Deciding to get a tummy tuck is a very big decision, as it can be a pretty invasive surgery with a painful recovery. Before you decide to go through with it, you need to make sure that you fully understand all that is involved in the process.
Starting at the very beginning of the process, the surgery is performed under general anesthesia. You will definitely not want to be awake for this process.
The entire process will take anywhere from two to five hours, in all. A tummy tuck usually begins with a relatively long incision across the abdomen, from hip bone to hip bone.
The incision that is made looks like a smile, with a flat bottom. The sides of the smile form a gentle curve along the pelvis up to the top of the hip bone.
A second cut is made around the belly button to free it from the abdominal tissue. The skin is separated from the abdominal wall, up to the ribs, exposing the vertical abdominal muscles.
If you have been pregnant before, these muscles have probably been substantially stretched out. The rectus muscles are then stitched into a new position, tightening the muscles and reducing the waistline, which is the general goal of the surgery.
After the muscles have been tightened, the excess skin is stretched and removed. The remaining skin is draped over the stomach, and sutured in place.
The belly button is then brought out through the overlying skin in its new location. Are you starting to get queasy yet?
At this point, the surgery is pretty much completed. You need to make sure that you get the right board-certified plastic surgeon.
You can have a consultation with a few different ones, and make sure that you are satisfied with the person you choose. They will also be able to explain the process involved to you during this initial consultation.
The surgeon will take a thorough medical history. He or she will review any medications that you are taking, whether you have any allergies, or have had any prior surgeries or pregnancies.
They will also perform a physical exam to measure the extent of excess fat and the degree of loose skin in your stomach area. You can talk about what you are looking to accomplish, and what you would like to see removed.
He or she will also assess the condition of your abdominal muscles and skin tone while you are standing up and lying down. Once you have decided to go through with the plan, chosen a surgeon, and scheduled your procedure, your doctor will give you a list of pre-operative instructions.
It is very important that you follow all of them exactly. This will likely include some lab testing such as routine blood work, and a cardiac work-up in some cases.
In the two week prior, your plastic surgeon will likely ask you to stop taking certain medications including aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and blood thinners. Certain herbal remedies may also need to be stopped, as they sometimes increase bleeding.
Make sure you tell your surgeon about everything you are taking, even if it does not seem relevant or important to the situation at all. They will be able to tell you what is safe, and how slowly you need to decrease what you are on.
You should stop smoking at least a month before you are going to go under the knife. This is because it can cause a delay in wound healing, and even cause death of the skin.
You can try any of the many different available tools to help you quit. If you are not sure what to try, talk to your doctor for advice about what will work best.
Tell your surgeon if you are using any nicotine replacement products, as these can cause problems in some cases as well. Talk to your doctor about a prescription that can help you replace that chemical in your body while you quit-there are many different things to choose from.
Hypnotherapy or acupuncture may help some people quit smoking, too. Acupuncture involves placing extremely thin needles into the skin along specific acupuncture points to help curb the desire to smoke.
Anything is worth a try, right? Now that you know what is involved, you can make a more informed decision as to whether to proceed or not.
Author Resource:-
Terry Daniels has been a plastic surgeon for over 20 years and has written hundreds of articles relating to plastic surgery. He recommends tummy tuck Utah for your plastic surgery needs.
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