If you have excess skin from major weight loss, your abdominal muscles have been weakened as a result of pregnancy, or you have other concerns about your abdominal area that you want to address, there are many options available. One of these options is the tummy tuck surgery. This type of procedure can offer many benefits for individuals who want to correct weak abdominals or excess skin. But how do you know if the tummy tuck procedure is right for you?
At Rios Center for Plastic Surgery, we can help you determine if this is the right option for you through education about the surgery and through our individualized consultations in Edinburg, TX.
What Is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck surgery, also called an abdominoplasty, is a type of procedure that removes excess skin from the abdominal area, tightens core muscles, addresses excess fat, and can even provide a solution for stretch marks if they are on the skin that is being removed. For many people, abdominoplasty can be a way to restore the body after childbirth or to help resolve excess skin after major weight loss. Abdominoplasties can also help resolve problems such as back pain or urinary incontinence that can come with weak abdominal muscles and excess tissue.
Which Type of Abdominoplasty Surgery Do You Need?
There are two types of abdominoplasty surgery, a full abdominoplasty and a mini abdominoplasty. Each type of surgery addresses different areas and can be suitable for different circumstances. The surgery that is best for you will be discussed during our consultations where we will look at the location of your excess skin and determine the severity of your muscle separation or weakness.
Full Abdominoplasty
A full abdominoplasty is a surgery that is used to address the entire abdominal area from above the belly button all the way to the pelvis. It is the best type of surgery for patients who have loose skin and weak muscles across the entirety of the abdominal area.
During this type of abdominoplasty surgery, a large incision is made from hip to hip to give your surgeon enough room to work. In order to tighten the entire abdominal wall, and remove all of the excess skin, an incision is also needed around the belly button to separate it and pull the skin down into a flatter position.
Mini Abdominoplasty
A mini abdominoplasty may be the right procedure for someone who has concerns that are only present below the belly button. If this is where all of your muscle weakness and excess skin is present, we will likely recommend this type of procedure. This type of surgery, sometimes called a partial tummy tuck, involves a smaller incision, and less skin is removed from the area.
Everything You Can Expect From Your Tummy Tuck Procedure
What Anesthesia Is Used?
The type of anesthesia that is used for your tummy tuck surgery is always a decision that will be made between you and your plastic surgeon. Depending on the extent of the procedure and other factors, we may use local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia.
Where Is the Surgery Performed?
Dr. Rios is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has hospital privileges while also maintaining his own AAAASF-certified surgical center. The location of your surgery will depend on the procedure, preferences, and other factors.
How Long Is This Procedure?
Every case is different with tummy tuck procedures. However, the surgery is typically an outpatient procedure that can be done in several hours, allowing you to return to your own home after it is completed.
What Is Recovery Like?
We seek to make your recovery as fast and painless as possible. One of the benefits of choosing our practice is that we have stayed up to date on all of the latest advancements in tummy tuck procedures. As a result, we typically do not have to put in a drain line which can make the recovery process much simpler. We also use a special medication called EXPAREL® which is injected while you are still under sedation. This medication provides pain relief for up to 3 days post-procedure to help minimize the necessity of using opioids for pain relief.
What Makes Our Tummy Tucks Different?
While we have been performing abdominoplasty surgery for many years, we work hard to stay on top of new developments and continually become even better at our craft. We focus on continued education and collaboration so that we can find ways to make our surgeries better and easier for our patients.
At our practice, we perform over 100 tummy tuck procedures every year. This is a surgery that we focus on because it can make a big difference for patients who have tried everything but still can’t regain strength or get the flat stomach that they want.
Can You Combine Tummy Tucks With Other Procedures?
Abdominoplasty is a surgery that can be performed at the same time as other procedures. We can combine this surgery with breast augmentation, breast lift, liposuction, and more. This is often called a Mommy Makeover procedure and it allows you to address multiple concerns while also making sure you only have one recovery time rather than multiple.
Tummy Tuck Consultations in Edinburg, TX
The best way to find out if you are a good candidate for tummy tuck surgery is to schedule a consultation with us at Rios Center for Plastic Surgery in Edinburg, TX. We would love to meet with you to go over tummy tuck before and after pictures, discuss your individual concerns, and help you choose the right solution for your situation. Call us today or schedule an appointment online.
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