When you want to lose weight and get fit, motivation matters. When you want to be healthier overall, motivation matters. Pretty much every decision and goal that we make has a motivation behind it. Deciding to have plastic surgery is one of those big, potentially life-changing decisions that begins with motivation; and, in this case, that matters. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Donna Krummen meets with patients every day in our Cincinnati office. Many are interested in abdominoplasty to sculpt their midsection. During an abdominoplasty consultation, a surgeon generally asks about the patient’s reason for their visit. Here, we discuss examples of healthy motivations for this procedure.

Common Reasons to have Abdominoplasty

Because it can complement your healthy lifestyle.

Tummy tuck surgery can have satisfying and lasting results for patients who have already implemented healthy habits. Abdominoplasty is not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle. It is not a weight loss surgery. For those who have achieved their ideal weight, though, and are committed to diet and exercise choices that support their weight, a tummy tuck can be the final touch for rewarding results.

You want your body back.

This expression is usually associated with mothers whose bodies are changed by pregnancy. While there are significant rewards to motherhood, a woman can sometimes feel as though her body is no longer her own after she has carried, birthed, and cared for a child. This idea does not have to persist for a lifetime. Abdominoplasty can restore a woman’s body after pregnancy. It can also sculpt an improved shape after weight loss or to address the effects of aging.

You want to feel more confident.

Appearance is not the foundation of confidence. However, when we like the way we look, our confidence is better than it would be otherwise. People who have a healthy self-image and have plastic surgery often say that they feel more confident and more attuned to their body after their procedure. This can be the case with abdominoplasty, which can free a person to wear the clothing they love without midsection bulges.

Now is a great time to consider how you want to feel about your body and how abdominoplasty can be a part of your plan. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Krummen, call (513) 985-0850.

Body contouring surgery like abdominoplasty provides some exciting prospects for the future. The decision to have such a procedure is big. Once that decision is made, most people find themselves very quickly thinking about how their new life with their new body will look. They may envision how their clothes will fit or even new styles they can wear without feeling self-conscious. Many people also envision being more active and engaged after their cosmetic body contouring surgery. These are great thoughts to have. They can sustain a positive attitude during recovery after surgery. Here, we discuss what tummy tuck patients can expect as they make their way back to normal.

The Tummy Tuck Procedure

Abdominoplasty is the surgery in which the abdomen is reshaped. Through an incision that goes from one hip to the other, Dr. Krummen carefully pulls the abdominal muscle so it lies flat and smooth. The excess is trimmed and sutures are placed to secure tissue. The skin and thin layer of fat over the muscle are then pulled to lie flush, as well. This technique can correct asymmetry of the abdomen as well as loose and saggy tissue.

Life after Your Tummy Tuck

The tummy tuck procedure is not known for being a walk in the park. In fact, most patients overestimate the discomfort they may feel after surgery. This could be because, due to the tightening of the abdominal wall, it is not possible to stand fully upright for about a week after surgery. Post-operative pain is to be expected. It is manageable with prescription pain medication at first. After just a few days, however, many patients no longer need anything stronger than an over-the-counter pain reliever.

While pain can be managed, one of the aspects of abdominoplasty recovery that patients should anticipate is a lack of energy. There is a lot of healing going on in the first two weeks of recovery. During that time, patients may sleep a lot. When they are awake, they may not feel like doing much. This is why doctors advise patients to have help with household duties and child care at all times for those two weeks. By week three after abdominoplasty, many patients are back to work. It isn’t until week four when energy and comfort feel like normal again. It is at that time when patients often start asking if they can resume their normal exercise routine. The answer is usually no. Tissue healing continues even after the 4-week mark. It isn’t until about six weeks after surgery when most normal activities, including exercise, may resume.

A tummy tuck may require a few weeks of downtime and a few more weeks of easing back into normal activity after that. However, the permanent results that are achieved with this surgery are worth it. Learn more. Call 513.985.0850 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Krummen.

