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Doctor insights on: Tummy Tuck Swelling After 6 Months

It depends: I perform a significant number of tummy tucks (witch hazel) each year for my young mothers and feel that this is a great procedure when done by a qualified plastic surgeon with experience in this area.

I generally recommend waiting a few months following a c-section so that soft tissue swelling has gone done and your hormones have returned to a more natural state. ...Read more

Many Months: Although, for the right patient, the tummy tuck operation is a great one, it is associated with a significant recovery (physically and, often emotionally). Swelling may persist for several months and may be exacerbated by exercise/increased activity. It may take up to one year for full skin re-draping to occur and for patients to see the final outcome of the procedure performed. Best wishes. ...Read more

It depends: If you had liposuction with your tummy tuck, the swelling will be more pronounced and take longer to resolve. Most patients are about 80%-90% resolved by 4 weeks post-op. ...Read more

Tummy recovery: Expect 2 - 3 months before enough swelling has gone down before your feel comfortable at the beach. Make sure you discuss with your surgeon the placement of the scar. I encourage my patients to bring me what swimwear they want to wear after their surgery so I can mark it on their body to keep the scar hidden under that level. ...Read more

Check for seroma: If the drain just came out, and your belly has been getting bigger, and jiggles like a water balloon...Then the first thought is that you have a fluid collection called a "seroma". Let your surgeon know - this is easy to fix. ...Read more

Yes: Tummy tucks (witch hazel) or adominoplasty is great at rejuvenating the post oartum abdomen. This procedure will realign your rectis muscles in the midline limiting the diastasis typically created by your pregnancy as well as remove excess skin laxity and unsitely stretch marks. Remember, however, if you plan to having more children this will typically recur. ...Read more

Yes and no: The swelling will likely go down considerably and light exercise with core strengthening, compression garments and lymphatic massage may help if recommended by your physician. In regards to numbness, the amount of numbness will diminish, but it is quite normal to have an area of permanent numbness immediately below your umbilicus. Most patients find this acceptable and tolerable. ...Read more

Absolutely: In a patient who is close to their ideal body weight and in good physical condition with a rectus muscle diastasis and pronounced skin laxity, the tummy tuck can produce outstanding results that are greatly appreciated by the patients undergoing these procedures. Surgery is not without risk and one must carefully consider the risks, alternatives and benefits of any procedure. ...Read more

Skin Fat Muscle More: This is a complex combination of procedures which requires analysis of the problematic anatomic components of your skin laxity, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, muscle diastasis, postural condition, muscle tone, boney skeleton, and overall health as a surgical candidate. There. ...Read more

Belt lipectomy: A belt lipectomy is particularly effective for those people who have had a lost of weight loss due to the extra skin. It can lift the outer thighs and buttocks in addition to tightening the belly. ...Read more

Several things: Abdominoplasty is done to tighten the muscles of the abdomen, which have usually been stretched by pregnancy or massive weight gain, and to remove excess fat and skin from the abdominal wall. It is a big operation with a long incision just above the pubic hair that extends from hipbone to hipbone. You should make sure you are done having children before considering this operation. ...Read more

No: It's a compression garment. It hides fat while you're wearing it. The minute you take it off everything is the same. It will not alter the appearance of your abdomen at all. ...Read more

Can't determine...: ...without exam, but weight management thru varied exercise and lo-carb diet is always a good idea and suction-assisted lipectomy (liposuction) may have a place. ...Read more

Very safe: In expert hands this is an hour and a half to two hour operation that gives a very long lasting improvement in the function and appearance of the abdomen. Studies show that many cases of low back pain are markedly improved after repositioning of the rectus abdominis muscles which are typically splayed after pregnancy or weight gain. ...Read more

Not always: These are general two different procedures performed for different indications. A panniculectomy is often performed for massive weight loss or obesity and essentially consists of skin removal withnthe attached fat. This can require several hours snfd require hospitalization which may dramatically increase the costs. A tummy tuck is generally cosmetic and these prepay rates are generally lower. ...Read more

