Tummy Tuck

It is no secret that the midsection is one of the most susceptible to stubborn fat. You may eat well and take really good care of your body but, for some reason, have noticed that your abdominal area is saggy and squishy beyond what feels comfortable and cosmetically acceptable. The muscles of the abdomen can weaken and stretch during pregnancy or as a result of being overweight. When these conditions are gone, the laxity remains. Sometimes, it can just be a matter of aging and our genetic makeup that results in loose abdominal tissue. Whatever it is that gets us there, we know there’s a way out. Tummy tuck surgery is very common among adults of all ages. If you’re considering this procedure, your thoughts may continually wander to the issue of recovery. Much has been written about how to manage the post-op recovery period after a tummy tuck. Here, we want to discuss the matter of the abdominoplasty scar.

What Type of Scarring to Expect

You might think that every person who has a tummy tuck will have the same scar. This isn’t the case. Knowing this ahead of time, you can ask your surgeon more direct questions about your particular case. What type of incision will they use? How long do they expect the incision to be? Some of the common incision scars that might be incurred by a tummy tuck include the belly button and the lower abdomen.

The lower abdomen is the area most commonly recognized for scarring after a tummy tuck. Here, the surgeon makes the horizontal incision as low as possible without minimizing access to the abdominal muscle and connective tissue. The abdominoplasty incision is nearly always low enough to sit beneath a bikini or underpants. It may or may not extend all the way from one hip to the other. It also may or may not tilt upward at the ends, similar to bicycle handlebars. These are details you’ll learn at your tummy tuck consultation.

The belly button is an area that may come as a surprise to some patients. Here, a scar may appear around the belly button after a full tummy tuck that involves the repositioning and tightening of tissue around the anchored belly button. This means that the belly button remains connected to its underlying connective tissue during the abdominoplasty procedure, it is not disconnected and repositioned. Fortunately, the belly button scar tends to fade nicely after surgery and is barely noticeable once it does.

Why Scarring Occurs

We know that incisions are a type of wound and that, as such, a scar results. If you’re the curious type, you might like a little more detailed description. After surgery, the body makes more collagen to heal the tissue that has been cut. This initial influx of collagen, though, is messy, to be honest. The body is concerned with getting collagen to the area, not with the organization of those protein molecules. As a result, a new scar may have a slightly rippled or puckered appearance. Tummy tuck patients may notice a “dog ear” type of flap at one or both ends of their incision as it heals. Over several weeks, the original collagen that is laid down around the incision is replaced with a more organized matrix of the protein. This is when we see the scar lighten and flatten out more dramatically. Still, if you are interested in a tummy tuck or mommy makeover, know that your abdominal scar will continue to heal over the course of about a year.

You can help your tissue heal optimally by doing just a few things well:

• Strictly adhere to your post-op instructions, including how to cleanse and treat incisions as they heal.
• Do not smoke. If you’re a smoker, you had to quit before surgery. We strongly encourage you to avoid picking up the habit anytime soon. Doing so can rob your tissue of the oxygen and nutrients it needs to rebuild strong, resilient skin after surgery.
• Eat well. The more nutrients you can get into your body after surgery, the better. Drink green drinks. Eat whole foods and lean proteins. Fill the majority of your plate with leafy greens and vibrant vegetables. Doing so provides the body with the building blocks for healing.

Now is a great time for a tummy tuck. To schedule your consultation at our Louisville office, contact us at 502-425-5200.

Tummy tuck surgery offers some exciting rewards. With careful and early planning, patients who schedule abdominoplasty can maximize their outcomes. Here, we discuss the strategies that can help you get the most of your tummy tuck process. 

Choose the right technique for your body.

Fortunately, as you explore your surgical options, your surgeon will conduct a thorough consultation and physical examination before making recommendations. You are not on your own to determine which tummy tuck technique is right for you. Options that your surgeon may discuss include:

• Mini tummy tuck. This abbreviated abdominoplasty technique focuses on the lower abdomen and requires a shorter incision in many cases. Due to the limited area of focus, the mini tummy tuck is not the most common approach to midsection contouring. 
• Full tummy tuck. The full tummy tuck is the standard and most common approach to gaining better contours. This abdominoplasty technique requires incisions from hip to hip. These tend to fade nicely over time and, until they do, are hidden beneath a bikini or underwear. The benefit of full abdominoplasty is that this procedure smooths the midsection from the lower abdomen to the ribs. If needed, the surgeon can reposition the belly button. 
• Extended tummy tuck. The extended tuck is often best suited for adults who have lost a significant amount of weight and have extra skin and moderate fat that extends from the front to the sides of the torso. 

Combine a tummy tuck with liposuction.

Abdominoplasty achieves the best results when the midsection holds minimal to moderate fatty tissue. When a patient leans toward the moderate end of that spectrum, a surgeon may recommend liposuction to decrease the layer of fat cells that lies over the muscle. By reducing excess fat, liposuction accentuates the final outcome of abdominoplasty. Some patients even see the six-pack they didn’t realize they had!

Plan surgery at the right time.

The primary factor that will affect the outcome of abdominoplasty is weight. This may look different than expected. Most people realize that weight gain can affect midsection circumference. Women know that pregnancy after abdominoplasty could result in subsequent muscle laxity or separation. What patients often overlook is that weight loss after abdominoplasty could also degrade the aesthetic results that surgery had achieved. Before undergoing a tummy tuck, a patient should be at their ideal weight.

Are you interested in learning more about what abdominoplasty can do for you? Schedule a visit to our Louisville office at 502-425-5200.

Every day, we are inundated with choices. Fortunately, the decisions that we must make typically do not tax our minds much, if at all. From pouring that morning cup of coffee to brushing our teeth before bed, we do a lot of what we do without critical thinking. This is fine because it leaves more mental energy for those big decisions that come along now and then. Some, like having a tummy tuck, require quite a bit of thought.

If you’re considering the benefits of abdominoplasty, you may have a general idea in mind of why you would like this surgery. Your midsection is soft and maybe a little fluffy. Perhaps your abdominal skin is very loose and saggy. This laxity is the direct reason that most people give for wanting a tummy tuck. However, there are motivations behind this reason, and your plastic surgeon cares about them. Here, we discuss a few healthy reasons for seeking abdominoplasty.

“I want my body back.”

We all know our bodies will change with age and various other factors. When changes occur, whether due to pregnancy or weight changes, it is common for a person to feel that they’ve lost their body. Some feel like they’ve lost their connection to their physical self. Having abdominoplasty sounds like the best way to restore the shape they had years prior. We have a little secret. A tummy tuck might just give you a midsection better than you’ve ever had.

“I want to feel confident about my appearance.”

People who seek plastic surgery often say that they’d like to feel more confident. We understand the relationship between appearance and a healthy sense of confidence. When seeking abdominoplasty, a patient should already feel good about themselves overall. No plastic surgery procedure can create confidence out of nothing. Physical enhancement can, however, improve confidence.

“Diet and Exercise Haven’t Worked.”

We understand that, when the desired improvement has not been achieved, it can feel like diet and exercise habits haven’t worked. They have, just not to the degree one may want. Abdominoplasty is a great complement to a healthy lifestyle. It cannot substitute for good habits but, when it coincides with them, surgery can achieve long-lasting improvement.

If you’re interested in abdominoplasty, we’re here to answer your questions. Call our Louisville office at 502-425-5200 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Salzman.