A flat stomach is extremely attractive, but many people have problems with this body part. Their skin might sag because they used to be overweight or due to aging, or they might have pockets of fat that don’t go away even with diligent dieting and a good exercise routine. At Aesthetic Surgical Arts and Mia Bella Donna Medspa in Overland Park, KS, we can help Kansas City residents achieve the perfect shape with a tummy tuck, also called abdominoplasty.
This treatment is a type of surgery, during which your doctor molds your tissues and creates the desired shape. It is highly effective and long-lasting, especially if you maintain a healthy lifestyle after your treatment. Abdominoplasty is suitable for almost everyone who is close to their target weight and ready to commit to a good diet and exercise routine. Let’s have a closer look at what this treatment involves and whether it could be a good fit for you.
How Does A Tummy Tuck Work?
During abdominoplasty, your surgeon removes excess fat and skin from your stomach and re-shapes the ab muscles. The treatment can be customized, so you can achieve your individual goals, but there are two main options. A mini abdominoplasty is less invasive, and it takes just two to three hours because only the lower stomach is treated. Your surgeon will make an incision below your belly button.
During a full abdominoplasty, the whole stomach is treated, and several incisions might be necessary. Your doctor might also change the location of your belly button. This treatment is more comprehensive, and it could take up to five hours. After the full tuck, most patients need to stay in hospital for a few days to recover, but after the mini abdominoplasty, some people can go home on the same day. It all depends on your individual situation and general health.
Your Initial Consultation at the Kansas City Clinic
Before we can approve you for treatment, we will need to meet with you and discuss your situation. You can either call us or send us a message via the contact form to book your appointment. The more information you provide, the easier it is for us to determine which treatments are suitable for you. Try to bring your medical records, your insurance information, and details about other treatments you have tried in the past.
We will discuss your situation in detail to find out how long you’ve been struggling with excess tissue on your stomach, how close you are to your target weight, and whether you have ever had cosmetic surgery in the past. When making a decision, we will also take into consideration how committed you are to living a healthy lifestyle. You’re unlikely to see long-lasting results if you don’t take good care of your body, so this is an important factor.
Preparing for Abdominoplasty
Abdominoplasty takes a few weeks to recover from, and you will heal faster if you avoid strenuous activity in the first days. For this reason, it’s best to prepare your home ahead of time. Make sure you have some healthy meals in your freezer, clean your home, and perform any tasks that require lifting before treatment. If you live alone, you might need to get a friend or family member to move in with you for a few days after abdominoplasty.
To prevent complications during surgery, stop using any tobacco products and avoid drinking alcohol in the week leading up to the treatment. Your doctor will give you a detailed list of medications and supplements that could be problematic because they thin the blood. Avoid all of these. Take any drugs that have been prescribed to you by your doctor, since they will help you during recovery.
The Procedure
On the day of treatment, arrive early at the clinic, so you have time to settle in. It’s best not to schedule anything else on this day. Most full abdominoplasties are performed under general anesthesia, so you will be asleep while your surgeon works on you. They will start by making the necessary incisions and then remove any excess fat and skin tissue. Then, they will reshape your muscles, replace the belly button if necessary, and close the incision.
As mentioned, the procedure might take two to five hours, and it could take several more hours until you are fully awake and functional again. Most people will spend two or three days at the clinic because they need to be observed after anesthesia. However, the exact timeline varies, and your doctor will speak to you about the expected recovery time.
Recovery Time
When you’re released from the Kansas City clinic, someone will need to fetch you and stay with you for at least 24 hours. You won’t be ready to resume all your regular activities straight away. Instead, you’ll spend several weeks off work, recovering at home. During this time, your stomach will be carefully wrapped, so the incisions can heal. What’s more, you’ll need to avoid any strenuous physical activities, especially those that require lifting or twisting.
It takes around six weeks to fully recover from a tummy tuck, but you might be able to start gentle exercise like walking or some stretching before then, and people with desk jobs can return to work after 3-4 weeks. You will be asked to attend one or more follow-up appointments at the clinic, which serve to evaluate your progress and the results of your procedure. Your doctor and your insurance company can let you know when it is safe for you to drive again.
