Those who choose to undergo cosmetic surgery have particular goals in mind. Patients may desire thinner thighs, bigger breasts, or a flatter stomach. No matter the procedure, that result is often patients’ most important concern. Unfortunately, excitement over the outcome may overshadow the need for the time it takes to achieve that end goal. Some patients may have unrealistic expectations of the time needed to heal before showing off their new look proudly fully. A tummy tuck is an excellent example of one such procedure in which patients may not fully understand the necessary timeline to heal properly. Dr. Vincent Marin wants his patients to fully comprehend the procedure’s fundamental nature, from initial consultation to final post-op visit and beyond.
Initial Consultation
During the initial consultation, Dr. Marin will discuss goals, the steps involved in the actual tummy tuck procedure, and any particular ways the patient needs to prepare beforehand. He will also go over some of the procedure options, including a mini versus a full tummy tuck, as well as any other procedure that may be done in conjunction with the tummy tuck, such as a liposuction procedure.
Tummy Tuck Procedure
In a tummy tuck procedure, a horizontal incision is made from one hipbone across to the other. The skin and underlying fat and tissue are then gently lifted and tightened. Excess is then removed before the remainder is sutured back into place. Suppose the patient is undergoing a full tummy tuck. In that case, an incision is also made around the belly button to reshape it and remove excess skin from the upper abdominal region.
Recovery Time
Patients are strongly encouraged to move around beginning the first 24 hours after the procedure. This will allow for proper circulation to the extremities and help speed up the healing process.
Dr. Marin will place a surgical drain before closing the incision. This will allow for blood and any other fluids to be drained out from the treatment area while it is healing. The drains should be periodically emptied out, and patients will be asked to keep track of the amount and color of the fluid collected and emptied each time.
Depending on the amount of fluid that the surgical drains collect, Dr. Marin may remove both drains at once or only remove one of them. Although each patient will have a different healing process, most drains will be removed within one to two weeks after the tummy tuck procedure.
Once the incisions are completely healed over and the drains have been removed, patients may resume most of their normal activities. A light exercise routine that does not involve any weight lifting or stress on the abdomen can usually be started three to four weeks after surgery. In most cases, a regular exercise routine can be resumed six weeks following the procedure. Patients will generally be fully healed within two to three months following the procedure.
With a bit of patience, a sensible eating plan, and working back toward a regular exercise routine, tummy tuck patients will be able to show off their new shape before they know it.
To schedule a tummy tuck consultation, contact Marin Aesthetics.
