TUMMY TUCK!!! Learn about the risks... AVOID COMPLICATIONS by choosing the right surgeonsTUMMY TUCK SURGERY CENTER... MORE THAN A 100 FAQ'S ON TUMMY TUCK PROCEDURE, TIPS, GUIDANCE AND MORE... >> Learn all you can before deciding having your plastic surgery done. ARTICLE 4 OF A 5 ARTICLES SERIES CONCERNING Thinking about getting a TUMMY TUCK OR MINI TUMMY TUCK HERE??? Here you will find the answers, tips, and 100's of FAQ. ARTICLE #4 61) Is there any complications associated with Tummy Tuck surgery? There are potential complications that are associated with every type of surgery, including Tummy Tuck surgery. However, many of the complications associated with Tummy Tucks, as stated below, can be avoided or minimized if you closely follow all of your surgeon’s instructions. The complications include:
Blood Clots For Tummy Tuck patients, one of the risks that should be considered as a remote possibility is blood clots. Any surgery that involves the use of general anesthesia for longer than 30 minutes carries a slightly elevated risk of causing internal blood clots. Although blood clotting is your body’s natural way of controlling the amount of blood loss that occurs after an injury, blood clots can become dangerous. When a blood clot forms inside a blood vessel, it can interfere with your circulation; in rare cases, it can break off and travel to other parts of your body, including the lungs, the brain, and the heart. During your initial consultation, you will be asked to provide a medical history and other information that will help your surgeon determine whether you are at an increased risk of developing blood clots following surgery. For women, if you are taking birth control pills, talk to your doctor about the possibility of discontinuing their use while you are preparing for and recovering from surgery. Studies have indicated that taking birth control pills while undergoing major surgery may increase the risk of complications resulting from blood clots. Your surgeon should also be made aware of all medications you are taking prior to performing the surgery. Hormone replacement therapy and some forms of cancer treatment can increase the likelihood of clotting. People over 40, people with heart problems, and women who have recently been pregnant also face higher levels of risk regarding the formation of blood clots. The timeline for developing blood clots after Tummy Tuck surgery can vary, but the risk is usually greatest during the first few days following surgery. Surgeons sometimes employ compression stockings and pre- or post-operative leg massages to decrease the risk of blood clots forming in the legs. Your surgeon may advise you to take short, gentle walks around the room within a day or two of your surgery to prevent blood from clotting in your thighs and calves. You should begin taking short walks outside your home a week after the surgery is performed. Although some movement is helpful and will actually speed your recovery, too much exertion, particularly before your stitches have been removed, can be hazardous to your health. Avoid all heavy lifting and vigorous activities such as jogging or rough-and-tumble sports for a minimum of four to six weeks after surgery. Infections Qualified surgeons will take every precaution to prevent infection during a surgical procedure. A careful surgeon keeps his or her operating room clean, sterile, and relatively warm. Contrary to popular opinion, a patient in a cold operating room is actually more likely to experience an infection than a patient in a room-temperature or slightly warm operating room.
Most infections following Abdominoplasty result from the failure of patients to care properly for their wounds during theTummy Tuck recoveryprocess. It is important that you closely follow your doctor’s instructions on when to remove or change bandages, when it is safe to expose your wound to water, and how to keep your wound clean. Some bleeding and leakage are normal after major surgery, but if your wound is unclean, you risk infection.
The early signs of infection include fever, chills, and sweating. If the area around your incision begins to produce pus or if the liquid draining from the incision has a greenish tint or is draining too steadily, then you should contact your doctor immediately. Infections are treatable using increased drainage and antibiotics. The presence of an infection will prolong the time needed to recover from a Tummy Tuck operation. Delayed healing can sometimes cause more prominent scarring following an Abdominoplasty. Because of the risks of infection, if you develop a cold or any other form of temporary illness, your surgery will most likely be postponed.
Slow Healing Any patient recovering froman Abdominoplastywill heal at his or her own pace. There are, however, specific risks that are higher in Tummy Tuck patients whose incisions heal at a particularly slow rate.
Young patients who are in good physical condition prior to undergoing surgery are expected to heal faster than older or less physically fit individuals. The tenderness, bruising, pain, and swelling that are experienced to some degree by most patients usually pass after about four to six weeks. Patients who continue to experience severe discomfort after six weeks have passed are considered to be healing slowly. In many patients, the healing of the abdomen does not proceed at a uniform rate. Often the operation site will heal a few weeks later than the outlining sections of the surgical wound. In rare cases, this irregular healing may lead to skin loss. Some areas of the skin may undergo a rapid and complete recovery, while the skin around the areas that are slow to heal may die and have to be surgically removed and replaced with a graft. In addition to the increased level of discomfort, patients who experience these complications after a Tummy Tuck procedure may suffer from more prominent scarring. Surgical revision is often an option for patients who are unhappy with their Tummy Tuck surgery results because of slow healing.
