At The Plastic Surgery Center, with offices conveniently located in Bradenton and Sarasota, FL, we are proud to offer our patients the opportunity to achieve a flat and toned midsection through the procedure called the tummy tuck. This procedure offers many different benefits and has become one of the most popular body contouring procedures among men and women who want to improve their abdomen the easy way.
What Are the Benefits of a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck is one of the most popular body contouring procedures because it is so effective. It can completely transform the midsection of both men and women who want to achieve an aesthetically pleasing abdomen. It doesn’t require hundreds of crunches or a restrictive diet to achieve results: just one appointment.
Both men and women can benefit from this procedure and reach their aesthetic goals, feel confident in their own skin, and finally buy that bathing suit and wear it with pride.
There’s No Diet Required
Abs are made in the kitchen, but even when you follow a strict diet, you still can’t always achieve abs of steel. Losing weight and toning your midsection will help improve your abdomen to some extent, but it will not address loose skin. So even if you do achieve those abs of steel, you’ll never see them if you don’t first eliminate the stubborn fat and excess skin that’s hiding those muscles.
One of the benefits of a tummy tuck is that it doesn’t require that you begin another fad diet to achieve a flat midsection. All it takes is one procedure, and you’ll get the kind of results that you may have never dreamed possible, and you won’t have to undergo a restrictive diet to earn those results.
It Removes Excess Fat Cells
If you’ve always struggled with abdominal fat, this procedure can remove it permanently. During the procedure, Dr. Scott will use liposuction to gently suction fat cells from your abdomen. Once these fat cells are removed, they will be gone for good.
Your body can’t regrow additional fat cells after liposuction. Removing stubborn fat from the abdomen makes a significant difference in your appearance because it helps reveal your abdominal muscles so that you can show off all your hard work in the gym.
It Addresses Loose Skin
There are some treatments designed to help tighten loose skin by stimulating collagen and elastin production, but a tummy tuck is one of the best ways to correct loose abdominal skin because it doesn’t just stimulate collagen production; it removes it entirely. During the procedure, your surgeon will cut away any excess tissue and tighten the remaining portion of the stomach, so all of that loose, hanging skin will be nonexistent once your procedure is complete.
It Can Tighten the Abdominal Muscles
Not only does a tummy tuck tighten the skin and remove excess fat, but it also corrects any issues with the abdominal muscles. It can restructure the abdominal muscles to make them tighter and more toned.
This is especially helpful for women who have suffered from diastasis recti, a condition that results from pregnancy. Diastasis recti occur when the abdominal muscles pull away from one another. This procedure will correct that separation and help you have tighter stronger muscles.
It’s a Customizable Procedure
Another one of the many benefits of this procedure is that we can customize it to your needs and goals. Dr. Scott can perform a mini tuck or a full tuck based on your needs and goals.
The Mini Tuck
The mini tuck addresses excess skin in the lower portion of the abdominal abdomen. It focuses on loose skin and weakened abdominal muscles below the belly button. It is called a mini tuck because it doesn’t address the entire midsection; just the small, lower portion.
This is a good choice for those who don’t need or want to revamp their entire midsection, just the lower portion. If a pouch or mild skin laxity has come to define your lower stomach, you may be a good candidate for the mini tuck.
The Full Tuck
The full tuck addresses the entire stomach. If loose skin, excess fat, and muscle weakness affect your lower and middle abdomen, the full tuck may be the best option for you. One of the differences between the mini and full tuck is the incision location and whether or not the belly button is addressed during surgery.
During your initial consultation, you will meet with Dr. Scott, who will review your problem areas and confirm that you are a good candidate for the procedure. At that time, he will customize your procedure to your goals to help you achieve the best results possible.
It Will Increase Your Confidence
If you’ve finally reached your goal weight, but a significant weight loss or one or multiple pregnancies have left you with excess skin, fat, skin laxity, or abdominal weakness, it may be hard to feel confident about your midsection. If that’s the case, you may qualify for a tummy tuck, a procedure that is guaranteed to help you feel more confident.
