Tummy Tuck: A Favorite Procedure for One and All

I am lucky I get to do so many “happy ending” operations, including the tummy tuck. At my Columbus, Ohio, practice, this is BY FAR the one that has the happiest patients afterward, and I think there are many reasons for this.

First: You’ve done all you can do. You have spent months and even years following a proper diet and exercise routine—and you still have the extra skin and the fatty tissue below. A tummy tuck is the ONLY way to remove it. There is no cream or machine that will shrink the area enough.

Second: Immediate gratification. Many of the operations I do involve the patient looking worse before they look better (think facelift, eyelids, liposuction). But not tummy tuck! You get an immediate result and wake up from surgery with a flat tummy. And then this result actually improves over the post-operative period as the swelling decreases and the scar softens and fades away.  There is usually very little bruising, but the scar does take a few months to resolve. You can see these results for yourself by browsing through my tummy tuck patients’ before-and-after photos.

Third: The muscle tightening helps improve your core, so many patients report diminished incontinence and back pain. It is like an internal corset—and who doesn’t love a corset that you can’t see. The rectus muscles are plicated all the way up to the sternum and all the way down, so this brings the cylinder of muscles together after they are been stretched out, usually from pregnancy.

Fourth: Doing this is HIGHLY motivational. You want the best results and it really motivates you to continue your clean diet and sensible exercise plan. Many patients are able to lose a few more stubborn pounds and find the result even more dramatic.

I am often asked if the patient should proceed if they are planning to lose weight. The answer to this depends on how likely it is that this is actually going to happen. If they have been successful with weight loss in the past, I think it is a good idea to try to shed the stubborn weight. But if they say that they have been dieting their whole life and nothing ever changes, I think it is OK to proceed with the knowledge that they should never give up trying, but the surgery may just kick things into high gear.

Fifth: Confidence! OK, I am not saying you are not confident, but having a baby and losing your shape is a challenge—and getting you back to YOU gives you internal confidence and boost in all your roles: mommy, CEO, wife, and friend! The body confidence that is restored after this operation is simply amazing. Many patients are actually close to tears of joy when they see their new shape for the first time.

Bottom line: Most of my patients say “Why did I wait to do this?” If you have been considering this, the time is now. Life is short and the sooner you do it, the longer you have to enjoy your new shape.

Let’s Get the Party Started

The first step is to come in for a consultation. At this visit we will discuss your anatomy and whether you should have a mini or full tummy tuck, and whether or not liposuction should be added to the surgery to improve the overall result. The liposuction can be added to shape the area above the bellybutton and around the sides—the flank or muffin top area. Not everyone needs this, so we just have to take a look and chat about the options.

Male Abdominal Contouring

A few words on the male patient: This has become a very common procedure for men due to weight changes. The operation is about the same and liposuction can be the alternative or added to the abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). The one very nice difference in the male patient is the presence of abdominal body hair, which helps camouflage the scar.

Come see us at Aesthetica. We will go over everything you need to know and you will understand why this operation is the one patients are the happiest after! Use our online form to request a consultation to discuss a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) at my Columbus, Ohio, practice or call us at (614) 569-2649 to schedule an appointment.