Many factors can slow the body’s natural healing process. Exposure to cigarette smoke decreases the size of the blood vessels in your skin. Larger blood vessels allow for better circulation of oxygen to your skin cells. The cells of a smoker’s skin are sluggish to heal because they are slightly more oxygen starved than the skin cells of a non-smoker. The presence of infection can also slow healing because it diverts the body’s immune resources away from closing your incisions. Carefully follow all pre- and post-operative instructions that you receive from your doctor and inform your doctor of your medical history, any medications you are taking, and the level of physical exertion that you are accustomed to. After the surgery has been performed, contact your doctor immediately if you suspect your site of incision may have become infected or may not be healing properly. Experiencing complications after a Tummy Tuck surgery really is rare, and with good patient-surgeon communication, most patients enjoy positive surgical results and a smooth recovery process.
Other Medical Problems It’s a good idea to discuss your plan to undergo Tummy Tuck surgery with your personal physician or family doctor if you haven’t already. Any medical problems that you have should be taken into careful account by your family physician and your cosmetic surgeon before Abdominoplasty surgery. Your cosmetic surgeon will also take your complete medical history and conduct a thorough physical examination as a part of your pre-operative preparation. Because of the risk of infection, should you develop a cold, flu, or other temporary illness, your surgery will most likely be postponed.
Medications Be sure to tell your surgeon about any and all medications or herbal supplements that you’re taking. Many medicines and even vitamins that are normally good for your body may be unhealthy for a person who is about to undergo surgery. Your doctor will tell you to discontinue the use of any substances that may decrease your body’s ability to recover from surgery two weeks before your tummy tuck. As noted previously, Vitamin E can interfere with the body’s blood clotting response, causing increased bleeding during surgery. The same is true of aspirin and some NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). The use of birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, and some forms of post-cancer treatment medication may also involve an increased risk of complications during or after surgery. Use of these types of medications may, by contrast, produce an increased risk of developing dangerous internal blood clots that can in rare cases lead to embolism. Many cosmetic surgeons recommend a daily vitamin C supplement in the weeks leading up to your surgery while some recommend the use of a multivitamin that does not contain vitamin E. Consult your surgeon about the use of nutrition supplements prior to surgery. Remember to fill any pain medication prescriptions and bring them with you on the day of your surgery to avoid any unnecessary post-operative discomfort.
PREGNANCY AND TUMMY TUCK 62) Is it better to do a Tummy Tuck before or after pregnancy? A Tummy Tuck is usually performed after childbearing has been completed; however, some women may be considered candidates for tummy tucks even before childbearing. A patient may still have children after a tummy tuck, but abdominal stretching during pregnancy may offset much of the benefit of the procedure. Further abdominal contouring procedures may be recommended after childbirth.
A patient who has lost large amounts of weight, for example, may have substantial overhanging skin of the lower abdomen. If she plans on pregnancy in only the distant future, the advantages of doing a Tummy Tuck may outweigh the disadvantages. This would also be the case for women with undesirable scarring on the lower abdomen from previous surgeries (such as a C-section). A mini Tummy Tuck may sometimes be advisable even if future pregnancies are planned.
63) What about pregnancy? Can I get pregnant after a mini Tummy Tuck procedure without affecting its result? In most cases (not all cases), women considering Abdominoplasty should not be considering additional pregnancies, or they may have the need for a second procedure to re-tighten the belly.
64) I had a full Tummy Tuck operation 3- yrs ago, I did not want any more babies. I have just found out I am pregnant with twins. I am worried I may not be able to stretch enough for the babies? What will happen? Congratulations on the pregnancy. Your muscles will stretch and no harm will come to the babies, but a lot of what was done at the original surgery may be undone. You may require another procedure in the future.
65) I am an attractive 30 yr. old woman but after 3 c-sections my lower abdomen is poochy and beginning to sag. Would liposuction work on this or would I need to get a tummy tuck? It sounds as though there is excessive skin and muscle laxity which liposuction will not help. A full Abdominoplasty would be the best procedure for you depending upon skin excess.
