If you have a little extra fat on your abdomen, you may be considering a tummy tuck. Known clinically as abdominoplasty, tummy tucks give men and women toned, tight midsections. The procedure is popular amongst women who have Mommy Makeovers after their pregnancies, and men prefer the surgery after losing a large amount of weight or to fight the stubborn fat that develops with age. The incredible results that can be achieved by abdominoplasty has made it amongst the most popular of plastic surgery procedures. Beginning in 2000, tummy tuck and male tummy tuck procedures increased by 87% over a fourteen-year period according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. What surprises many of our patients, though, is this body contouring procedure has several medical benefits.
Reduces Stress Urinary Incontinence
After pregnancy, some women experience a condition known as “Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI).” Women with this condition will have a minor amount of urine leak from their bladders when they laugh, sneeze, cough and perform strenuous exercises. While surgery is not necessary is most cases, clinical studies show that abdominoplasty can alleviate the symptoms, especially for women who delivered their babies via caesarian section. Treating SUI during your tummy tuck involves the creation of a very small bladder obstruction with the tissue in the pelvic area. This helps reduce incontinence.
Improves Muscle Tone and Posture
Your abdominal muscles are part of your core, and these anatomical structures perform several important functions. You may be familiar with the importance of your abs when you bend over or use your midsection in other ways, but your core also supports your posture. Pregnancy and being obese weakens the abdominal muscles. Your tummy tuck can be adapted to include techniques to stretch the muscles and hold them in place with sutures. This will improve your core strength, resulting in better posture. Some of our patients report having less back pain as a result of the muscular modifications made during their abdominoplasties.
Corrects Ventral Hernias
When tissue in the abdominal area or the intestines push through the abdominal wall, a condition known as a “ventral hernia” develops. In some cases, the tissue will retreat back behind the abdominal wall, but in more extreme cases, surgery is needed to repair the problem. Ventral hernias may occur in patients who carry a large amount of excess weight and those who have certain types of abdominal surgery, such as a C-sections, midline abdominal surgery and appendectomy.
Because a tummy tuck aims to improve many of the issues related to a ventral hernia, the surgery is the perfect opportunity to repair the problem. By tightening the abdominal muscles during a tummy tuck, Dr. Kole resolves the cause of your ventral hernia, namely a weakened abdominal wall. Ventral hernias can reoccur, so Dr. Kole will carefully consider the benefits of repairing the hernia during your tummy tuck.
Considerations for a Tummy Tuck
Most people believe that tummy tucks are one of the simpler of cosmetic procedures, but you should understand the surgery before deciding if it is right for you. Abdominoplasty is an extensive surgery. The incision is significant, and the changes made to the muscles and other tissue of the abdominal area is considerable. You will have a lengthy recovery period, and rest is key to a successful cosmetic and medical outcome. Some key points to remember:
- Tummy tucks require general anesthesia and take one to two and a half hours
- The surgery can remove up to 10 pounds of stomach fat, but will not remove fat from surrounding areas
- Recovery from abdominoplasty takes several weeks
- All surgeries have risks for complications and infections
Dr. Kole will explain the risks and benefits of a tummy tuck based on your anatomy, lifestyle and cosmetic goals.