Cirugia Plastica Washington DC

Cirujanos Plasticos - Plastic Surgeons

Tummy Tuck Washington DC

Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is one of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures in the United States. Designed to tighten abdominal muscles and remove fat and flabby skin that has typically been stretched out due to weight gain and loss, as well as from pregnancy. If you are considering having a tummy tuck, there are a few things you should know prior to scheduling a consultation with a plastic surgeon so that you can make a more informed decision and make the most out of your time with your Washington DC Doctor.

How a Tummy Tuck is Performed?

Once you have completed your initial series of consultations and medical testing, you will be scheduled for your tummy tuck surgery.

Once anesthesia is administered, your plastic surgeon will make an incision from the top of one hip, down to just above your pubic line, and then back up over your other hip. Another incision is made around your naval or belly button.

The doctor then gently separates your skin from your abdomen and the muscles along the abdomen wall are tightened by sutures making them more firm and creating a flatter tummy. If there is excessive fat around your midsection, your surgeon will use liposuction.

Once complete, your doctor will then pull the skin down, removing any excess and reposition your belly button. He will then suture the incision area closed, inserting drains so that any fluid created as your body heals itself can drain instead of collecting under the skin and causing complications to arise.

Candidates for Tummy Tuck Surgery

Tummy tucks are a serious cosmetic operation and should not be performed on someone who has only a few pounds to lose, or maybe has a small poochy belly. The best candidates are those who have excessive flab, loose skin and/or stretch marks caused by significant weight gain and loss, pregnancy, genetic predisposition and even age.

There are additional variables your surgeon considers when determining if you are a good candidate for abdominoplasty:

Are you emotionally stable? Do you struggle with depression or severe mood swings?

Do you have realistic expectations for the outcome?

Do you fully understand the risks of the surgery?

Have you maintained your current health through the right combination of dieting and exercise or do you binge frequently? Does your weight yo-yo?

A board certified plastic surgeon will discuss these variables with you and determine if a tummy tuck is a viable option for you.

Before and After Tummy Tuck Surgery

In the weeks prior to your tummy tuck surgery, your Washington DC plastic surgeon will order a battery of health related tests; including blood work, X-rays and a complete medical record analysis to make sure you are physically healthy enough to undergo surgery. He will also ask you to list all medications you are currently taking, whether prescribed, over-the-counter or herbal. He will also ask about alcohol and nicotine consumption and ask you to avoid these before and for several months after the surgery.

There is quite a lengthy recovery time after the surgery and it will be several months before you can begin to see the final results of your tummy tuck take shape.

The first few days following surgery you will be confined to bed with a family member, friend or healthcare provider catering to your needs. You will experience quite a bit of swelling, bruising and pain, and your Doctor will have already prescribed pain medication to help manage your pain.

After a week or so, you should start to feel better and will be allowed minimal activity. At this point, you may be allowed to return to work assuming your job is a sit down position that does not require any lifting. It will be a couple of weeks before you can drive, so you will have to arrange for transportation to your job and follow up Doctor visits.

In approximately 4 to 6 months, your swelling and bruising should be gone, as should any discomfort associated with the incision area or underlying sutures. Your scaring will still be quite prominent; however these should fade, as should any discoloration over the next year.

Tummy Tuck Washington DC

If you seek a Tummy Tuck in Washington DC, as with any cosmetic surgery procedure, it is recommended to seek the advice of a professionally trained and experienced surgeon. Information provided is for general education about cosmetic surgery procedures only. CirugiaEsteticaPlastica.net does not guarantee that it is accurate or complete, and is not responsible for any actions resulting from the use of this information.

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