1. How should I prepare for abdominoplasty surgery?

The best way to prepare is to get into great shape. For some that may mean losing a few pounds for others it may mean walking a couple of miles a day. Positive thinking and eating vegetables are also important. We have seen some women enlist the help of a trainer for a few weeks as well. It is often a good idea to visit your personal physician and ask them for ideas as well.


2. What happens during the tummy tuck procedure?

Once you have decided to proceed, the day of your procedure some marks are made. This is the planning stage where the areas are marked for removal and for liposuction. Once in the procedure room the areas to be removed are numbed and prepared. After removal the muscles are tightened and then some areas are reduced through liposuction if necessary. Then everything is meticulously closed and the light dressings are placed. It usually takes about 2 hours.


3. What is the abdominoplasty recovery period like?

The first few days may seem like a bit of a haze as the pain pills may have that affect. After about three days one usually starts feeling better and moving a bit more. At this point the drains and pain pump come out as they are not necessary in most cases longer than a week. For most people pain is not the biggest concern it is the tiredness that lasts about 4-6 weeks. We usually suggest taking 714 days off of work. Recovery is an individual process that is facilitated by a supportive environment and planning.


4. What are the common side effects of abdominoplasty?

A tighter tummy is the result. This can take a couple of months to get used to. One usually feels full after a meal quicker as there is less room in the abdominal cavity to expand. Some women need to buy new clothes as they often go down a size or more. If recovery takes longer there can be swelling and firmness around the incision for several months. Full healing will take a year. The incision often looks better at one or two years than it does immediately following the surgery. Risks of the procedure include blood clots, infection and wound healing difficulties.


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

The shape of a female body is set off by a small waist and slightly larger hips. The male usually has the same waist and hips profile. So the incision location is different and the waist in the male is not pulled as tight as in the female surgery. There are other subtleties, however the waist to hip ratio is the main difference with the males being 1 and the females ideally being 0.7 or less.


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

The best plan is get an hour of exercise a day and continue to eat nutritiously. We suggest plant based foods and activities that you enjoy coupled with plenty of rest as a good start.


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

You will want to look for someone who is a board certified plastic surgeon. There are a lot of cosmetic surgeons, however there is a difference in cosmetic surgeons and plastic surgeons and it is important for a tummy tuck that you are able to find a plastic surgeon who has experience with tummy tucks. You can go onto the ASPS website at www.plasticsurgery,org for a list of board certified plastic surgeons in your area. Another great way of finding a plastic surgeon in your area is by asking a friend who has had a tummy tuck. This is always a good place to start as usually they have done some research already and can give you their experience. On-line you can find a list of providers in your area and can read about their skills and training and look at some results. Call their offices and get a feel for their staff and make sure that they have hospital privileges to perform the surgery in the hospital, as well as in their office or in their outpatient surgery center.