It took me a long time, 3 years, about 1 million sit-ups and a few thousand miles on the treadmill before I gave up and decided to have a tummy tuck. After losing weight with gastric bypass I was left with an apron of loose abdominal skin. A tummy tuck was my last hope to get rid of it.

No matter how thin I looked, how many compliments I received, I always believed that the belly bulge was the equivalent of a wart on the tip of the nose. I was sure he entered the room before me and people stared at him. He hated how I looked naked.

A tummy tuck, abdominoplasty, is a procedure that flattens the abdomen by removing extra fat and skin and tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall. But be careful: this is major surgery, not the easy way out

I had the tummy tuck last fall. The surgeon cut me from hip to hip – I have a 20″ scar to prove it. He removed the flap of skin, put in a new belly button and sculpted the body with liposuction on the hips and waist. it was done to me in their operating room and I went home that night heavily medicated. I rested in a recliner for several days. Everything was painful and exhausting: sitting, standing, bathing, eating. I slept a lot for two weeks. Surgical garment to hold everything instead.

The surgeon taped the wound closed and I wore a surgical drain for 10 days (does that sound familiar?) My body was quite swollen and this made my head spin – – I was hoping I would wake up from the surgery with the perfect swimsuit model. not so In fact, my measurements after surgery were greater than before surgery. The swelling lasted, to a lesser degree, for about a month. The good news is that in 3 weeks I was back on my treadmill walking program.

Now, six months post-op, I am happy to report a firm, flat tummy. Who me? The fat girl!! The incision is still wicked, ugly, red and tender: wearing jeans is uncomfortable. Still, I’m happy I had the surgery, but don’t even consider asking me if I want another surgery. I hope I’m done with that for good!

Who are the best candidates for a tummy tuck?

A tummy tuck is suitable for both men and women who are in good general health.

It should not be confused with liposuction (cosmetic surgery used to remove fat deposits), although your surgeon may choose to perform liposuction as part of a tummy tuck.

Women who have stretched muscles and skin from multiple pregnancies may find the procedure helpful to tighten those muscles and reduce that skin. A tummy tuck is also an alternative for men or women who were obese at some point in their lives and still have excessive fat deposits or loose skin in the abdominal area.

How is a tummy tuck done?

Depending on the desired results, this surgery can last from one to five hours. The complexity of your particular situation will also determine whether it is completed as an outpatient or inpatient procedure.

You will receive general anesthesia, which will put you to sleep during the operation. It is important to have someone with you who can drive you home. If you live alone, you will also need someone to stay with you for at least the first night after surgery.

There are two options for a tummy tuck. You and your surgeon will discuss your desired results and he or she will determine the appropriate procedure during your consultation.

full tummy tuck

Your abdomen will be cut from hipbone to hipbone in this procedure, the option for those patients who require the most correction. The incision will be made low, about the same level as your pubic hair.

Your surgeon will then manipulate and contour the skin, tissue, and muscle as needed. Your navel will have a new opening if you have this procedure, because it is necessary to free your navel from the surrounding tissue. Drainage tubes may be placed under the skin and will be removed in a few days as your surgeon sees fit.

Mini partial gold tummy tuck

Mini tummy tucks are often performed on patients whose fat deposits are below the navel and require shorter incisions.

During this procedure, your belly button will most likely not move. Your skin will be separated between the incision line and your belly button. This type of surgery can also be done with an endoscope (a small camera on the end of a tube). The procedure may only take up to two hours, again depending on your personal situation and the complexity of your needs.