The Truth about Getting a Tummy Tuck
When you lose weight too fast or go through multiple pregnancies, you may feel that your stomach has loosened a bit or become flabby as a result. This is the case when your stomach stretches too much and is unable to contract, leaving behind excess skin and loosened abdominal muscles. However, people are finding a cure to this, in the form of a tummy tuck. This also known as Abdominoplasty and is a surgical procedure that Dr. John A. Kotis performs where the muscles of the abdomen are tightened and the excess skin is removed.
It is Not Liposuction
To most patients, liposuction and tummy tuck are all the same. However, in reality, both of them are completely different. While Liposuction is used to remove fat under the skin, the role of a tummy tuck is to remove excess skin on your abdomen. The procedure works primarily on tightening of the muscles on your stomach and removing any excess skin that may be hindering your overall appearance.
What you should really expect from it?
While most patients that come to Dr. John A. Kotis for a tummy tuck are females that are feeling the after effects of their pregnancies, men are also known to have tummy tuck surgeries done. In a complete tummy tuck procedure, Dr. John A. Kotis will make the first incision in the pubic area which will be carried down through to the level of musculature. This incision will be carried up to the belly button.
After that, Dr. John A. Kotis elevates the skin all the way up to the rib cage and the muscles in your abdomen are tightened and put into their original position using permanent sutures. In addition to that, the external muscles are also mobilized towards the midline, creating a permanent structure. Once that is done, the skin is put back into place, shortened if it is in excess, leaving a scar, typically the size of the bikini line.
What about Post Surgery?
Simply going under the knife for a tummy tuck isn’t all it’s about. Once you have gone through the surgery, Dr. Kotis will place drains on either side of the abdomen for several days to ensure that excess fluid that accumulates between the skin and the layer of muscle is removed.
Typically, if done by a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon like Dr. John A. Kotis this procedure is rarely complicated. However, there are times when complications can occur and some of the common complications that could occur are:
- Infection
- Irregularities in the contour of the skin
- A loss of or change in skin sensation in the area
- Minor Bleeding
- Scarring
- Fluid release / Swelling
Tips for Care from Dr. John A. Kotis
If you have gotten through a surgery, there are a few tips that you would need to follow to make the most of it, such as the following:
- Refrain from smoking for a while until the surgery wound is healed, since smoking is known to delay the healing.
- Limit your activities and take rest to ensure that the sutures and the changes in the body have time to settle in.
If you want a tummy tuck or any other cosmetic surgery please contact Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. John A. Kotis at (847) 250 0350
