Basic Recap of what is a Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty in the world of cosmetic surgery, is a procedure designed to sculpt and rejuvenate the abdominal area. It's often sought out by individuals who have excess abdominal fat, loose skin, or weakened abdominal muscles, typically due to factors like pregnancy, significant weight loss, or the natural aging process.
Here's a breakdown of what happens during a tummy tuck:
The surgeon starts by removing surplus fat from the abdominal area. This is done through liposuction or other techniques. It's essential to understand that a tummy tuck is not a weight loss procedure; rather, it's about contouring the abdomen.
After the fat removal, the surgeon focuses on addressing loose and saggy skin. They trim away the excess skin, which is a common issue for those who've lost a substantial amount of weight or experienced pregnancy-related changes.
Many people don't realize that a tummy tuck also involves repairing separated or weakened abdominal muscles. This is particularly important for women who've had multiple pregnancies, as it helps restore core strength and stability.
Post-surgery, patients can expect a recovery period of several weeks. There will be some discomfort, swelling, and bruising, but this typically subsides over time. It's crucial to follow the surgeon's post-operative instructions for the best results.
Over time, as the swelling decreases and the body heals, the patient will notice a flatter and more toned abdomen. The final results can be quite dramatic, providing a boost in self-confidence. In summary, a tummy tuck is a surgical procedure aimed at enhancing the appearance of the abdominal area by addressing excess fat, loose skin, and weakened muscles. It's a transformative option for those seeking to regain a smoother and firmer midsection, but it's crucial to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your goals, expectations, and whether you're a suitable candidate for the procedure.
Before I start this blog, I want to say that I’m not a doctor. I’m just talking about my own experience. Its information for you to consider, if you are contemplating this procedure. Your experience would be different from mine and would depend on a lot of external factors.
So, lets dive in about 10 things no one tells you about Tummy Tuck;
1. It is a super major surgery. It takes at least 8 to 10 weeks to recover movement without pain. It is important to know that you will need major help because of limited movement for the first 7 days. For first 5 days, there is a tube and plastic container attached to the region where surgery sutures are there. This is called a drain. There is a constant drainage of reddish fluid from the surgery site. You will have to empty out the container once a day, keeping the drain clean and restarting the drainage by compressing container against the gradient. The drainage is very important to keep a seroma from happening. I will discuss more about seromas a little later.
This is the first week of my surgery. I was in pain for first two days but after 3rd day, I stopped painkillers because I didn't need them. But you should follow your doctor's instructions. 12 weeks are up but I still have slight swelling.
2. Since this a major surgery, you should expect to have major sutures where the skin connects. Usually, it is near the bikini line so they are usually not visible. But the sutured area will develop scars. You will have to take care of the scars according to your doctor’s instructions to flatten the scars, prevent dark or keloid scars. If you want to know how to deal with scars and swelling, then there is another video about it in my Tikok. You can have a look at it.
These are my sutures at first week versus 8 weeks.
3. There is chance of post op infection, so it’s super important to take care of your wound site and the site where they insert the drain. You are allowed to take a shower after 7 days but don’t sit in the bathtub. Now, even though after 7 days the tube is removed but the stiches are covered, usually by surgical or silicon tape. This tape slowly peels off your skin as you heal. Usually, the tape is removed within 2 weeks from the date of surgery. So even if it gets itchy, try to resist touching it. After the tape come off then you can start scar management.
4. Expect quite a bit of swelling and bruising. I was literally bruised blue in the entire tummy and side area where the needle had gone under my skin for liposuction. Certain areas of my sides still were sore to touch after 4 to 6 weeks. I dealt with them as per my doctor’s instructions. He gave me serum which helped.
I have talked about scars from tummy tuck in another article in this blog. If you want to know how to deal with scars and swelling, then there is another video about it in my tiktok on NIFTY AT FIFTY. You can have a look at it. There more details on this procedure and other procedures like rhinoplasty, face lift and buccal fat removal. So, you can go and check that out. Link is added to this picture.
5. About less than 5 percent women can develop a seroma after the procedure. Now this is true for most plastic surgery procedure, whether you are thinking of breast implants, butt lift or tummy tuck. So, what is a seroma. Basically, if the surgery site where the liposuction has been done or implants have been placed in your body, does not drain properly through the tube that I had mentioned in part of this series, then blood begins to pool in a confined area under your skin. The size of seromas vary.
I know most people think it wont happen to me. That’s what I thought too but turns out Murphy’s law applies specially to me. So I was one of those who got it. Mine was between 45 to 65cc in volume so it was a medium sized seroma. Now if these seromas are filled with blood and plasma, then your doctor can decide to drain it using needles or they can let it go away on its own.
In my case, my seroma was filled with clotted blood. And despite several attempts it didn’t drain. So, for me the only option was to have go away naturally because I didn’t want to consider the alternatives.
But you need to keep an eye on it. If it begins to grow, is too painful or skin on top starts becoming red, then you must rush to hospital and get it looked at. So, this is one factor for you to keep in mind.
