At Aesthetic Surgical Arts/Mia Bella Donna Medspa in Overland Park, KS, we are passionate about helping our clients feel better about themselves. Among our most popular cosmetic procedures is abdominoplasty, known colloquially as a tummy tuck. If you’re a relatively healthy adult with abdominal concerns in the Kansas City area, there’s a good chance this procedure will be a good fit for you. Keep reading to learn more about what you can expect during surgery.
Are You Awake for a Tummy Tuck?
No, you are not awake for a tummy tuck. Before your procedure begins, we will administer general anesthesia. This powerful medication simultaneously numbs your entire body and puts you to sleep. This ensures that you don’t feel any pain or mental or physical discomfort during surgery.
Once your procedure is over, your incision will be sutured closed and wrapped in surgical dressings to protect the wounds while they heal. You will be observed as the anesthesia wears off to ensure you are alert enough to go home. Furthermore, your recovery guidelines will be reviewed, and we will gladly answer any questions you have. Note that you will not be able to drive yourself home. It can take up to 24 hours for the sedative effects of the drug to wear off fully.
Do I Qualify for This Procedure?
Most people who have concerns about their abdominal region and are relatively healthy will qualify for a tummy tuck in the Kansas City area. To verify that this is the ideal procedure for you, Dr. Joseph Camarata will discuss your concerns, goals, and comprehensive health. He will also evaluate your abdominal region to verify that this procedure will be effective. Here are some signs that you will be deemed a good fit for surgery.
You Are a Non-Smoker
There are many factors that will be considered when determining who is a good fit for surgery. If you’re a smoker, you may qualify depending on your heart and lung health, blood pressure, and other medical factors. However, even if your overall health is good, you must be able to go four consecutive weeks without consuming nicotine.
There are many mandatory preparation steps, and one of them is to refrain from nicotine consumption for two weeks prior to surgery. This is, primarily, to help ensure that your vitals are good before surgery. Consuming tobacco products can increase blood pressure significantly. Moreover, if you’re a smoker, you must be willing and able to refrain from tobacco consumption during the first two weeks of your recovery.
You Have Healthy Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Systems
Your heart and lungs must be healthy to qualify for abdominoplasty. This is because intubation occurs to protect your lungs from stomach acid and other fluids after you have been numbed and put to sleep. If you suffer from heart or lung problems, general anesthesia may not be safe for you. Another reason cardiovascular health is important is that you will need to discontinue the use of NSAIDs and other blood-thinning drugs prior to surgery.
You Are Free From Metabolic Diseases
If you suffer from poorly controlled diabetes, you will be considered a poor fit for this procedure. Fasting for several hours prior to surgery is necessary. During your initial consultation, Dr. Camarata will go into greater detail about preparation instructions. This will include specific rules related to when you should stop taking certain drugs and supplements. However, you should be prepared for a two-hour dry fast and an eight-hour fast, only allowing clear liquids.
You Have a Ventral Hernia
A ventral hernia is another indication for this procedure. This type of hernia describes the protrusion of local tissues, like an intestine, through the abdominal wall. Unfortunately, having a history of ventral hernias drastically increases the risk of having another one in the future. Therefore, it is very important that you opt for complete abdominoplasty so weaknesses in the abdomen can be reinforced in addition to treating the hernia.
You Have Stress Urinary Incontinence
Are you afraid to laugh in front of others because you may have urine leakage? Do you wish you could jump rope but feel like you can’t because you may urinate a little? If so, you may have stress urinary incontinence. There are a number of reasons this condition can occur. For instance, pregnancy, especially a pregnancy that involves vaginal childbirth, can cause stress urinary incontinence.
You Have Excess Abdominal Skin
Excess abdominal skin is another indication for a tummy tuck. If you only have excess skin below your navel, you may be the perfect fit for a mini tummy tuck. A mini tummy tuck does not alter any tissues above the navel. If you have excess lower and upper abdominal skin, a full tummy tuck is probably a better fit for you. You will probably be a good candidate for an extended tuck if you have excess skin covering your abdomen, lower back, and hips.
You Have Loose Abdominal Skin
As we age, our body starts to produce elastin and other essential substances at a reduced rate. This leads to a number of problems, including skin that is no longer elastic as it once was. Loose skin is a common problem faced after giving birth or losing a significant amount of abdominal fat. Abdominoplasty can tighten loose abdominal skin.
