1. How should I prepare for abdominoplasty surgery?

To prepare for the tummy tuck surgery or any other procedure, every patient will need a history and physical from the primary care physician to ensure that they are medically stable for surgery. Also, a number of other tests including blood laboratory counts will be carried out to make sure that the patient is ready for surgery. As a patient, nutritional optimization and cardiac exercises can enhance your healing after the surgery. The healing process requires about 120 to 150 grams of protein per day as well as vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C, folate, iron, zinc, and copper.


2. What are the different tummy tuck options?

There are several different types of tummy tuck procedures. These include the mini-tummy tuck, the full tummy tuck, the lipoabdominoplasty, the extended tummy tuck and the circumferential tummy tuck. Each procedure has its own merits and needs to be customized per patient. Most mommy makeovers take advantage of the mini- or full- tummy tuck. In contrast to the above options, most massive weight loss patients benefit from an extended or circumferential tummy tuck procedure.


3. What is the abdominoplasty recovery period like?

Recovery after tummy tuck can range from 10 to 14 days. Typically most patients will require about two weeks to stand up fully upright. This is due to tightening of the abdominal muscles and excision of the excess abdominal tissue.


4. What are the common side effects of abdominoplasty?

All surgical procedures, including the tummy tuck, have potential risks associated with their performance. The decision to have abdominoplasty or other body contouring surgeries is extremely personal, and you"ll have to decide if the procedure will achieve your goals and whether or not the risks and potential complications are acceptable.


5. Does a male tummy tuck differ from a female tummy tuck?

Yes. In a female tummy tuck, the aim is to create an hour-glass contour to the female body. This involves removal of fat from the waist areas. I typically perform my signature High-Definition Tummy Tuck for women. This procedure delivers all the benefits of the traditional tummy tuck but goes several steps further to create a three-dimensional silhouette with six-pack-like fullness over the abdominal muscles and depressions in all of the right places. Not to mention a scar that's placed 1-1" lower, so it's much harder to see. In other words, it's a sculpted result as compared with the flat result of the traditional tummy tuck procedure. Flat is out. Sculpted is in. In a man, the aim is to create a linear masculine body that is flatter and less curvaceous.


6. How can I maintain my figure after undergoing abdominoplasty surgery?

The best way to maintain your new contour is to follow a life style of exercise and healthy eating.


7. How do I find a tummy tuck surgeon in my area?

The best way to find a qualified board certified plastic surgeon is to do your homework. Look at the gallery of your chosen surgeon. Make sure that you like his/her before and after pictures. Look at the pictures critically. Look for scar placement and symmetry. Look for pictures of the same patient from different angles.