Tummy tuck surgery, or abdominoplasty, is a major elective procedure. It’s not for everyone and it doesn’t exactly come with a quick weekend recovery time. While the chance of complications after a tummy tuck are low for most patients, there are steps you can take to make them even lower.
If you’d like to benefits of a smooth abdomen and improved body contour without the scary risks, consider these tips to keep your chances of complications to the bare minimum.
Be a Good Candidate for Tummy Tuck Surgery
One of the easiest ways to minimize your risks for complications after a tummy tuck is to be sure that you are a good match for tummy tuck surgery, and vice versa. For the right patients, tummy tuck surgery can provide big benefits with only a minimal chance of complications. Good tummy tuck candidates share the following characteristics:
- Good overall health, without a medical condition that could delay healing.
- Non-smoking for at least 6 weeks prior to surgery, since smoking can cause serious surgical complications.
- A positive attitude about your surgery.
- Realistic expectations about what a tummy tuck can do for you.
- Extra skin on your abdomen, either from aging, heredity, pregnancy, prior surgery, or weight loss.
- A stable weight that is within a healthy range for a person of your age, height, and stature.
- Finished having children. Future pregnancies can greatly affect the results of your abdominoplasty. Patients are advised to wait until they do not plan to have any more children.
If you have questions about whether you are eligible to have abdominoplasty surgery, consult with a plastic surgeon. He will consider your medical history, your specific concerns, and your physique before making his recommendation to you.
Be Prepared for Your Tummy Tuck Surgery
The consultation is important, but it’s not the only time you should be planning ahead for your surgery. You’ll lay the groundwork for your best tummy tuck results and your lowest risk of complications by following your plastic surgeon’s instructions closely between your consultation and your surgery date. You may be given very specific guidelines for what to eat and drink, when to quit smoking (if you are a smoker), what medications and vitamins to avoid taking, and more.
Your surgeon will also discuss ways that you can prepare yourself and your home for a smooth recovery. Set up a ride from a friend or family member to bring you to and from your procedure, since you will not be allowed to drive yourself home. Take care of all of your household chores and your errands before the date of your surgery so you can concentrate on resting in the early days of your recovery. Create a designated space for your recovery, with lots of pillows and blankets, comfy clothing, healthy snacks and drinks, and ways to stay entertained. Taking these steps in advance can help to soothe your nerves and relieve stress, meaning your body will recover faster.
Be Open and Honest with Your Surgeon
When it comes to surgery like a tummy tuck, secrets can be dangerous. It’s important that you disclose your complete medical history, any current issues, and a full list of the medications, vitamins, and supplements you are taking.
You also need to be honest about your use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs, as they can all be detrimental to your healing and put you at an extremely high risk for post-operative complications. Your health and safety are more important than a few minutes of embarrassing conversation, so don’t keep secrets from your plastic surgeon. It’s not too extreme to say that your life really could depend on it.
Be Clear About Your Expectations
It has already been mentioned that good candidates for tummy tuck surgery have reasonable expectations of their surgery. If you’re planning to drop six dress sizes, for example, this isn’t the surgery for you. On the other hand, if you’ve been hoping to alleviate some of that excess, flabby skin, abdominoplasty can deliver those results.
During your consultation with your plastic surgeon, describe what you’re hoping to achieve with a tummy tuck. Through the use of the Canfield VECTRA 3D imaging system, you and your surgeon can work together to design a procedure that delivers the right results. Using real 3D images of your own body, the VECTRA system can simulate the surgical changes your doctor will make during your surgery.
It’s like getting a sneak peek at the final results. If you consult with a surgeon who offers this kind of visual tool, you’ll agree on the same results and minimize your risk for being disappointment with your post-surgical body.
Choose the Right Tummy Tuck Surgeon
All surgeries, medical or cosmetic, carry some risks with them. Selecting the right surgeon to perform your tummy tuck is an easy way to safeguard yourself against needless risks and harmful complications.
Contact Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists, where Dr. Ran Rubinstein can help you to achieve the surgical results you desire.
Renowned facial plastic surgeon Dr. Ran Rubinstein at Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists of Newburgh, New York. Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists is the only specialty plastic surgery practice in the Hudson Valley area with an on-site joint commission certified surgical suite. To Dr. Rubinstein, please call 845-863-1772. Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists is located at 200 Stony Brook Court #2 in Newburgh, New York.
