma)
• Infection
• Pain associated with surgery, both immediate and long-term
• Need for hospitalization, revision surgery
• Fluid collections (seroma)
• Necrosis (death) of fat or skin of the abdomen
• Leg swelling that won’t go away
• Persistent or recurrent skin loosening
• Potential risks of anesthesia use
• Blood clots, heart and lung complications

What happens during tummy tuck surgery?

Anesthesia

Depending on your individual circumstances, your doctor will suggest either intravenous or general anesthesia. You will not “be awake” for the procedure.

The Operation

The operation is completed by making a long incision just above the pubic hair line, extended essentially from hip to hip. Each patient will require a different length incision, depending on his or her skin and fat excess. Sometimes incisions can be placed in specific areas at the discretion of the surgeon and patient. In addition, sometimes a small vertical incision is necessary just above the pubis; your surgeon will discuss this with you if necessary. The incision will provide access to your abdominal musculature which will allow your surgeon to tighten them. Liposuction is frequently combined with abdominoplasty to maximize the improvement in your shape. One or two drains are usually placed within the wound and exit through the skin at sites separate from the main incision. Once the procedure has been completed, the incisions are closed with layered sutures, clips, and steri-strips.

Results and Recovery

The immediate results are sometimes difficult to see because of the swelling and postoperative garments. The swelling from abdominoplasty and liposuction usually takes several months to go away completely. All patients experience a different timetable in terms of their healing response. You can expect a moderate amount of pain from this operation, although-once again-there is a lot of variability from patient to patient. Most patients will be able to walk standing up fully after one or two weeks. It may take several weeks, however, to really “feel like yourself” again. There is a great variation in the time frame during which patients return to work, but 10 to 20 days is the most reasonable expectation.
The recovery period immediately following your surgery is critical to achieving the best results possible from the surgery. It is, therefore, of paramount importance that you follow your doctor’s instructions. Bandages will need to be changed and restrictions on physical activity are just a few of the steps you must take in order to fully realize the potential results of abdominoplasty surgery. In most cases, you can return to work within two weeks and resume limited physical activity shortly thereafter. Walking is generally encouraged after surgery, but more aggressive exercise is usually deferred until about six weeks after surgery. It is important to not just go home in lie in bed for several days after your surgery.
You will be prescribed medication for nausea and pain to aid with these common problems after your surgery. Most patients return the day after surgery for evaluation and the initial dressing changes. Most of your sutures will dissolve and do not require removal. The second post-operative visit is about one week after surgery.

How much will tummy tuck surgery cost?

There are several factors that affect the cost of your surgery including the experience of the surgeon and the location of the procedure. Consider interviewing several surgeons when doing your research in order to get a clear picture of your options. Higher cost is not necessarily an indication of higher quality; be sure that you are comparing “apples to apples” when comparing different surgeons and their quotes. Shop around and do your homework.

Costs you can expect to incur:

• Surgeon’s fee
• Facility fee
• Anesthesiologist
• Medications
• Laboratory tests

In addition, you may finance your surgery, should you desire, through Surgeryloans.com. (We also work with CareCredit)
If you have ANY questions, just ask your surgeon or his staff.