| Dr. Joseph A. Mele is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Here the Doctor has answered some of the common questions bizymoms visitors have about Tummy Tuck.
Q. What is a Tummy Tuck?
A. The tummy tuck is an outpatient procedure that provides a way to restore your abdominal wall after pregnancy and weight loss. When combined with Breast Enhancement it has been nicknamed the Mommy Makeover. It provides three benefits. Reduction of loose skin, removal of excess fat and tightening of the rectus sheath and abdominal muscles which provide the foundation for a flatter tummy.
Q. What are the benefits of a tummy tuck?
A. While liposuction can reduce the fat in the abdominal wall. Tummy tucks can benefit all three major components of the abdominal wall. By addressing the skin and muscle, in addition to the fat, the procedure repairs and sculpts the entire abdominal wall. While diet and exercise are important adjuncts to the procedure, a tummy tuck improves your shape in ways that diet and exercise cannot. If you have a depressed C-section scar, or fullness above or below this scar, it can be addressed at the same time.
Q. Who is an ideal candidate for a tummy tuck?
A. Women tend to be better candidates for tummy tuck. If you are near your desired weight, in good health and physical shape, and have muscle laxity, disproportionate fat or loose skin on the lower part of your abdominal wall, you are a good candidate for this procedure.
Q. How is a tummy tuck performed?
A. The tummy tuck is normally performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. I keep my tummy tuck patients in the surgery center overnight for safety and comfort. I also routinely use a pain pump which supplies local anesthesia to your abdominal wall for an additional 24 to 48 hours after surgery. By increasing your comfort, pain pumps can help you get moving, and recovering, faster.
Q. How long does tummy tuck surgery take?
A. Mini tummy tucks may take one to two hours. Full tummy tucks take two to four hours. Since it is performed under general anesthesia, you may remember going into the operating room and the next thing you know, it’s completed. The most common question I get after surgery is, "When are we going to start?" It’s that quick.
Q. Are there risks and complications to a tummy tuck?
A. There are risks and benefits to every procedure, and it is important to weigh the risks versus the benefits, for every procedure, with every patient. While the risks of surgery are small they are finite. The most common complications are the same as with any cut - bleeding, infection, scar formation and delayed wound healing. These should be discussed in detail with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon as part of your initial consultation. If you have any medical problems these should also be discussed, and optimized, prior to proceeding, to reduce your risks.
Q. How much does a tummy tuck cost?
A. The total price of surgery should include the plastic surgeon, anesthesia, surgery center, labs, post operative garments, pain pumps (when used), pain medication, and follow-up appointments. The price varies depending on what needs to be done, and financing may also be an option.
A consultation appointment is the first step to getting an accurate estimate. Prices can vary widely ($3000 to $10000+), and the initial consultation appointment should provide a realistic number. I find some patients presenting for a tummy tuck can be treated with liposuction alone which normally has a lower cost and a quicker recovery, while patients with large amounts of draping skin will require longer, more involved surgery with a higher cost.
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