A Tummy Tuck (also called an abdominoplasty) may be the best option to achieve a flatter abdomen. No matter how much you diet or exercise, you may find that you carry extra abdominal skin and soft tissue that refuses to budge.
This body sculpting surgery can address skin laxity and excess fat in the abdomen and love-handle areas, helping you to feel more confident and fit better in clothes. If you only have excess fat without lax skin; however, Liposuction alone may be sufficient for you.
Dr. Steven Montante has performed countless successful tummy tucks for his patients in Richmond, Virginia, providing a dramatic improvement in patients with abdominal bulging due to weight loss or from previous pregnancy.
A tummy tuck is a common procedure included with a Mommy Makeover.
What Does a Tummy Tuck Do?
A tummy tuck can correct the following:
- Loose abdominal skin
- Love handles
- Abdominal muscle stretching, separation, or weakness, which often happens after pregnancy
Dr. Montante will spend time with you during your initial consultation to hear your concerns and goals, as well as answer your questions. He will review your medical history, followed by a thorough physical exam with specific attention to your abdomen and trunk. This will allow him to recommend a surgical plan tailored specifically for you.
Dr. Montante will advise you of all preparations to take prior to your tummy tuck operation in Richmond. If you are a smoker, for example, you will need to stop for a period of time before surgery.
What Should You Expect from a Tummy Tuck?
In Richmond, a tummy tuck is usually performed using general anesthesia and takes 2-4 hours. If you are having more than one surgical procedure at the same time, Dr. Montante recommends you spend a night in the hospital.
Incisions vary depending upon the amount of tissue that needs to be removed. In most cases, the incision is made across the lower pubic area from hip to hip. In some cases, excess fat is removed through Liposuction by inserting a tube called a cannula, which is then attached to a suction device that removes the fat.
Dr. Montante trims excess skin and also tightens the abdominal muscles, if necessary. The belly button is repositioned in cases in which laxity extends to the upper abdomen.
If you have only a small amount of loose skin in the lower abdomen with no separated muscles, a mini-tummy tuck may be an option. In this case, excess skin can be removed through a limited incision, resulting in a shorter scar and a faster recovery.
After your surgery, the incisions are sutured and dressed. Some patients may have drains placed in the incisions to catch post-surgical fluids. The sutures typically dissolve on their own, and the drains are removed in one of your post-surgical visits, usually within a few days to a week.
Recovery Period for Abdominoplasty
You will wear a compression garment for a few weeks after your tummy tuck, and you will feel most comfortable sleeping on your back for at least a couple of weeks.
You should be able to return to work and resume normal activities after approximately 2 weeks, as long as your work does not involve strenuous activity or lifting. You should avoid strenuous exercise for about 4 weeks.
Expect to feel some post-operative discomfort, but this can be managed with oral pain medication. Some bruising and swelling are normal. Swelling will take the longest to resolve, so while your stomach will be flatter immediately, you won’t be able to see the final results of your surgery until all of the swelling has resolved. This can take up to 6 months.
There are visible scars after a tummy tuck, but they will be low enough on the abdomen that they are concealed by most undergarments and bikini bottoms. Also, over time, the scars will become flatter, smoother, lighter, and less prominent.
Dr. Montante will monitor your progress carefully in follow-up examinations.
Flatten your stomach with a tummy tuck in Richmond. Call us today to schedule a consultation to find out more about abdominoplasty.