FAQ Tummy Tuck Questions & Answers (Abdominoplasty Q&A) |
Here we compiled the answers to your Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Tummy Tuck cosmetic surgeries by Dr Fara Movagharnia.
If you could not find your answer, please email Dr. Fara or call up CCRS at
770-951-7595 to book a personal consultation.
Tummy Tuck Pre-surgery Q&A?
Who is a candidate for tummy tuck cosmetic surgery?
Patients must be in a good health and should not have any active illness or pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes,
heart or lung disease. All patients must have realistic expectations of the outcome of the surgery. It is better to discuss
your goals with your surgeon and learn what can be achieved with the procedure.
You must be mentally, physically and emotionally stable to undergo this procedure. Sometimes there is a period of depression
after surgery and that can exacerbate the previous depression state.
It is recommended to wait till women are finished with having children before tummy tuck, since the muscles and skin will
stretch again and all will be reversed. If you are in the process of losing weight, it is better to wait till you have
reached your ideal weight before tummy tuck also.
At what age is tummy tuck usually performed?
There is no certain age for Abdominoplasty to be performed. It is done often after women have had their last child or someone
who has lost all the weight they intend to lose.
What is involved during a tummy tuck consultation?
A tummy tuck consultation involves talking to a board-certified plastic surgeon during which you express your expectation
and what you like to achieve from the procedure. There is an examination of your abdomen and he may recommend liposuction
with the procedure at the same time. During the consultation, you will see photos of before and after of his patients and
all of the risks of surgery will be explained to you. You must ask questions if you are not sure about any issues.
How is tummy tuck plastic surgery performed?
A full Abdominoplasty is performed under general anesthesia in the hospital, although, there is no hospital stay required
post surgery. The surgeon makes an incision across the lower abdomen in the bikini area, below a C-Section or any scar present.
The incision is usually from hip to hip. The skin is lifted all the way to below breasts and then abdominal muscles are
tightened and extra skin in the lower abdomen from naval to the incision is removed. Prior to reaching the naval, an incision
is made around it and the naval is detached from the surrounding skin and when the skin is pulled down, the naval will be
brought out at a new location with a scar around it.
In a full tummy tuck, the muscle and fascia tightening are done in the center of the abdomen from breast bone to pubic area
and in a mini tummy tuck, this tightening is done from naval to pubic area and skin in the lower abdomen from naval downward
is removed only. Mini tummy tuck is not for patients who have excessive skin and muscle laxity above naval.
There are usually at least 2 drainage tubes (plastic tubes that are attacked to reservoirs at the end to collect blood)
placed in the pubic area which will be removed when there is no bloody drainage and that varies from patient to patient.
What should I do after Abdominoplasty surgery?
The most important thing to do after surgery is to follow the post operative instructions to prevent complications. You must
walk and keep the stockings on to prevent blood clots formation in legs which can be dangerous. During the walk, you must be
bent over and it would be helpful to use a walker for assistant. Do not stand up straight till you are instructed to do so.
Failure to follow instructions can cause serious complications and bad outcome. The drains are removed when there is minimum
output and the color is like apple juice and then when there are scabs over the drainage sites, you can take a shower but not
before then. You may do sponge bath without getting your incision or the drainage sites wet.
Post operatively and for the next 6 weeks, you are instructed to wear a compression garment. You must make sure that your
garment is tight and do not allow it to bunch up.
Swelling and bruising are normal for several months, but they get less and less with time. For a period of one year, sometimes,
the skin will be numb.
Is there much pain associated with Abdominoplasty?
Pain is perceived differently by different people, but this procedure is very painful. You will have pain medications to take
only when you need to. Pain medicines are not taken around the clock as taking too much pain medicine can cause respiratory
depression and death.
There is a new technology which can help with the relief of the pain and that is the use of the pain pump which your surgeon
will explain it to you. This pain pump reduces your pain tremendously for the first 3-4 days that you have the pump in place.
When can I return to work?
Abdominoplasty takes a long time to heal completely. You must rest in bed, on a couch or recliner for couple of weeks and get up
and walk around several times during the day and in between the walk exercise your legs to avoid blood clots known as DVT.
Depending on the type of work you do and the extend of the surgery, you may need 2-3 weeks off and when you return to work,
your surgeon may give you a note for a light duty job. During the recovery period and for several months after, you can not
use your abdominal muscles to sit up from a flat position. That is why you must sleep in sitting position on the bed or on
the recliner.
When will I see the results?
The result is instant but the swelling can last several months. The first post operative visit to your surgeon’s office, all
the bandages and compression garment will be removed and you can see your new you in the mirror. Of course, with time, you
will get better and your waist line gets smaller, if you do not tear the tightened muscles underneath the skin.
What are the risks of the Tummy Tuck Surgery (Abdominoplasty)?
This procedure is a serious surgery and patients must understand if they do not follow instructions, they can have serious,
even fatal outcome. Please follow your surgeons’ instructions and always stay in touch with him.
Because of surgery, there can be loss of blood supply to the skin and that can cause necrotic tissue or dead skin. This
requires further surgery to remove the necrotic tissue and allow the tissue to heal and close. One of the important causes
of the necrotic tissue is smoking which must be stopped prior to the surgery.
Patients who are diabetics have higher chance of infection and your surgeon may not agree to do your surgery if your blood
sugar is not controlled.
Pulmonary embolism can be fatal and is the result of immobility and blood clot in the legs. You must walk and exercise your
legs to avoid that.
