Abdominoplasty is a cosmetic procedure also known as a tummy tuck. Patients with loose, hanging abdominal skin choose this surgery to flatten and tone their tummies. If this sounds like your desired aesthetic, tummy tuck surgery might be right for you.
At Maryland Plastic Surgery and PURE MedSpa, we perform skilled abdominoplasty procedures. Our years of expertise in plastic surgery allow us to use the latest innovative techniques. You will look like a million bucks after your tummy tuck procedure!
Who Needs Abdominoplasty?
Patients have loose abdominal skin and poor abdominal muscle tone for many reasons. Many of these factors are outside of your control, which is what makes abdominoplasty such a rewarding procedure. These are some potential reasons you might struggle with loose skin around your tummy.
Pregnancy
If you have ever been pregnant, you probably have some loose skin in your abdominal area. This is because your skin stretches to make room for your growing baby during pregnancy.
After childbirth, the skin is not always able to bounce back into its original tight position. This leaves you with loose, hanging skin flaps that make your tummy look looser and less toned than before. Tummy tuck surgery can help.
Major Weight Loss
If you have lost a lot of weight in a relatively short period of time, you may have loose skin. When you lose weight very quickly to improve your health and mobility, your skin loses elasticity. It does not have time to adjust to your lower body fat percentage, so the skin remains stretched. This can lead to loose, rippled skin around your abdomen.
Damaged Abdominal Muscles
Pregnancy, childbirth, strenuous exercise, and injuries can all lead to poor muscle tone in your abdomen. The muscles can become separated (a condition known as diastasis recti) or damaged. Combined with loose skin, this can interfere with your desired aesthetic for your tummy.
During abdominoplasty, we reposition your abdominal muscles to keep them firm and strong. This will help you slowly recover your abdominal muscle tone and achieve your desired look.
Aging
As you get older, your skin produces less collagen. This fiber keeps your skin flexible and strong, allowing it to snap back to its original position. Without enough collagen, you may start to notice loose skin around your abdominal area. A tummy tuck procedure can reshape this area to make your skin firmer and more youthful-looking.
The Tummy Tuck Procedure
If you meet any of the criteria for an abdominoplasty, you might be wondering how to get started. A tummy tuck procedure will repair damaged abdominal muscles and tighten the skin around your tummy to give you a more contoured appearance. Here’s how it all works.
Initial Consultation
We book a consultation with every patient who is considering a tummy tuck. This allows us to get to know you and your medical history. We will evaluate your abdomen to determine whether abdominoplasty is right for you.
Most patients who don’t plan to give birth in the future and have maintained a healthy weight for at least a year are good candidates for this procedure. When you come in for your initial consultation, you can ask any questions you may have.
Surgery
You will go under general anesthesia for the tummy tuck procedure. We then make incisions on your lower abdomen so that they can be easily hidden later on. This allows you to wear low-rise bottoms and bathing suits without worry.
Once we make the incisions, we will move your skin and other tissues out of the way to expose your abdominal muscles. Any loose, stretched, or damaged muscles will be repaired and tightened to give you a firmer tummy.
We then pull your skin and any fat underneath the skin back over your muscles and tighten them. We will remove any extra skin that does not need to be there. Once the procedure is complete, we will sew up the incisions, and you will have a tighter-looking tummy!
Recovery
The recovery process is different for every patient. In general, you should plan to spend between one and four weeks resting and recovering. This means limiting strenuous physical activity and getting plenty of downtime.
Arrange for a ride to and from the surgery center, as you will not be able to drive after waking up from general anesthesia. You may also want to ask for extra help around your house or with your children in the week following your tummy tuck surgery.
After 48 hours, most patients are able to take over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen. This faster recovery is possible thanks to our modern, innovative surgical techniques.
Results
You will start to see your full results between one and three months after your operation. After resting and fully recovering, you can enjoy a slimmer, firmer abdomen for good!
As long as you continue to maintain your weight and do not get pregnant again, your tummy tuck results will last. We remove excess skin entirely, so there is no chance of it returning unless you gain weight or go through another pregnancy.
We highly recommend doing strengthening abdominal exercises once you are fully recovered. This will keep your tummy in good shape and help it look toned. Without excess skin, you can flaunt your hard-earned abdominal muscles!
Get a Tummy Tuck in Glen Burnie, MD
If you are near Glen Burnie, MD, and want to get rid of loose abdominal skin, come to Maryland Plastic Surgery and PURE MedSpa. You can schedule your consultation by phone or online. Book your tummy tuck appointment with us today!
