Are you considering a tummy tuck and are curious what to know before getting a tummy tuck? Patients frequently asked: Am I an ideal tummy tuck candidate? What happens to the belly button during tummy tuck surgery? How long will be my tummy tuck recovery? What to expect right after tummy tuck? Being informed is the first step toward making a well-thought-out and confident decision for your tummy tuck surgery. Therefore, Dr. Domanski answered the most common questions to help you through the process.
Is a tummy tuck right for me?
One common reason a tummy tuck is recommended is to address stretched abdominal skin and weakened muscles after pregnancy. During pregnancy, the rectus (six pack) muscles spread apart to create more intra-abdominal room. Sometimes the rectus muscles stay spread apart. This is due to stretching of the diasthasis recti tendon between the six pack muscles. Exercise will strengthen the muscles, but will not tighten the space between them. This can lead to a stubborn pouch that does not go away. If you have a stubborn belly pouch that won’t go away after pregnancy and want a flatter abdomen, you may benefit from tummy tuck surgery.
Look on your belly where the location of a c-section incision would be. Look at where your belly button is. The skin between these two points is removed during a tummy tuck. If you can gather this skin and pinch it off with your hand, you may be a good tummy tuck candidate.
What happens to the belly button during a tummy tuck?
The most confusing part of a tummy tuck is the belly button. You keep your own belly button. Skin is removed from below the belly button to where a c-section incision would be. The belly button stays in place, but is brought out through the tightened skin envelope. Imagine your tummy skin being pulled down like a curtain. Your belly button stays in the same place but is brought out though a new location.
The shape of your belly button will be different. Flat bellies have different shaped belly buttons than round ones. Let your surgeon know if you plan to wear a belly button ring because the technique might be different.
What to expect immediately after a tummy tuck procedure?
A tummy tuck is performed as an outpatient surgery in a surgery center. Patient’s go home with a drain, which is important to prevent fluid buildup at the surgical site. Drains are usually removed in the two weeks after surgery. All sutures are dissolvable. Dr. Mark Domanski lets most patient shower as soon as they want. Patients are provided abdominal binders, which may improve comfort.
Please let your doctor know if you or a family member has a history of bleeding disorders or blood clots.
Who is good candidate for tummy tuck?
While somebody can have more pregnancies after a tummy tuck, its best to wait till you no longer plan any more children. Wait till your weight is stable for at least 6 months. (Read: Do I need to loose weight before abdominoplasty?) If you are an Insta-mom, you might be back to your pre-pregnancy weight after 4 weeks. For many moms, it often takes up to a year. Make sure you have somebody to help take care of your children when you are recovering from a tummy tuck. For these reasons, many patients wait 2 years or more since their last child to have a tummy tuck.
Quitting smoking is about the only thing a doctor can recommend that will save you money. Smokers cough more after surgery and have more trouble healing. We recommend that smokers quit before considering a tummy tuck.
How long is tummy tuck recovery?
It is better to have more time to recover than not enough. We prefer two weeks off of work. Most patients are able to resume their exercise routine at 6 to 8 weeks.
Most people don’t want or need tummy tucks. But some people can’t get the belly they want no matter how much they exercise or weight they loose. Some of those choose to trade an incision line for the flat belly they used to have.
Do you want to know what is a difference between liposuction and tummy tuck?