6. You lose sensation around the belly button. Now this area is the ground zero for the liposuction procedure. The doctors use this to insert the needle under your skin in your abdomen, so this area is most traumatized in the tummy tuck surgery. As a result, there is nerve damage in this area that makes it completely numb. You can’t feel anything inside or outside on the navel. It feels weird. The numbness lasts 6 months to a year. Yes, a year. Sometimes it doesn’t return at all or returns partially. So that is a factor to consider too.
Now this area around belly button is the most swollen part in this surgery and is also the place where the last of your swelling will dissipate. So be prepared for a bit of a bulge for up to 6 months. It can also be a lopsided bulge if you have a seroma. My doctor gave me serum which helped.
I have talked about it in another article. If you want to know how to deal with scars and swelling, then there is another video about it in my TikTok. You can have a look at it. My TikTok is @NIFTY AT FIFTY. More details on this procedure and other procedures like rhinoplasty, face lift and buccal fat removal. So, you can go and check that out.
7. There are variations within the tummy tuck procedure itself. The variations depend your physical condition. These are like how of fat is there between the muscles and skin, how much skin needs to be removed and what is the pre-existing tightness of your underlying muscles. Now if muscles need to be tightened then the doctor needs to do that along with liposuction and skin tightening. Again, for these details you will need to talk to your surgeon. Personally, I had started weight training 6 months before I wanted to go for the surgery. The idea was not to lose weight but to tighten my muscles as much as I could. Any edge I had in recovering faster was good. So, I started lifting kettlebells. I started from 8 lbs and reached 40 lbs in 6 months. It’s a personal journey though. If you want to see some kettlebell exercises that you want to start then see in my TikTok or YouTube accounts of Nifty at Fifty.
8. Be prepared to wear a waist trainer for atleast 2 to 6 months. Waist trainer or compression belt keeps the swelling in check and helps in making the shape of your tummy and sides aesthetically pleasing. Basically, it helps you get the shape that your looking for.For first 1 month, it is mandatory to wear the belt. Infact, for the first month, you even have to sleep with it on. It’s not the most comfortable experience but it is needed to make sure there is enough compression on your body to reduce swelling quickly and not get seromas.
Not all waist trainers or shapers are the same. There is another blog article about the types of waist trainers. Have a look at it for more details. If you want to straight way go to my recommendations, then click on the link below.
After the first week, you can start putting serums on your tummy along with the belt to reduce swelling. I have talked about it in another video about scars from tummy tuck. If you want to know how to deal with scars and swelling, then there is another video about it in my TikTok. You can have a look at it.
I have created an entire scar management package, that my doctor had given to me. This is to be applied for a period of atleast 6 months to prevent dark, raised keloid scars. More details are in another blog article within this site. Have a look. I also used this same package to get rid of my wrinkles on my face. So you can use it for dual purpose. If you want to see my recommended package then go directly to link below.
9. Pre-existing muscle tone will decide how flat your tummy gets. Now, if your surgeon has tightened your ab muscles along with your tummy tuck then, you will get a pretty good definition for your abdomen but keeping it flat means you will have to exercise for a 6-pack ab, if you are expecting it. Keep a check on expectation versus reality. You will still have to maintain a healthy diet and exercise to reach your desired results.
But this doesn’t mean that you start exercising immediately. Start slow, usually after 6-8 weeks have passed. Start with simple exercises and then according to your comfort progress to next step. If are not sure, then ask your doctor.
Final result will take time to show but here is my result after 10 weeks. Scars and my seroma are still there but I can hide them strategically under clothes. My confidence has soared. You can go into the pool after 4 weeks, so I wore a two-piece swimsuit for the first time in my life. It was an achievement for me.
10. Most common thing people want to know is that will I gain weight again in my tummy after the procedure. Answer is no but with 2 exceptions. Now, because you have had liposuction that means almost all your fat cells are gone. We don’t grow new fat cells so if you maintain a healthy diet and good exercise plan then you don’t gain weight in your abs.
Now, let's talk about the 2 exceptions.
First, is obvious. If you have an exceptional weight gain after the procedure, then your effect of liposuction will be gone too. So, during liposuction, not all fat cells are taken out. Some get left. Now even though you can't grow new fat cells, but the left-over ones can become bigger to accumulate weight. So, if you have a bunch of weight increase then those cells will become big too.
Second exception is pregnancy. If you become pregnant then your skin will stretch, and fat cells will restructure to nullify the effects of tummy tuck.
Finally, carefully plan and research where you want to get your surgery done. Which doctor is reputed, and which clinic goes above and beyond. The cost in US is usually 8000 to 12000 dollars. It is not covered by insurance. I got my surgery done in India. Similarly, Turkey is very famous for medical tourism.
My doctor was Dr Sunil Chaudhary. He is head of department of Trauma and Craniofacial reconfiguration surgery at Max Hospital chain in India. He also practices in UK, Australia and New Zealand. And he is in top 3 surgeons of India in this area. In India this same surgery costs from 5000 to 8000 US dollars. Plus, the care is exceptional. There are hospitals that will arrange everything for you from airport pickup, hotel stay, pre-surgery tests, surgery, post-surgery care and entire recovery process in this amount. So, these are the things to consider.
That in sum total is my experience in this matter. I hope this helped you in visualizing the overall tummy tuck procedure to make an informed decision.
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XOXO (Yes, from Gossip Girls)
Nifty at Fifty AKA Sony G
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