Expected Results
Most patients are extremely happy with the results of their abdominoplasty. Because some of your tissues will have been removed, you will see changes to the appearance of your stomach right away. However, the full effects will take some time to show because your body will need time to heal from the procedure.
An abdominoplasty performed by an experienced surgeon can last for years or even decades, but only if the patient lives a healthy lifestyle. Gaining a lot of weight can eliminate the benefits and significantly change the appearance of the stomach. For this reason, patients are advised to exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet for the rest of their lives.
Am I a Good Candidate for Abdominoplasty?
The most common misconception about the tummy tuck is that it is a way to lose weight. But this isn’t the case because only a small amount of tissue is removed during surgery. Instead, this treatment is designed to help patients get rid of stubborn pockets of fat or loose skin. Abdominoplasty is only suitable for people who are in good general health because it is an invasive treatment. What’s more, patients must be prepared to change their lifestyles.
You Have Already Tried Other Weight Loss Measures
The best candidate for this surgery is a person who used to be overweight but has worked hard to achieve their goals. This patient might be disappointed in their results because they have loose skin, or because some areas of their body didn’t respond well to diet and exercise. To make sure all the hard work doesn’t go to waste and they can achieve the desired results, they can come to the Kansas City clinic and get an abdominoplasty.
People who are still overweight can’t take part in surgery because they won’t see good results. Since only a few pounds of tissue can be removed from the body at a time, it’s important that patients try other weight loss measures first. If you’d like to achieve the perfect shape but you still need to lose weight, speak to us about your options. We can refer you to someone who can help you reach your goals, so you’ll be ready for abdominoplasty soon.
You Are Ready To Commit to a Healthy Lifestyle
After your abdominoplasty is over, you can make sure you keep your results fresh by committing to a good diet and regular exercise. This can be hard to achieve on your own, so you might need the help of a good nutritionist or a personal trainer. If you’ve already lost a lot of weight, it’s likely that you’ve learned about good habits, so this will be easier for you.
In addition to eating well and exercising, you might also be asked to give up certain substances, such as nicotine, excessive amounts of alcohol, and illegal drugs. This is because such substances can contribute to aging, dry out your body, and cause wrinkling.
You Are in Good General Health
People who are in good general health and don’t have any major medical issues are likely to be good candidates for abdominoplasty. Before approving you for surgery, we will review all your medical notes to make sure there are no health risks. If you’re currently being treated for a severe condition like heart disease and cancer, having cosmetic surgery might not be safe for you.
Give us all the information you can about your health history and your current situation. This includes what medications you take, whether you have any allergies, and whether you’ve ever been diagnosed with a long-term condition. If it turns out that you’re not eligible for surgery, there are several noninvasive or minimally invasive options, so you can still get treated.
Complementary Treatments
Some people have a very specific cosmetic concern related to their tummy, but others would like a broader makeover. When you come to the clinic, don’t hesitate to tell us about all your problem areas, so we can put together a personalized program for you. Aside from abdominoplasty, many of our patients get liposuction and a facelift. But surgeries aren’t the only treatments we offer.
If you’re not quite ready for an invasive procedure, you can ask our providers about the alternatives. For example, many first-time patients get dermal fillers, which can plump up the face and smooth out any wrinkles. We also provide laser skin resurfacing, microneedling, SculpSure, and a wide variety of facials. Because of this broad spectrum of treatments, we are the perfect place for people who would like to feel rejuvenated and refreshed.
Achieve a Smooth and Beautiful Tummy Now
The tummy tuck is a great treatment for anyone who struggles with sagging skin or excess tissue in their abs. However, it’s only suitable for people who have achieved their target weight and are in good general health. Contact us at Aesthetic Surgical Arts and Mia Bella Donna Medspa in Overland Park, KS and book your initial consultation to find out if this is the right treatment for you. We are happy to help Kansas City residents achieve their ideal shape.