You Have Diastasis Recti
Diastasis recti is yet another indication of a tummy tuck. In some cases, this post-pregnancy “pooch” starts to smooth out within 12 months of giving birth. In other cases, even with regular abdominal exercises and a healthy diet, the protruding lower abdomen cannot be corrected without abdominal surgery.
Other Frequently Asked Questions Answered
How Much Weight Loss Can I Expect?
Individual results vary based on the amount of excess tissue present and the scope of the procedure. You should generally expect to lose three pounds of excess tissue if you are only getting partial abdominoplasty. You should generally expect to lose four pounds of excess tissue if you are getting complete abdominoplasty. You should generally expect to lose five pounds of excess tissue if you are getting an extended tummy tuck.
Can This Procedure Be Combined With Others?
Yes, you can get abdominoplasty at the same time as other cosmetic procedures. For example, it is commonly performed in conjunction with liposuction, the gold standard of fat removal. Liposuction has been used since the 70s to remove excess adipose tissue from stubborn trouble areas. One great thing about this procedure is that it can be used to remove up to 11 pounds of fat from virtually any region of your body.
The main caveat to this is that it is ideal for removing fat in areas with at least an inch of pinchable fat. Typically, only smaller areas, like the underarms or submental region, can be improved by liposuction in the absence of at least an inch of pinchable fat. Both men and women with significant excess fat deposits commonly seek liposuction. Women who get abdominoplasty also commonly get a breast reduction or augmentation and a breast lift.
How Long Will My Recovery Take?
After surgery, you should be prepared to dedicate two weeks to resting and recovering. Depending on many factors, including the scope of your procedure, you may be able to return to work after a week. However, you may want to schedule two weeks off from work. After the initial recovery period, you will need to refrain from vigorous exercise for an additional four to six weeks. Your progress will be reviewed one, two, and six weeks after surgery.
What Exercise Can I Do After Surgery?
During the first two weeks following surgery, your exercise routine should revolve around walking. During the first 24 to 48 hours post-op, you should focus on resting and relaxing. It may feel frustrating to lie idly while there are things that need to be done. Lean on your support system during this time. You should not be bending over or lifting anything. After a day or two, you should get out of bed every two hours and get a bit of walking in.
After 12 or 13 days of walking a bit farther each day, it will be okay to add a stationary bike to your workout routine. During weeks four to six of your recovery, you can ease back into some other activities. Just be sure to exercise at no more than 75% of your usual intensity. You should not consider swimming until at least 42 days post-op. You should not do any isolated abdominal exercises during the first 12 weeks post-op.
How Should I Care for My Incisions After Surgery?
During the first four weeks following surgery, you will need to wear your compression garment 24 hours a day. During weeks five and six of your recovery, you will need to wear your compression garment for 12 hours a day. You may not bathe during the first six weeks post-op. However, 24 hours after surgery, you may shower.
Do your best to keep your surgical tape dry. When your surgical tape gets wet, start by patting most of the moisture away with a soft, clean towel. Then, dry it completely with a hairdryer on a cool air setting.
How Long Will My Results Last?
You can generally expect your abdominoplasty results to last a lifetime. If you are seeking this procedure to correct diastasis recti, you can expect the sutures put in place never to dissolve. However, if you get pregnant in the future, your rectus abdominis muscles may separate again despite the sutures.
All of the fat cells excised during this procedure are gone forever. Your body stops producing fat cells at the age of 25. However, if you don’t maintain your weight after surgery, the fat cells remaining after surgery can still expand to accommodate more excess energy storage.
How Much Weight Can I Gain After Surgery?
You should try to gain no more than 10 pounds of fat following surgery. If you gain and subsequently lose a lot of abdominal fat, you may be left with loose skin again. Moreover, you may have excess skin.
Discover Today How You Can Improve Your Contours in the Kansas City Area
If you think this procedure could improve your quality of life, contact us now at Aesthetic Surgical Arts/Mia Bella Donna Medspa in Overland Park, KS to schedule an initial consultation. We’ve helped many people in the Kansas City area improve their appearance, and we can’t wait to help you restore your confidence.
