Tummy Tuck

Commonly known as a tummy tuck, abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure to reshape and repair your midsection. Pregnancy, weight gain and loss, age and heredity can all affect your abdominal contour, leaving you with stubborn fat, loose skin, and separated abdominal muscles. A tummy tuck can fix all of that by removing excess fat and sagging skin while also repairing and tightening your abdominal muscles. The result is the smoother, flatter stomach that you’ve been working so hard to achieve.

If you are a resident of Chicagoland and Northshore communities and are interested in learning more about a tummy tuck and what the surgical procedure can do for you, please contact Terrasse Aesthetic Surgery. You can schedule a consultation with Dr. Anthony Terrasse by contacting 847-234-2400 or visit our contact page.

What Is a Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that gives your abdomen a flatter, smoother, more appealing appearance. There are two popular options for this procedure: a full abdominoplasty and a mini-abdominoplasty.

• Full abdominoplasty is an excellent choice for patients who need more extensive work to achieve their goals. Your skin, muscles and other tissues are rearranged to create a flatter, sculpted abdomen that is flattering for your unique figure. This surgical procedure creates dramatic, long-lasting results that will have everyone turning their heads when you pass.

• Mini-abdominoplasty is perfect if you have concerns that are located near the lower half of your abdomen. The technique is not as extensive as a full abdominoplasty, making it a less invasive procedure. Mini-abdominoplasty is perfect if you have a belly pooch below your belly button that won’t go away through diet and exercise alone. Why worry about that unfavorable belly flap that never seems to go away when mini-abdominoplasty can remove it?

These two options will be reviewed during an initial consultation with Dr. Terrasse. He will help you determine which technique is best suited for your particular concerns and goals. Typically, sagging, loose skin above the navel will be a key factor in determining if a full abdominoplasty is a suitable procedure for you.

If you are considering a tummy tuck, you should keep in mind that you will need to keep a healthy diet and regular exercise routine to maintain your results. The procedure is also intended for women that are not expecting to become pregnant again. Pregnancy can result in a build-up of fat pockets and stretch abdominal muscles, meaning the procedure will need to be performed again if this is the case. Dr. Terrasse will review your health and medical history to ensure candidacy for the tummy tuck procedure.

What Are the Benefits of a Tummy Tuck? 

Abdominoplasty can sculpt your abdomen into a flattering appearance. By doing so, you can potentially experience the following:

• Better fitting clothing because tighter clothing will look more flattering around your waist. You won’t need to wear baggy clothing to hide a belly pooch any longer!
• Improved confidence and self-esteem because abdominoplasty will improve your physical appearance, allowing you to feel more youthful, energetic and, of course, attractive.
• Enhanced posture because tightening your abdominal muscles allows for a stronger core. You will be able to stand up straighter as your abs will take the pressure off your spine.
• Greater motivation to maintain your weight because you will have a figure that is desirable, meaning you will want to exercise and diet to keep it intact.
• Reduced health risks because excessive skin and fat can put pressure on your internal organs, leading them not to function properly. Abdominoplasty can correct this issue.

A build-up of unwanted fat deposits is often the result of things that should otherwise be celebrated. Perhaps you lost a significant amount of weight and want to flaunt your body, but pockets of fat in your abdomen have prevented you from doing so, making your efforts feel as though they were for nothing. Or maybe you recently had a child, and the stretching of your abdominal muscles and fat in the belly created a ‘pooch’ of fat, making you miss the figure you once had. While these are two momentous events that we applaud you for, they do have their drawbacks. However, we want you to know that you can achieve the figure you want and live your life with confidence. 

A tummy tuck comes with an array of benefits and will make these momentous events, such as losing a substantial amount of weight or having a child, even greater. 

How Should I Prepare for a Tummy Tuck?

Properly preparing for your abdominoplasty can significantly determine the results of your procedure. Having family members and friends who are aware you’re undergoing surgery is greatly beneficial. They can provide you with the mental support needed before undergoing surgery and can give you the physical support you will need while recovering. Abdominoplasty will require some downtime. Walking around and bending over will be difficult to do initially after surgery, so having someone around the house to help you with simple tasks is essential.

Dr. Terrasse will give you a set of instructions to follow before undergoing surgery to ensure you are prepared and have the smoothest possible recovery, creating beautiful results. Dr. Terrasse is a locally and nationally recognized expert in plastic surgery. His goal is to ensure his patients reach their aesthetic goals by keeping an open ear to their desires, deciding which procedures and treatments will suit them best and tailoring their treatment plan to their specific needs. Under his care, your tummy tuck will be a success.

The Tummy Tuck Procedure

During your abdominoplasty procedure, Dr. Terrasse will make a somewhat curved horizontal incision across your lower abdomen, in the area below the belly button and above the pubic area. He will lift the skin and stitch together your separated abdominal muscles, strengthening the abdominal wall. He will then remove excess fat-either by excising it or using liposuction, and pull the skin from your upper abdomen down, trimming away any redundant tissue. He will complete the procedure by creating a new opening for your belly button and stitching the newly smoother skin together, leaving you with a flatter, more slender contour.

Dr. Terrasse can perform either a full or partial tummy tuck, depending on your specific needs. If you are undergoing a “mini” tummy tuck or a more extensive procedure to remove a significant amount of skin due to massive weight loss, the process will be similar. However, the incisions may be placed differently. A tummy tuck is usually performed using general anesthesia and may require an overnight stay in the hospital. Dr. Terrasse will let you know ahead of time what to expect on the day of your surgery.

Recovery and Results

After your surgery, you will experience some discomfort and swelling. Dr. Terrasse will prescribe pain medication for you and may have you wear a compression garment to provide extra support and help reduce swelling. Many people don’t realize that a tummy tuck is a significant surgery, so you will need to follow Dr. Terrasse’s post-surgery instructions to the letter to ensure a safe, successful recovery.

You will need to rest and take it easy for the first couple of weeks following your procedure, although walking around the house is encouraged to prevent blood clots and help reduce swelling. You shouldn’t lift anything that involves straining your mid-section for those first several weeks as well, and Dr. Terrasse will let you know when you can start gradually adding daily activities back into your routine.

Although the change in your tummy is immediate, much of the swelling should subside over the first three weeks, giving you the satisfaction of your slender stomach. However, it may take six months or more for your final outcome to be fully visible as your body heals and settles into its new shape. The results of your tummy tuck will last as long as you maintain a healthy, stable weight, realizing that as life events unfold, there will be softening of your result.