If you’ve lost a lot of weight or had a baby, it might be hard to regain your flat, sculpted stomach despite sticking to healthy habits. In such cases, the tummy tuck can be the best option for you. Here at Manuel Gigena Plastic Surgery in McMinnville, OR, we offer two versions of this procedure to our patients. Let’s have a look at what it involves and who might be eligible.
What Is Abdominoplasty?
This procedure aims to sculpt and flatten your abdominal region. There are three main things Dr. Gigena will do during your surgery. He will be able to remove some extra fat, reshape the abs, and remove any excess skin tissue. As a result, you can regain the slim, flat stomach you may have had trouble achieving solely through good diet and exercise.
Because every patient has different needs, we will discuss your situation with you before proceeding. If we decide that abdominoplasty is the way to go, we can then determine whether you need the full version or a slightly less invasive procedure.
The Mini Tummy Tuck
Many people don’t have large amounts of excess skin or significantly protruding abdominal muscles. They simply have some trouble losing that last bit of fat tissue in their stomach area and need some help to achieve the sculpted look they desire. In such cases, we don’t need to perform full abdominoplasty and move the belly button to a different place. Instead, we can simply remove some fat and skin to help the patient regain their naturally beautiful shape.
Full Abdominoplasty
Sometimes, both the upper and lower region of the abdomen need some work, and the abdominal wall has been stretched so that the muscles can’t regain their original shape without surgical intervention. This can happen either during pregnancy or when a patient has gained an excessive amount of weight. If you need a bigger change, full abdominoplasty might be a better option.
During this procedure, the muscles and fascia of your abdomen will be tightened, excess fat and skin tissue is removed, and your belly button will be repositioned. Often, we combine this treatment with liposuction, so you can lose those last few pounds and get back to your ideal shape at the same time.
How It Works
When you contact us with concerns about your abdominal area, we will invite you to an initial consultation with us. During this meeting, Dr. Gigena and the team can speak to you about what your goals are, whether you’ve tried other methods before, and what caused the issue in the first place. We will also analyze your medical records and ask you about any health concerns you currently have.
Because it is an invasive procedure, we will carefully evaluate whether you’re a good candidate at this time. If so, we can then decide what type of abdominoplasty is most suitable. Before making a final decision, you will be given all the relevant information about pre- and post-treatment care and what will happen during surgery.
Preparing for Your Procedure
There are a few things you should do before coming in to have your surgery. To ensure that you remain safe and have the best outcome possible, you should stop smoking and avoid excess alcohol intake. You also have to pause any blood-thinning medication both before and after the treatment.
It might help to organize everything you’ll need after the surgery. Get meals ready for the first few days and determine who will help you with household tasks like cleaning, cooking, and taking care of your children. This can make the recovery time much less stressful.
Your Appointment
Dr. Gigena will most likely take 2-5 hours to perform your surgery, but this depends on which type of abdominoplasty you choose and how much tissue has to be removed. If you choose to have liposuction at the same time, it may take longer than if you simply want to tighten the muscles and remove some extra skin. You won’t feel any pain while you’re being operated on because you’ll be under general anesthesia unless you have very minor surgery.
Recovery
Many patients will have to stay in the hospital for a night so we can make sure the recovery goes smoothly. However, this depends on your procedure and what has been discussed with your doctor beforehand. You will likely need to take some time off work to recover, and there are several things you’ll need to avoid at first. For example, you can’t drive for a few weeks, and you should wait to exercise for 4-6 weeks after your surgery.
After six weeks, you will be able to see your final results. Because skin and fat cells don’t grow back in adults, this treatment is considered permanent, and you won’t have to come back to have it done a second time. Despite this, gaining excess weight can change the shape of your stomach and make it protrude again. For this reason, you should continue to eat a healthy diet by avoiding highly processed foods and get plenty of exercise.
Who Is This Right for?
Regain Your Naturally Slim Stomach Now
Undergoing a tummy tuck at Manuel Gigena Plastic Surgery in McMinnville, OR can be a great way to firm up and sculpt your abdominal area. Patients love the fact that it’s a permanent procedure, so you will benefit from it for the rest of your life. What’s more, it can reverse the negative effects that pregnancy has on a woman’s body, and loose skin caused by weight loss can be removed. Contact us today to schedule your Tummy Tuck consultation.
