Tummy Tuck

tummy tuck.

get your figure back!

Do you wish for a beautifully sculpted silhouette? Maybe you've undergone a few pregnancies. Maybe you've had significant weight loss. Or maybe you're showing some signs of aging with skin laxity and excess fat that you just can't seem to get rid of! With these life events, the human body undergoes irreversible changes that diet and exercise may not correct. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, reshapes your belly by fixing the underlying problems. Everyone is blessed with a unique body shape. Dr. Lisa Hwang will consider your individual anatomy and use that as a guide to restore your more youthful self, enhanced by body contouring!

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Problems.

Skin Laxity.

With aging and weight gain, the skin stretches, sometimes forming striae, aka stretch marks. Although the skin is elastic, after significant stretching for prolonged periods of time, the skin loses some of its elasticity. Even after weight loss, many people are left with extra overhanging skin, and severe stretch marks can be disfiguring, impacting their self-confidence.

Excess Fat.

As we age, we notice diminishing metabolism as well as changes in our fat distribution. It may seem as though there are stubborn pockets of fat that just won't go away! I always encourage healthy diet and lifestyle changes prior to surgery. But body contouring surgery can help you achieve that hourglass figure you used to have or always wanted.

Rectus Diastasis.

Have you mothers out there noticed that you seem to be bloated all the time, that you can't seem to hold your belly in the way you used to? With pregnancy, the abdominal tissue stretches so significantly in a localized area, which often causes the rectus muscles to splay apart. The strength layer between the muscles weakens and stretches out. So no matter how many crunches or ab workouts you try to do, it will not correct the laxity. In surgery, Dr. Lisa Hwang will identify and tighten these areas.

tummy tuck options.

mini.

A mini tummy tuck addresses problems from the pubis up to the belly button. The incision is hidden within your bikini line and is oriented horizontally. As a smaller procedure, the resulting scar is shorter than that of a full tummy tuck.

full.

A full tummy tuck addresses problems from the pubis up to the chest to expose the full length of the abdominal muscles, allowing for plication. The belly button is detached and recreate. A taut belly button is absolutely critical for a beautiful, natural-appearing result--look out for that when choosing your surgeon!

Extended.

An extended tummy tuck extends farther laterally, extending around the hips towards the back. Candidates generally have more severe skin laxity or have more excess fat. Dr. Lisa Hwang always tells her patients that she must take the incision as far out as necessary to achieve a smooth contour of the hips.

surgery.

Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is a major surgery that should be planned for months in advance, as it can significantly restrict your activity level. Surgery can take 2 to 5 hours, depending on the extent of the tummy tuck as well as liposuction, which is often performed as an adjunct for improved body contouring. Surgery is performed at a surgery center under general anesthesia. Patients are required to be accompanied by a responsible adult for 24 hours.

recovery.

After surgery, patients are dressed with soft foam pads and an abdominal binder, which provide support in the postoperative period. You will also have two drains, which you must monitory and empty daily. Depending on their output, they generally stay in for 1-2 weeks. Initially, you may have to remain slightly hunched, as your abdomen will feel very tight. By one week, you should be able to stand up straight, but the tightness will continue to improve over the first 3 months. You will experience swelling, bruising, and pain, which will be controlled by prescription pain medication.

activity.

The most important thing to do after surgery is to stay well-hydrated and to walk! Walking encourages blood flow in the legs to prevent blood clots from forming. Tummy tuck is a big surgery; even the most active patients must rest to aid in recovery. Please refrain from any heavy lifting over 10 pounds. Patients are generally recommended to take 2 weeks off work; patients with sedentary jobs may return to work earlier. At 3 weeks, you can begin to resume more active exercise, as tolerated. Continue to avoid core exercises for 6 weeks.

risks & complications.

Risks of tummy tuck include bleeding, infection, delayed wound healing, changes or loss in sensation, contour deformity, scarring, and asymmetry. Most importantly, patients should be aware of the risk for developing blood clots in the legs or the lungs, as this can cause serious morbidity if missed. Tightness/pain in calves or shortness of breath after surgery should be reported to Dr. Hwang.

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