![Tummy Tuck](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/Article/main_image/stomach-liposuction-abdomen-tummy-tuck-operation-lines.jpg?output-quality=75)
The results of tummy tucks are meant to be permanent. Various factors, including lifestyle choices and other health problems, might alter the span of treatment outcomes. Maintaining a steady weight with a balanced diet and regular exercise is essential to maintaining the quality of the results after tummy tuck surgery.
People who undergo a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty often have a long-lasting and permanent effect. However, if a person has gained weight due to poor diet or fitness, the leftover fat cells might become hypertrophied and increase in size.
What is a tummy tuck procedure?
Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is a surgical procedure to remove extra skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. A complete tummy tuck procedure takes two to three hours; a mini tummy tuck may take an hour or two to complete.
The surgeon will usually make a long incision (12 inches or shorter) between the belly button and the pubic hairline. To release the navel from the surrounding tissue, a second incision is made. The incision for a mini tummy tuck is substantially shorter, and the navel may not be repositioned.
The plastic surgeon next separates the skin from the abdominal wall up to your ribs and raises a huge skin flap to reveal inner abdominal vertical muscles. The surgeon ties these muscles together and stitches them into their new position to tighten them. This strengthens the abdominal wall and narrows the waistline.
The skin is simply divided between the incision line and the navel in a mini tummy tuck. This skin flap is stretched down, extra skin is removed, and the flap is stitched back in place.
The tummy tuck is a major surgery. It uses general or spinal anesthesia. However, owing to major developments in the safety of anesthesia and prevention of post-procedure complications, abdominoplasty can now be performed as an outpatient procedure.
Am I a good candidate for a tummy tuck procedure?
Most people who choose this surgery are postpartum individuals. They may regret the changes in their body shape and look caused by childbearing. It helps repair damaged muscles in many circumstances.
Good candidates for a tummy tuck procedure
- Are lean and ready to maintain a constant weight
- With drooping skin and muscle loss near the abdominal region
- Are unable to diet or exercise for several reasons
- Good overall health with a positive attitude and reasonable expectations
- Healthy postpartum individuals (It is strongly advised to postpone the surgical procedure to restore your pre-baby body until six months to a year after you fully complete childbearing and breastfeeding.)
Not ideal candidates for tummy tuck
- Whose sole objective is to shed a significant amount of weight (It should not be used as a substitute for weight loss.)
- Are planning to get pregnant. (Vertical muscles are tightened after surgery, and subsequent pregnancies might split those muscles, causing difficulties.)
- With severe obesity or health problems
- Who lead an unhealthy lifestyle, such as smoking, drinking, or using drugs
What are the potential benefits of a tummy tuck procedure?
Tummy tuck surgery might improve the person’s confidence and the aesthetics of the body.
Benefits of tummy tuck surgery
- Reduced excess abdominal skin
- Tightened abdominal muscles
- Smoother, firmer skin of the lower stomach and abdomen
- Improved appearance of moderate to severe stretch marks
- Slimmer, more toned waistline and abdomen
Aside from these advantages, tummy tuck surgery can be used to spot-reduce fatty tissue on the waistline, abdomen, and flanks (love handles) using liposuction.
![](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/quiz/weight-loss-surgery/weight-loss-surgery-s1.jpg)
QUESTION
What is weight loss surgery? See AnswerHow is recovery after the tummy tuck procedure?
Recovery from an abdominoplasty could be more complex than other operations. A tummy tuck requires extensive tissue dissection and damage. Your body will go into a reactive inflammatory condition, focusing all its energy on healing and fighting off infections. This means many weeks of tiredness on top of regular post-tummy tuck symptoms.
Common side effects of tummy tuck procedure
- Pain
- A usual side effect and normally peaks two to three days after surgery and then improves as the body heals.
- Your surgeon will offer you a prescription for pain medicine, which will usually be adequate to relieve your discomfort. Resting and allowing your body to recuperate help speed up the healing process.
- Numbness
- After a tummy tuck, some individuals have paresthesia (numbness) and skin tingling. Abdominoplasty entails removing the whole thickness of your abdominal wall, which contains many sensory nerve fibers that carry sensation to the brain.
- When these nerves are injured, you may experience a momentary lack of feeling in the abdominal region.
- Swelling
- Your lower abdomen, hips, thighs, and groin region will swell after a tummy tuck. Swelling occurs as a result of your cells releasing inflammatory fluids to help heal wounds and fight microorganisms.
- The swelling will peak approximately one week following tummy tuck surgery. Then, it will start to disappear. Mild edema will persist in the lower abdomen for a few more months.
- Bruising
Apart from these side effects, people may experience side effects related to anesthesia or other severe complications. Discussing your side effects with your doctor before the procedure is important.
Health News
- One Death, 10 Hospitalizations in Listeria Outbreak Tied to Peaches, Plums
- Charity Scams Get Active Over the Holidays: Expert Tips to Avoid Them
- Too Few Seniors Get Follow-up Care After a Serious Fall
- AI Could Predict a Nonsmoker's Risk for Lung Cancer
- Breast Cancer Rates Higher in Urban vs. Rural Areas
More Health News »
How to maintain the results of a tummy tuck
For many reasons, people may gain weight following a tummy tuck. Understanding how weight gain occurs may help you avoid these problems and maintain your results.
- Lifestyle
- Living an unhealthy lifestyle is the most common cause of undesired weight gain.
- Eating high-calorie foods with a sedentary lifestyle might lead to rapid weight gain.
