A tummy tuck, often known as abdominoplasty, is a body contouring procedure designed to enhance the appearance of the abdominal region. At the office of Dr. Bruce Kadz in Beverly Hills, CA, we offer this procedure to help our clients achieve the body they’ve always dreamed of. Here’s what you need to know.
What Does a Tummy Tuck Accomplish?
A tummy tuck accomplishes several things. Primarily, it is used to remove excess abdominal skin and tighten the remaining skin. However, it can also be used to excise excess fat, strengthen the abdominal muscles and treat certain medical conditions.
How Does Abdominoplasty Differ From Liposuction?
People often use the terms liposuction and tummy tuck interchangeably, but these procedures are performed differently and provide different results.
Abdominoplasty for Body Contouring
When abdominoplasty is used for body contouring, excess skin and fat are removed from the abdominal region. However, your abdominal muscles won’t just look more toned because there is less fat covering them.
They will also look more toned because they will be tightened during your procedure. Abdominoplasty is commonly recommended for people who have lost a significant amount of weight because the procedure removes excess skin and tightens loose skin.
Liposuction for Body Contouring
Liposuction can also be used to eliminate unwanted abdominal fat. However, it does not address muscle weakness or excess skin.
Liposuction is commonly used in conjunction with abdominoplasty to achieve desirable contours because abdominoplasty only results in the removal of a small amount of excess fat. On the other hand, liposuction can remove up to 11 pounds of fat in a single session. Depending on the size of the targeted area and how much fat you’re trying to remove, your liposuction session may last around 60 minutes.
How Does a Mini Tuck Differ From a Full Tuck?
What’s great about abdominoplasty is it can be customized to achieve your unique goals. Let’s take a closer look at the difference between a mini tuck and a full tuck.
Mini Tuck for Lower Belly Fat
A mini tuck will probably be ideal for you if you are only concerned about the appearance of your lower abdomen. However, due to the scope of the procedure, it is not usually recommended for people who have experienced rapid weight fluctuations or given birth recently.
Remember, no type of abdominoplasty will remove a lot of fat. If you are only concerned about the appearance of your lower abdomen and you have a lot of lower belly fat, you may want to combine this procedure with liposuction.
Full Tuck for the Upper and Lower Abdomen
A full tuck will be recommended if you are concerned about the appearance of your upper and lower abdomen. During a full abdominoplasty, your abdominal walls will be tightened to slim and tone your upper and lower abs. What’s great about this is strengthening your abdominal muscles eases back pain caused by poor posture. As your muscles are being tightened, we can also treat ventral hernias and stress urinary incontinence.
A full abdominoplasty is usually recommended for people with significant excess skin due to rapid weight loss and mothers. When your excess skin is removed and the remaining abdominal skin is tightened, stretch marks can be eliminated.
What Are the Benefits?
As noted above, abdominoplasty can be customized to achieve your unique goals. Another benefit of this procedure is removing excess skin and fat provides you with the freedom to wear anything you want without worrying about how it makes your abdominal region look.
Your Wardrobe Options Will Increase Significantly
Since abdominoplasty slims your torso, your clothes will fit much better. Your current wardrobe will fit more comfortably and you will look much better in your clothes. Additionally, you may find the self-confidence to buy new outfits, like cute crop tops, to show off your new figure.
Often, women who have given birth wear clothes that hide their excess skin. Full abdominoplasty can repair damage to the abdominal walls caused during pregnancy and childbirth and eliminate excess skin so mothers can have the confidence to wear clothes that show off their style rather than hide their abdominal region. Abdominoplasty goes a long way in helping women restore their prenatal bodies.
Who Qualifies for This Procedure?
If you’re fairly healthy and want to improve your abdominal contours, there is a good chance you will be considered a good candidate for this procedure. Whether you have given birth recently or lost a lot of weight rapidly, this procedure can benefit you. However, we need to discuss your medical history and current health to ensure this procedure will be appropriate for you.
How Should I Prepare?
There are a number of things you may need to do to prepare for abdominoplasty. During your initial consultation, we will discuss the drugs and supplements you are taking. We may advise you to stop taking some of these for a period of time. Certain side effects of drugs and supplements, such as blood thinning, can affect your procedure.
You should also prepare for your abdominoplasty by arranging for someone to drive you to and from your procedure. The type of anesthesia used to keep you comfortable during your procedure will depend on the scope of the procedure, your overall health, and your personal preference. Regardless of whether general anesthesia or intravenous sedation and local anesthesia are used to ensure your comfort, you should not drive for 24 hours afterward.
What Should I Expect Afterward?
Recovery
You will be restricted from strenuous exercise for roughly six weeks post-op, but your recovery will be mostly complete after a week or two. If you have a sedentary job, you only need to take five to seven days off from work to rest. If your job is physically demanding, you should take roughly 10 to 14 days off from work to focus on your recovery.
Whether you receive general anesthesia or sedation, you will feel groggy after your procedure. For the smoothest recovery possible, it is imperative that you rest as much as possible and nap whenever you’re particularly tired.
Results
The results of this procedure can be permanent if you can maintain your weight. If you gain too much weight after your procedure, your skin will stretch and you may develop excess skin. However, it is worth noting that the fat removal results of this procedure are permanent. The adult human body can’t grow new fat cells so you will never have as many fat cells in your abdominal region as you did before your procedure.
It is also worth noting you should lose weight slowly if you gain weight after your procedure. The faster you lose weight, the more likely you are to experience loose, sagging skin throughout your weight loss journey.
You Can Achieve Your Dream Body
It is possible to achieve the body you have always dreamed of. Abdominoplasty can tighten your abdominal muscles, remove excess skin and fat and tighten loose, sagging skin. We welcome any questions you have about what to expect during or after this procedure. Book an appointment with us at the office of Dr. Bruce Kadz in Beverly Hills, CA today to learn everything you need to know. You deserve to be confident about your whole appearance, including your abdomen.
