If you are looking to address a flabby tummy and achieve a trimmer, tighter midsection, consider getting tummy tuck surgery in Manhattan. The procedure remove excess abdominal fat, removes loose skin, and tightens the muscles. It is usually recommended when diet and exercise cannot provide the desired results. According to the latest American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) report, tummy tuck was among the top five cosmetic surgical procedures performed in 2018.
Excess fat and sagging skin in the abdomen are the result of factors such as genetics, pregnancy and excessive weight loss. Also known as abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck addresses these concerns and results in a slimmer, firmer and smoother tummy. NYC plastic surgeons use the FDA approved, minimally-invasive advanced liposuction devices such as BodyTite, Smartlipo Triplex and VASER lipo to perform tummy tuck surgery and provide optimal outcomes.
If you are considering this cosmetic surgical procedure, you should know what it involves. As there are diverse abdominoplasty techniques, the steps would differ depending upon the method used. A reliable NYC plastic surgeon will determine the right option for you based on the extent of correction required.
Here are the various surgical techniques used to perform a tummy tuck:
- Complete or Full Abdominoplasty – This procedure corrects abdominal muscles that have become stretched out or loose over time. It is ideal for those patients who need the most correction.
- Partial Abdominoplasty or Mini Tummy Tuck –Â This procedure is designed for those patients who have a lesser degree of skin laxity and mild lower abdominal skin excess.
- Liposuction-only Abdominoplasty – This option is for younger patients with good skin elasticity and moderate fatty deposits.
- Brazilian Tummy Tuck – This treatment is a combination of liposuction and abdominoplasty, the traditional elliptical excision of excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen. Invented by a Brazilian surgeon, this liposculpture technique is intended to significantly reshape the abdomen and central torso. It can provide superior waist contouring outcomes for patients who have large amounts of loose skin and fat in the abdominal area, such as that caused by multiple pregnancies.
How a Tummy Tuck is Performed
A complete abdominoplasty is performed under general anesthesia and involves incisions. Minimally invasive techniques such as laser-assisted Smartlipo Triplex, radiofrequency-assisted BodyTite or ultrasound-assisted VASER require only local anesthesia, allowing the procedure to be performed on an outpatient basis. These safe body contouring technologies come with high-definition sculpting capabilities, and proven tissue coagulation and skin tightening benefits.
After determining the suitable abdominoplasty technique, your plastic surgeon will make incisions to remove most of the skin and fat. If you are considering Brazilian tummy tuck then the incision will be placed very low on the pubic area, so that the surgical scar will not be visible even when a low-cut bikini is worn. This treatment pulls the waist in and gets rid of excess skin, providing a smaller looking waist. It also pulls up the pubic area that is likely to drop with age and pregnancy. This option is generally recommended when there is more excess fat than skin.
After a Tummy Tuck
After the surgery, your abdominal incision will likely be covered with surgical dressing. Small tubes might be placed along the incision site to drain any excess blood or fluid. Recovery time will vary depending on individual considerations and other factors. Going by your surgeon’s instructions is crucial for smooth healing and optimal results. Here are some things you should know about recovery:
- Mild to moderate discomfort is common after the surgery. You will have some swelling and bruising, and may experience some tightness for the first two weeks.
- Your bed will be positioned to keep your upper body slightly raised and your knees at an angle for the first few days after surgery.
- Light activities are encouraged to prevent the formation of blood clots.
- Strenuous activity should be avoided for at least six weeks.
- Follow your surgeon’s instructions about care of your drains
- Take the prescribed antibiotics.
- You will be advised to wear an abdominal binder during the first week post surgery until most of the swelling resolves and a compression garment in the second week which has to be worn for 6 to 8 weeks to support your tissues as they heal.
- Avoid positions that strain your incision line
- For proper wound healing and to minimize scarring, follow your surgeon’s instructions on caring your scar.
- Inform your plastic surgeon if symptoms such as pain, redness and swelling take too long to resolve
- Schedule and keep follow-up visits with your surgeon.
In leading NYC plastic surgery practices, pain management options such as the ON-Q PainBuster® pain relief system is used to ease recovery. The pump delivers local anesthetic continuously to the treatment site so that there is no pain for the first five days. The use of this non-narcotic automatic pump significantly reduces downtime, improves mobility, and speeds up return to normalcy.
To make your results last, make sure you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Gaining weight can affect the outcomes of abdominoplasty.
If you are considering tummy tuck surgery in Manhattan, choose an AAAASF-accredited plastic surgery practices with plastic surgeons who are experts in performing the procedure. Undergoing treatment in an AAAASF-accredited plastic surgery practice is important for standardized care processes and for your safety.