Tummy tuck surgeries are performed more than 125,000 times in our country each year. This indicates that the results from the abdominal tightening procedure are outstanding and that patients are satisfied with their appearance after surgery. If you have contemplated what your midsection would look like if you were to have a tummy tuck, you are not alone. You are also not alone if your mind instantly jumped into high gear imagining what tummy tuck recovery must be like.

One of the biggest reasons why patients procrastinate in scheduling their cosmetic surgery consultation is because they feel uncertain about how their recovery may go. We don’t want you to fall into this category. Here, we will offer a realistic portrait of tummy tuck recovery. Additionally, we suggest some ways to improve the process and reduce unexpected stress.

What is it really like to recover from a tummy tuck?

During a tummy tuck, the muscle along the abdominal wall is modified, and overlying skin is tightened and removed as needed. This correct muscle separation and skin stretching that may have occurred during pregnancy or other life situations, so the final result is a flat, toned stomach. Because your body has been accustomed to lax muscle and skin tissue, this manual tightening is going to cause you to bend forward for a few days. That’s right, standing upright will be something you do gradually over about a week’s time.

It is important to understand that the initial limited flexibility of tightened abdominal muscles is not going to be intensely painful. Comfort is sustained with adequate rest and the use of prescription pain medication as directed (not feeling any pain? Still take your medicine as instructed in your post-operative guide!).

In addition to the physical aspects of tummy tuck recovery, patients should also expect an emotional response. Abdominoplasty is not a minor procedure. We accomplish a lot during this surgery! As a result, there may be a bit of emotional stress that follows surgery. Sometimes, emotions can be exacerbated by anxiety related to expected discomfort. Our open communication about the recovery process is intended to mitigate unnecessary stress so the entire even goes more smoothly.

The Big Tip

There is one big tip that we suggest for abdominoplasty patients. In addition to following post-operative care instructions to a T, we encourage patients to get plenty of help around the house for the first several weeks after surgery. Having a strong support team can make an enormous difference in the recovery process.

Do you have questions about abdominoplasty and what it can do for you? Call our Cincinnati office at 513-985-0850.

There is no arguing the fact that weight loss is an important achievement. Likewise, motherhood is an aspect of a woman’s life that can bring her a great deal of satisfaction. Where each of these feats can be beneficial, there is often a downside. Anytime there is a fluctuation in weight; there is a chance of muscle separation and laxity in both muscle and skin tissue. These problems can be persistently frustrating because they do not always respond to diet and exercise as one would like.

Stubborn belly fat may not be the real problem. When musculature and skin are involved, appropriate treatment may be to tighten them with precision technique. Abdominoplasty, or the tummy tuck procedure, is an excellent method of restoring the smooth, supple tone of the midsection. Here, we want to discuss how a tummy tuck is customized to meet specific needs.

The Mini-Tuck

Not everyone needs a dramatic transformation to look the way they want. Many of our patients gain a great deal of satisfaction with their shape as a result of a customized mini-tuck. Good candidates for this technique have:

• Good muscle and skin tone in the upper abdomen.
• Concerns related to loose skin and a little extra bulge in the lower abdomen, beneath the belly button.
• Good overall health and manage weight (within about 10 pounds of ideal body weight).

If skin laxity and muscle tone are loose in the area around and above the belly button, a full tummy tuck may be recommended for optimal results.

The Full Tummy Tuck

The full tummy tuck is a more popular procedure, especially for mothers, due to the widespread changes in muscle structure related to pregnancy. This surgical technique involves a hip-to-hip incision, and the removal of excess skin, including that affected by stretch marks. Beneath the skin, the muscles of the abdominal wall are also stitched into a tighter frame. Depending on the extent of excess fat, liposuction may also be performed.

The clear benefit of the full tummy tuck is that more dramatic results can be seen after a short recovery period. The incision scar is positioned in an area where it is not visible over a bikini or underwear. The incision for a mini-tuck is located in the same area, but typically spans only four to eight inches, rather than all the way across. Therefore, the surgical scar is shorter, but not necessarily better hidden.

Schedule a Consultation

Choosing between a full tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck doesn’t have to be difficult. The answer is in the results. Learn more about this procedure by contacting our Cincinnati office at 513.985.0850 for a personal consultation with Dr. Krummen.