TUMMY TUCK

First up is the notorious Abdominoplasty, aka the tummy tuck! A tummy tuck is ideal for anyone looking to flatten their tummy and narrow their waistline. Unfortunately, with age, the abdomen in both men and women begins to change. Often, as people age, there is an increase in laxity of the abdominal skin and stretched abdominal muscles leading to a sagging appearance. Further, some individuals are especially prone to changes in the abdomen due to biological reasons or life events like pregnancy. 

While diet and exercise assist in weight loss, many patients discover that neither improves the loss of skin elasticity and the presence of stretch marks nor the separation of the abdominal muscles. Some patients who lose a considerable amount of weight in a relatively short amount of time also see an increase in stretched skin or excess skin that on amount of diet or exercise can remove. Further, No matter how strong the “six-pack” muscles become, a bulge will be present where the muscles are separated.  With women who have undergone a cesarean section (c-section), the scar can accentuate this bulge.

This is where a tummy tuck can help! 

TUMMY TUCK PROCEDURE 

With a tummy tuck procedure, there are typically three main problem areas that are targeted: 1) excess and lax skin, 2) separation of the abdominal muscles, and 3) fatty deposits.  

Depending on the patient and the targeted area, a large incision from the hip bone to the hip bone is placed below the waistline to remove excess skin and stretch marks, and the remaining abdominal skin is tightened.  

The “six-pack” muscles are then secured back to their youthful, supportive position.   Additionally, conservative liposuction may be used to remove excess pockets of fat.  

If a patient has no skin laxity or abdominal wall separation, then liposuction alone can be performed to areas of excess fat.

TUMMY TUCK RECOVERY 

As far as recovery goes for a tummy tuck procedure, there is a lot that you will need to know! However, it is entirely manageable, and Wellspring is there to support you every step of your journey. Note that during the healing process, most patients will require at least two weeks off of work. 

Tummy tuck patients will need to wear an abdominal binder for at least six weeks post-surgery (this is a case by case basis, so your doctor will determine the timing for you precisely). An abdominal binder helps to avoid fluid buildup and provides support for your abdomen. While healing, you will need to avoid strenuous activity for at least six weeks. Again, recovery is entirely dependent on the patient and will vary case by case. Some patients experience a shorter recovery window, whereas others experience a much more extended recovery period. 

However, most patients are back to normal after around two months post-surgery. The recovery period is well worth the results! A picture speaks a thousand words, as they say, so check out our gallery for proof. 

At Wellspring Plastic Surgery, we also offer a mini tummy tuck. A mini tummy tuck (or mini-abdominoplasty) is designed for patients who have abdominal muscle separation but minimal skin laxity that is confined below the belly button.  It provides the opportunity to realign the separated abdominal muscles and requires a smaller incision.  That said, the smaller incision, in turn, limits the extent of skin tightening that can be performed.  While the scar should never be longer than necessary, the amount of skin tightening that can be achieved is directly proportional to the length of the scar. Since the scar is placed low and inconspicuous, it is better to have a longer and well-hidden scar with tighter overall skin than a shorter scar with loose skin.

BUTT LIFT

Brazilian Butt Lifts are newer in popularity but snowballing due to celebrities and influencers undergoing and documenting their surgeries online. 

Although, Brazilian Butt Lifts go by many other names—autologous fat grafting, Brazilian Butt Lift, or micro-fat grafting, BBL—the procedure and exceptional results are the same.  A butt lift will improve your body’s proportions, reduce fat pockets in other parts of your body, and enhance the appearance of your butt.

It almost sounds too good to be true — almost!  

BUTT LIFT PROCEDURE 

Generally, a BBL procedure involves removing and relocating fat cells via liposuction from one part of the body to the buttocks.  The transferred fat cells are strategically placed to accentuate a round, firm shape. Tiny incisions are used to perform liposuction, and similarly, small incisions are used to relocate the fat cells. 

The procedure takes between two to four hours, give or take. The length of the surgery will depend on the patient, the surgeons, and the aesthetic goals that will influence the procedure. 

BUTT LIFT RECOVERY 

After undergoing a BBL procedure, you will most likely need to take 1-2 weeks off from work for recovery. After 3-4 weeks, most patients are fully recovered and can expect to return to exercising around eight weeks post-surgery. Again, recovery varies from patient to patient. Always consult your surgeon before returning to normal activities. 

LIPO

Lipo, also known as liposuction, is a well-known plastic surgery procedure that targets unwanted fat deposits commonly located in the neck, lateral breasts, abdomen, hips, or thighs. The benefits of Lip are great as surgeons can selectively target problem areas of your body and reduce the fat deposits there. 

Unlike a tummy tuck in which the surgeon uses long incisions to remove excess skin, lipo instead uses small incisions to access fatty deposits. 

LIPO PROCEDURE 

Liposuction permanently removes fat cells and allows patients to achieve a more toned and contoured body free from excess fat accumulation. Most patients share that the procedure achieves immediate results in weight reduction and provides a newfound ability to participate in activities once passed by due to appearance and weight.

Note that a lipo procedure needs to be performed in injunction with a healthy diet and active lifestyle to be effective and for patients to see long-lasting results. 

For more details, check out our blog Health and fitness from a plastic surgery perspective. 

LIPO RECOVERY

Liposuction is typically an outpatient procedure, and most people recover quickly and return to work within a few days and resume all regular activity within two weeks. However, recovery will look different for each person but can take between 5 to 7 days to return to work. Further, it takes 4 to 6 weeks to return to regular activities. By month three post-surgery, most patients are entirely recovered. 

View our gallery here for examples of past liposuction surgeries! 

If you are interested in any plastic surgeries, we listed or any that we didn’t list, please reach out to us! We also want to note that if you are on the fence about undergoing surgery but still want body contouring options, check out our post here for details about Coolsculpting.