COMMON MYTHS ABOUT TUMMY TUCK SURGERY

Tummy tuck is a cosmetic surgical procedure which removes excess skin and fat from middle and lower portion of abdomen. It also tightens the loose abdominal muscles. It thus help you achieve a flat, well toned abdomen and a slimmer waistline. There are many myths and misconceptions about this procedure. Some of these myths and their correct explanations are –

1. TUMMY TUCK SURGERY IS A WEIGHT LOSS PROCEDURE

There is a popular belief that tummy tuck is done to reduce weight. Though tummy tuck, with or without liposuction, removes a lot of fat cells   from abdomen, weight loss is moderate. The goal of tummy tuck is reduce size of tummy and waistline, so called-‘inches loss’. This encourages you to kick start a healthy life style. After tummy tuck, a regular exercise program and well rounded diet will help you to achieve weight loss and your fitness goal. If somebody is very obese and goal is significant weight loss, then option is bariatric surgery first followed by tummy tuck with or without other body contouring procedures, once significant weight loss is achieved and you want to get rid of loose, sagging skin over abdomen.

• LIPOSUCTION IS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR TUMMY TUCK

Liposuction removes diet and exercise resistant fat over the abdomen. It doesn’t correct the problem of loose skin. Though there will be some skin contraction after liposuction, it is minimal. So if someone has the problem of excessive skin over abdomen, like with somebody after pregnancy or massive weight loss, then tummy tuck is far better option than liposuction.

• NON-SURGICAL OPTIONS OF TUMMY TUCK ARE AS EFFECTIVE AS SURGICAL TUMMY TUCK

Though many nonsurgical options for tummy tuck, like laser, cryo, RF, coolsculpt etc, are available, significant fat loss and tightening of excess skin can be best tackled with surgical tummy tuck.

• RECOVERY AFTER TUMMY TUCK SURGERY TAKES A VERY LONG TIME

Tummy tuck surgery generally requires hospitalization for 1 to 3 days depending upon type of surgery. Most candidates can start their day to day work after a week and can join their work back in 3 to 4 weeks. During this time they are advised to wear pressure garment and abdominal binder.

• TUMMY TUCK SURGERY RESULTS IN UGLY AND NOTICEABLE SCARS

Incision of tummy tuck surgery is strategically placed in crease above your pubic bone. An expert plastic surgeon takes utmost precautions to give minimal scar. The final scar of tummy tuck surgery depends upon type of tummy tuck, but in most cases, the scar is well hidden in undergarments.

• TUMMY TUCK SURGERY IS A VERY PAINFUL PROCEDURE

Tummy tuck is a surgical procedure so some pain is bound to be there in post surgical period. But in most of the patients pain is well controlled with painkillers. In fact many patients surprisingly tell that their pain was less than what they expected. Finally post procedure pain depends upon your pain tolerance.