Enhancing abdomen: A tummy tuck involves enhancing the appearance of the abdomen.
In order to provide the best results there is skin resection, liposuction and muscle tightening performed in all cases. ...Read more

Stretch marks: Have your kids first then, if you want tummy tuck the surgeon can target stretch marks when he plans where to cut. ...Read more

high satisfaction: Most patients who undergo tummy tuck have a high degree of satisfaction postoperatively. The soreness from surgery generally resolves within 7 to 14 days and swelling generally resolves within three months. The incision will heal over the course of 2 to 3 weeks with maturation of the scar over the course of several months. ...Read more

Good Candidate?: The “ideal” patient for tummy tuck surgery is one who has completed pregnancies, is medically/psycho socially/emotionally/financially stable,  has an excellent social support system surrounding him/her,  does not smoke, is capable of arranging enough recovery time and who has reached a long-term stable weight. ...Read more

Usually...: The majority of complications that may occur with tummy tuck surgery occur within the first 2 weeks. These may include deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, infection, bleeding, and even death. Other types of complications such as superficial incision line healing problems (wound healing problems) may occur during the first 2 months after the procedure is performed. ...Read more

Mini TT - Min Pain: Not very painful especially if it is a "skin only" mini tummy tuck instead of muscle tightening as well. Exparel is a long acting local anesthetic that can be placed during surgery and lasts 3-4 days. ...Read more

Thousands; Concerns: More likely hundreds of thousands of people have had lipo with tummy tuck. Although it is not an essential component of a tummy tuck, lipo is commonly performed together with a tummy tuck to achieve a superior result. However, there are concerns about the area of liposuction to be treated and it is generally avoided in the central portions of the abdomen where it can compromise the blood supply. ...Read more

Major: A tummy tuck or an abdominoplasty is major surgery that requires the skill of a plastic surgeon and a period of healing. It should not be entered on a whim. A carefully planned surgery is best for you to have excellent results. Start with a consultation and read up on it. ...Read more

No: Tummy tuck surgery is not covered by any type of "insurance” plan; It is not considered a “medically necessary” procedure. On the other hand, a panniculectomy, which involves removal of lower abdominal wall skin/adipose tissue, may be a covered procedure, depending on the specific insurance plan and symptomatology. Best wishes. ...Read more

Moderately painful: Any surgery that involves cutting or sewing muscle tends to be somewhat painful. Most tummy tucks (witch hazel) will also include muscle tightening. Patients generally manage the pain quite well with a medication such as vicodin. I've never had a patient tell me that the pain was so significant that she regrets having the surgery. ...Read more

Not Much: Only a very small amount of skin and adipose tissue of the very low abdominal wall is removed during mini tummy tuck surgery. This is why most patients who have undergone pregnancy and/or significant weight gain/loss are not a good candidates for this procedure. Results tend to be minimal. Most patients are better candidates for full tummy tuck operations. ...Read more

Depends: Larger people will take slightly longer, but an average woman will take about 1.5 hours. ...Read more

Yes: This is similar to other abdominal surgery. One of the biggest cosmetic procedures plastic surgeons do. ...Read more

Panniculectomy cost: A tummy tuck is basically a panniculectomy (remove skin and fat) *plus* the muscle repair. Therefore, a panniculectomy takes less or time to perform.

It generally takes ~3 hours for a panniculectomy, whereas a tummy tuck takes ~4 hours. Most surgical costs are a function of time, therefore the tummy tuck can cost 25-30% more. So yes, the panniculectomy is less expensive.

Dr. Ricardo rodrigue. ...Read more

Much: You should expect removal of the “excess” skin and adipose tissue of the lower abdominal wall along with “repair” of the abdominal wall muscles that may have spread with pregnancies and/or weight gain/loss. You should also expect a major recovery period, both from the physical and emotional standpoints. ...Read more