66) I am thin but have a pouch from pregnancy. What would you suggest in my case? Mini tummy tucks are indicated when there is not a lot of loose skin or stretch marks and only the part of the abdomen below the navel protrudes. It can be combined with mid-section liposuction for greater results.
67) Can I have a baby even though my belly button was moved during a Tummy Tuck last year? A Tummy Tuck will not interfere with having a baby; however, pregnancy may undo some of the benefit of the tummy tuck.
68) Can I have a Tummy Tuck procedure during a C-Section or Natural Delivery? Having a Tummy Tuck procedure during a C-section or natural delivery is not recommended. We strongly advise you not to conduct such an operation. A woman's hormones have changed tissues so the child can pass. There is much stress on the body during delivery. Distended tissues have not yet shown what laxity will remain. There is a new born child wanting care and attention.
69) What will I look like after my pregnancy? Do I need a Tummy Tuck to get my abs back?
PERSONAL ISSUES CONCERNING TUMMY TUCK / ABDOMINOPLASTY
70) I had a Tummy Tuck in 2000 and then I had to have a hysterectomy. The cut made for the hysterectomy was on top of the previous scar from the tummy tuck. It left a terrible purple, wide scar. Would a scar revision fix this problem?
A scar revision is all that is needed. Both scars would be removed and a new scar made which would, likely, heal in an acceptable manner, much like after your first procedure.
71) I have many large stretch marks on my abdomen and hip area. I would like to get a tummy tuck, but I am thin and have a minimal amount of skin to pull. What do you recommend, should I see a reconstructive surgeon? If your goal is to remove the stretch marks this is difficult to achieve particular in the hip region. The abdominal marks may be removed by an excision of some of the affected skin as part of a "mini or full" Tummy Tuck or some variation of such. A consultation with a surgeon would be necessary to determine if anything would help. A much faster option is to send at least 3 pictures of the areas you want reconstructed and Cosmetic Harmony will help you to achieve your goals.
72) What about my stretch marks? Can a Tummy Tuck remove them? In many cases, a Tummy Tuck does help rid of stretch marks because it removes most of the "stretched out" skin below the navel.
73) I'm interested in Abdominoplasty. If I have stretch marks all over my lower abdomen and above the navel area, would I still have stretch marks after the surgery? After your Abdominoplasty, the stretch marks that are now above your navel will be repositioned well below it and therefore much less objectionable; however, not all will be gone.
74) Is there a surgery that can completely remove severe stretch marks? If so, where can I get this done? No. There is no laser or any other procedure that allows for complete removal of stretch marks. If they are on the abdomen and a Tummy Tuck is otherwise needed, many can be removed in this manner.
75) What is the best non-surgical way to get rid of deep stretch marks caused by rapid weight gain during pregnancy?
If the stretch marks are red, they can be reduced with a laser. They tend to progress to white anyway and these are very poorly treated by laser, DermaPeel, dermabrasion, etc. If you have a lot of excess skin, atummy tuckprocedure can be performed to surgically remove the stretch marks. All other treatments may improve deep stretch marks by 10% to 15% at best.
76) I also have skin which hangs over the sides of my hips. Can a Tummy Tuck fix that too?
If you have excess skin and fat which hangs over your hips, you should consider the lowerbody liftprocedure. The body lift includes anouter thigh liftandbuttock lift, in addition to the tummy tuck. Please see those sections on Cosmetic Harmony’s website ( ) for photos and more information.
77) Can sagging skin on upper thighs be corrected at the same time as tummy tuck? Absolutely, both the abdomen and the thighs can be addressed during the same operation. However, this is a rather lengthy surgery and patients must be in excellent health to withstand both operations at once.
78) Will my waist line be affected by a Tummy Tuck procedure? Yes. As an added benefit of the tummy tuck, not only will the abdominal region be firmer and flatter, but the waist will be smaller as well.
79) I have become increasing distressed about my burgeoning breast size. I would also like to have a waist again. Can I have a breast and Tummy Tuck procedure? Yes, you can have both cosmetic surgeries performed; however, it’s recommended that if the Tummy Tuck is a circumferential or 360 Tummy Tuck, the surgeries will not be conducted at the same time, but split into two surgeries ranging a few months apart.
80) Is Abdominoplasty a good way to lose weight? No. Diet and exercise are the best means of removing unwanted fat, and a healthy lifestyle is an important factor. However, some people find that no matter how careful they are with food and however hard they exercise certain areas of fat are difficult to reduce or remove.
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