Is a Tummy Tuck Right for You?
Pregnancy and childbirth can be an amazing, life-changing experience for many women. But as wonderful as this experience can be, it can also bring about significant changes in a woman’s body that can be nearly irreversible through the means of diet and exercise. For example, when women visit California Skin Institute for a mommy makeover, one of the most common concerns for our patients is the excess fat and sagging skin in the abdomen that just won’t go away.*In many such instances a tummy tuck may be the only viable option to improve the aesthetic appearance and help a woman reclaim her body after child birth.*
What is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck is an outpatient procedure to remove excess skin and fat in the abdomen, which tightens the skin and creates a slimmer appearance in the waist.* Further, a tummy tuck can be highly effective at removing pregnancy-related stretch marks.*
California Skin Institute surgeons perform a tummy tuck either under general anesthesia, or under a combination of deep sedation and local anesthesia.* This often depends on the patient’s medical history and the amount of skin and fat to be removed.*
Why a Tummy Tuck Has Become so Popular?
Women who visit California Skin Institute for a tummy tuck consultation as part of a mommy makeover are often frustrated that, despite their best efforts, they simply cannot get rid of the excess fat and skin.* Even with rigorous diet and exercise they seem to hit a “wall,” where they can attain no additional improvement. Their frustration often goes beyond aesthetics, with many complaining of the discomfort caused by excess skin while wearing clothes and undergarments.
There’s a very good reason why many women have such a difficult time getting rid of weight and excess skin in the abdomen after childbirth, and opt for a tummy tuck as a solution. The biggest problem is the stretching of the skin and the abdominal muscles. There’s simply no way to avoid this during the pregnancy, with skin and muscles often becoming so stretched that the body cannot recover by itself.
Further, fat deposits can accumulate in the abdomen and surrounding areas. Such changes in metabolism can take years to reverse, and in some cases never do.
How is a Tummy Tuck Performed?
The basic purpose behind a tummy tuck is to remove excess skin and fat.* However, this procedure must be performed by an experienced surgeon, to achieve aesthetically pleasing outcomes.*
Firstly, great consideration must be given to the incision.* To minimize scarring, California Skin Institute surgeons make the tummy tuck incisions just above the pubic area, so that the scar from the procedure is easily covered by undergarments or a bikini.*
Once the incision has been made, the surgeon will carefully assess how much skin should be removed, so as to create a tight appearance in the abdomen, but not to over-tighten skin so much that it creates discomfort for the patient.* This is a vital point, because over-tightening of the skin can increase downtime after the procedure due to the pulling of skin on the sutures.* California Skin Institute surgeons have performed many tummy tuck procedures over the years, and have developed keen insight into ensuring that only the optimal amount of skin and fat are removed.*
Another big aspect is the tightening of the abdominal muscles during a tummy tuck.* This is a vital step during the procedure, as the muscles must be tightened carefully so as not to damage any of the muscle structures and to allow the patient full range of comfortable motion after the procedure.*
Lastly, there is the issue of the belly button. When getting a tummy tuck as part of a mommy makeover, it is vital to work with a surgeon who is experienced with belly button shaping and reconstruction.* Because the skin of the abdomen will be pulled downward, the belly button will need to be reshaped and properly positioned, so that the outcomes look natural.*
Tummy Tuck Scarring
There is no way to avoid having a scar after a tummy tuck, but the highly experienced surgeons at California Skin Institute have significant experience at minimizing the appearance of tummy tuck scars.*
One of the techniques used to reduce scars are the multiple layers of sutures.* The surgeons place the first layer of sutures deep in the tissue, to provide the strength necessary to close the incision.* This allows for the uppermost layer of sutures to be much thinner and more delicate, which creates a scar that is significantly less visible.*
If you have any questions about how California Skin Institute surgeons perform the tummy tuck, please give us a call, or click on the scheduling link below to set up your consultation!
*Individual results may vary and are not guaranteed.