- A balanced diet and regular exercise are essential to maintaining an optimum physique. Regardless of how many plastic surgery treatments you choose, developing healthy behaviors is the ideal way to look and feel your best.
- Hormones
- If your hormones are out of balance, your body may acquire weight quickly. If exercise and good nutrition are not enough to solve the problem, talk to your doctor about getting checked for a hormonal disorder.
- Stress
- Post-surgery water retention
- The body is placed under a lot of strain because it works to recuperate and mend after surgery. Water is often trapped in the space between your organs, giving you a bloated look.
- Swollen hands and feet may indicate that you require additional time to break down these fluids naturally. Be active and carefully follow your doctor's post-op recommendations.
Gaining a few pounds following your treatment will not jeopardize your overall tummy tuck outcomes. You might fluctuate within 10 to 15 pounds of your target weight without concern. Weight gain of more than 15 pounds can cause skin and abdominal muscles to gradually expand out of position. This might cause a stomach bulge and reduce skin elasticity.
How soon can I see my tummy tuck results?
People are likely to notice a difference in the appearance and projection of their abdomen immediately following tummy tuck surgery. It may not resemble the flat abdomen they imagined. The time it takes for the abdomen to recover may differ among people. People may have noticeable edema after three to four months. However, it might take up to a year to see the complete result.
Swelling makes the abdomen look bloated following rehabilitation. When this heals, the abdomen will start to take on its new form. During the surgery, the skin, muscles, and fat of the abdomen were all restored or changed. These structures require time to recover and adjust to their new surroundings.
Ultrasound massages can help alleviate edema and fluid buildup. The results appear between three and six months but may take up to a year.
What is the outcome of the tummy tuck procedure?
According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the tummy tuck treatment is one of the top five surgical procedures. The results are positive, and people may see instant benefits that restore self-esteem.
A tummy tuck can give the abdomen a more toned and leaner appearance by removing extra skin and fat and strengthening the abdominal wall. If you maintain a constant weight, the benefits of a tummy tuck are generally long-lasting. Some medical difficulties, such as back pain caused by improper posture and the weight of a ventral hernia, could be resolved.
A tummy tuck will cause lifelong scars. Even though the scar heals nicely, it may take up to 18 months or two years for certain people for the scar to diminish and reap the full stomach tuck effects.
If you are unable to shed the increased weight, you may require a tummy tuck revision. Revision surgery is usually more complicated than the first treatment. Doctors advise people to maintain active, healthy lifestyles following surgery and avoid dramatic lifestyle changes.
Subscribe to MedicineNet's General Health Newsletter
By clicking Submit, I agree to the MedicineNet's Terms & Conditions & Privacy Policy and understand that I may opt out of MedicineNet's subscriptions at any time.
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Tummy Tuck. https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-tummy-tuck
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/tummy-tuck
Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/abdominoplasty-tummy-tuck
TUMMY TUCK GUIDE. https://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org/procedure-learning-center/body/tummy-tuck-guide/a
Top How Long Does a Tummy Tuck Last Related Articles
Can a Tummy Tuck Cause Stomach Issues?
Stomach cramps are the most common side effect after the tummy tuck procedure. Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is a cosmetic procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen or tummy. Scarring, pain, swelling and other issues may occur after a tummy tuck.Beat Belly Fat
Could your job be to blame for your belly fat? It might be, if it stresses you out. But there are a number of ways to get rid of it.Cut Daily Calories
When you want to lose weight, you’ll probably need to find a way to eat fewer calories. Try these tips to trim them from your diet without feeling hungry all the time.Diet & Weight Loss: Reasons You're Not Losing Belly Fat
If you're trying to lose belly fat but can't, there's probably a reason.Do People Get Jealous of Your Weight Loss?
You are so thrilled with your weight loss, and you might naturally expect that your friends and family will be equally happy. When you lose weight, you can trigger jealousy in others for a variety of reasons.Fasting
Fasting: It's simple and trending, though it's been around for thousands of years. Find out whether it might be a good option for you, and what the risks and benefits are.Obesity and Overweight
Get the facts on obesity and being overweight, including the health risks, causes, reviews of weight-loss diet plans, BMI chart, symptoms, causes, surgical and nonsurgical treatments, and medications.The 10 Best Diet Plans For Weight Loss
Diet means a reduction in calorie intake. For the optimal management of overweight and obese patients, a combination of diet, exercise, and behavioral modifications may be helpful. Weight loss is directly related to the difference between the individual’s energy intake and energy expenditure.Weight Loss Pills and Supplements: Do They Work?
A bodyweight over the healthy limit is associated with several health conditions, such as diabetes, heart diseases, and certain cancers. According to health experts, long-term weight loss can be safely attained by making healthy lifestyle changes like healthy eating patterns, limiting calorie intake, and doing regular physical activity. Many people, however, are not able to make these healthy lifestyle changes.Weight Loss Quiz
Are you trying to lose weight? Take this quiz to see what you can add to routine to get on the right track for results!Weight Loss Surgery Quiz
What happens after weight loss surgery? What should you eat? Take this quiz to learn about bariatric surgery. Are you a candidate?What Should I Ask My Doctor About Weight Loss?
With changes in lifestyle and standards of living, obesity is emerging as a pandemic. A higher than normal body weight puts you at risk of various diseases. Learn the 11 questions you should ask your doctor if you are planning to lose weight.Which Weight Loss Surgery Is Permanent?
Weight-loss surgery — also known as bariatric surgery — is one of the best treatments for obesity and related diseases. As per the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), there are five types of surgeries that your doctor can recommend for permanent weight loss.