Deep breathing is a must to avoid lung complications also. Because of the tightening of the muscles, or if there are any
lung illnesses, there is a chance of having pneumonia or atelectasis which is the result of not taking deep breath post surgery.
Scars are permanent and they can become hyper pigmented post surgery. Avoid exposure to the sun or tanning light. Hematoma or
blood collection under the skin is another risk. Infection can occur, so take your antibiotics and keep your surgical sites
clean and dry. Apply antibiotic ointments to the incisions and drainage sites.
How long do the results of the Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) last?
The results can last for many years if you do not lose weight, get pregnant or tear your muscles underneath. There is some
relaxation of the tissues gradually with age.
WHO ARE THE BEST CANDIDATES FOR A TUMMY TUCK?
Abdominoplasty can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won't necessarily change
your looks to match your ideal, or cause other people to treat you differently. Before you decide to have
surgery, think carefully about your expectations - they must be realistic.
The best candidates for Abdominoplasty are men or women who are in relatively good shape but are
bothered by a large fat deposit and/or loose abdominal skin that will not respond to diet and/or exercise. The
surgery is particularly helpful to women who have had multiple pregnancies, have stretched their abdominal
muscles and skin beyond the point where they can return to normal. Loss of skin elasticity in older patients,
which frequently occurs with slight obesity, can also be improved.
Patients who intend to lose a lot of weight or have more children should postpone surgery. As vertical
muscles in the abdomen that are tightened during surgery, it can separate again during pregnancy. If you
have scarring from previous abdominal surgery in upper abdomen such as open gallbladder removal, we
may recommend against Abdominoplasty or caution you that scars may cause skin loss. C- Section or
hysterectomy scars are not problematic.
WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE SURGERY?
In your initial consultation, we evaluate your health, determine where your abdominal fat deposits lie and
assess your skin tone. Alternative body-contouring methods such as liposuction may be needed in addition to
tummy tuck. If your fat deposits are limited to the area below your navel, you may require a less complex
procedure called a mini Abdominoplasty or mini-tummy tuck.
Be honest in discussing your expectations. We will be frank with you, describing the procedure in detail and
explaining its risks, complications, benefits and limitations. We will also explain the anesthesia used the
location where surgery will be performed and the total costs involved. During this consultation, be sure to
tell us about any medications (especially aspirin or other pills that affect clotting), vitamin E or other drugs
you are taking. Smokers should consider giving up the habit 4 weeks before and after surgery. Patients with
medical history and those who are over 40 may require EKG and extensive blood works and / or be cleared
by their internist or cardiologist.
WHAT HAPPENS ON THE DAY OF SURGERY?
The patient should not have had anything to eat or drink 8 hours prior to surgery. Pre-op medications
should have been taken. Also, transportation and post-op care arrangements should have been made.
Abdominoplasty surgery is performed under full general anesthesia in a hospital. The type of anesthesia and
the location where the surgery is performed is determined by the extent of the surgery and the patient risk
factors. The surgery usually takes 3-4 hours, but the time required may vary considerably depending on the
amount of work being done. During this time the patient is carefully monitored by the anesthesia team.
At the end of surgery, the incisions are closed, drains are inserted, a light dressing is applied and a
compression garment is fitted. The patient is then monitored in the recovery area for a few hours prior to
discharge. A mini-tuck involves less extensive surgery with less scarring, no navel shifting and less or no
muscle tightening.
It is mandatory for a patient who has had deep sedation to have someone stay with them the first few nights
after surgery. The medications may affect judgment and co-ordination for 24 hours.
Tummy Tuck Post-surgery Q&A?
WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
All surgery carries some uncertainty and risk. Abdominoplasty is normally safe, as long as patients are
carefully selected, the operating facility is properly equipped and the physician is a certified Plastic Surgeon.
Post-op complications such as infection and blood clots are rare, but can occur. Infection can be treated with
drainage and antibiotics, but hospitalization may be required. You can minimize your risk of blood clots by
wearing tight stocking and moving around as soon after surgery as possible. Poor healing, which results in
conspicuous scars, may necessitate a second operation. Smokers should be advised to stop smoking 4 weeks
prior and after surgery, as smoking will increase the risk of complications and delay healing.
what is the best Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) plastic surgery clinic in Atlanta GA Marietta? CCRS Atlanta
who is the best Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck plastic) surgeon in Atlanta GA Marietta? Dr. Fara Movagharnia
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER SURGERY?
Follow-up visits vary according to the patient and the procedure. Early post-op instructions usually
include taking prescribed medications, wearing the elastic compression garment and ambulating (to prevent
blood clots). A snug elastic dressing or girdle must be worn over the treated area to control swelling and
bleeding, and to help your skin mold to fit your new contour. You may need to wear this garment for
minimum six weeks. The operated areas will be swollen and bruised and you may feel discomfort which can
be controlled with pain medications.
It may take weeks or months to feel like your old self again. If you start out in top physical condition
recovery will be much faster. Some people return to work after two weeks, while others take three or four
weeks to rest and recuperate. The healing process is gradual. While most of the swelling and discoloration
will be gone a month or two after surgery, some swelling can remain for six months or more. Scars may take
up to a year or more before they finally soften and fade away. Strenuous activities are best avoided for at
least 6 weeks.
WHAT ARE THE RESULTS?
Most patients are very satisfied with the results of their tummy tucks. As long as your expectations are
realistic, you should be very happy with your new shape. See out photo gallery for before and after pictures.
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