If you have worked hard to reach your body goals but are unhappy with the appearance of your stomach, undergoing this procedure will help you finally reach your aesthetic goals and feel more confident about your appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happens During the Procedure?
To begin a tummy tuck, Dr. Scott will make an incision in a strategic and precise location on the abdomen. Doing so will help reduce any visible scarring. Then, he will remove excess skin and tighten the area. Liposuction may be used to remove excess fat from the area. The abdominal muscles may also be restructured and tightened to create a more toned appearance. Once the procedure is complete, sutures will be made, and you will begin your recovery.
Should I Worry About Scarring?
During this procedure, Dr. Scott carefully creates incisions in strategic locations to minimize any scarring. He will make incisions in the least noticeable areas of your abdomen so that you will not notice any visible scarring. During your initial consultation, he will review the incision locations and answer any questions you may have about what kind of results you can expect post-procedure.
How Soon Can I Return to Work?
Most patients can resume work within one to two weeks of the procedure. Based on the nature of your work, your total downtime may vary. Dr. Scott will provide you with more information about your recovery during your initial consultation.
What Kind of Recovery Can I Expect?
Typically, most patients who undergo this procedure spend anywhere from one to two weeks recovering. Your total recovery time will depend on many factors, including your current health, age, the complexity of your procedure, and how much physical exertion is required at your place of work. While you will begin to feel more like yourself within a few weeks of your procedure, you can expect the incision site to take anywhere from six to 12 months to heal and fade.
You will be provided with a compression garment to wear during your recovery to help support your newly contoured abdomen. We also encourage patients to begin exercising as soon as possible to help them recover quickly, increase circulation, and promote lymphatic drainage. However, you should avoid any heavy lifting or intense exercise for one month post-op.
How Can I Make My Recovery Easier?
The best way to ensure a quick and healthy recovery is to make healthy choices. Eating foods that promote healing can make a big difference in helping you recover more quickly. Choosing lean proteins, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates will help nourish your body and give it the foods you need to heal. Enlisting help at home during the first few days of your recovery will go a long way and give you the space you need to rest.
Having someone who can help you with children, meals, and household chores will enable you to rest and recover. Additionally, you should wear your compression garment as directed to help promote healing and lymphatic drainage. Drinking plenty of water, avoiding nicotine and alcohol, and resting when needed will go a long way in helping you recover quickly so that you can enjoy your new midsection as soon as possible.
When Will I Notice Results?
As your body heals, you will notice an improvement in the appearance of your midsection. The changes made to your midsection deliver immediate results, but your final results will be most noticeable within a few weeks of your procedure. As your body and skin mold to fit your new body contours, you will see improvements in your midsection daily.
Will My Results Last Forever?
This procedure is intended to deliver permanent results, but you are responsible for maintaining your results. Gaining weight, getting pregnant after your procedure, or making unhealthy lifestyle choices can negatively impact your results.
It’s important that you maintain a consistent exercise routine, eat a healthy diet, and avoid weight gain or an additional pregnancy after your procedure. Doing so will ensure that your results are long-lasting, and you can enjoy your flat, tight, and toned abdomen for many years.
Who Is a Candidate?
The best candidates for a tummy tuck are men and women who have significant skin laxity, abdominal muscle weakness, and excess fat in their midsection. Women who have experienced one or more pregnancies suffering from excess skin and stubborn fat in their midsection make good candidates for this procedure.
Additionally, those who have lost a significant amount of weight and have excess skin that they can’t treat with non-invasive skin tightening treatments can benefit from this procedure.
The Importance of a Consultation
An initial consultation is the best way to determine if this procedure is right for you. During your consultation, Dr. Scott will evaluate your medical history, learn more about your aesthetic goals, and confirm that you are a candidate. Then, he will customize your treatment plan to help you achieve your desired results.
Get a Flat Stomach the Easy Way
There’s no doubt about it; this procedure really will give you the stomach of your dreams, and you won’t have to go to the gym or go on another diet to achieve it. Increased confidence and abs of steel are within your reach thanks to this effective body contouring procedure. Contact us today at The Plastic Surgery Center located in Bradington and Sarasota, FL, to schedule your initial consultation and learn more about this procedure.