It"s Important to Understand All the Benefits and Risks of Tummy Tuck Surgery
Compared to other kinds of plastic surgery, a tummy tuck seems fairly harmless.
They are common, don't require a very long recovery period and are generally successful.
There are a great many benefits to getting a tummy tuck, but there are also a few side effects from the surgery.
Let's look at all of these in detail.
Benefits of tummy tucks There are many advantages to tummy tucks.
These include: 1 - Tighter stomach muscles - Because the tummy tuck surgery involves tightening the tissue under the skin of the abdomen, there is a general tightening of the entire abdominal region.
Although we generally lose a good deal of elasticity in our abdomens through regular aging and childbirth, the tummy tuck can serve to bring back some of that elasticity.
2 - Long lasting results - While other kinds of cosmetic surgery often require some surgical upkeep every couple of years (or every few months, depending on the procedure) tummy tucks will often last for many years.
If you get pregnant after a tummy tuck, however, the procedure might need to be repeated to re-tighten the area.
As well, if you gain a lot of weight or simply stop exercising, the muscle will eventually lose its elasticity and over time, the benefits of the tummy tuck will be lost.
3 - Removal of excess skin - While liposuction only removes the fat under the skin, a tummy tuck surgery actually removes some of the excess skin, resulting in a flatter, firmer abdominal appearance.
This is particularly helpful when the surgery is being performed on someone who has had weight loss surgery.
Often there are large folds of fat that are not only aesthetically unappealing but they can attract fungus and become infected.
A tummy tuck can successfully remove these folds and therefore the risk.
Risks of tummy tucks Although the benefits of having a tummy tuck are great, there are also some risks associated with having the surgery.
These include: 1 - Blood clots - Blood clots are a risk after any kind of surgery, and that includes tummy tuck surgery.
2 - Infection - Rarely do infections result because the surgeon was at fault (i.
e.
, kept a non sterile surgical environment).
Usually the infections that result from tummy tucks are the fault of the patient, who fails to properly care for their incision site.
It's important to follow all the instructions given for care of the wound.
3 - Slow healing - In and of itself, this is not a risk factor because everyone heals from surgery at their own rate, but if the healing takes a particularly long time, it could be due to some extenuating problem and should be reported to the surgeon.
4 - Reactions to the anesthesia - Some people can have severe reactions to anesthesia, particularly if they have never been placed under general anesthesia before.
Any reaction will manifest itself immediately or within a day at the latest.
So there you have it.
As with any surgical procedure, anyone considering a tummy tuck should consider all the pros and cons and consider if the benefits outweigh the risks.
If they do (and often with cosmetic surgery the patient decides they are willing to risk the side effects), then the surgery is a go.
Being educated is the key.
They are common, don't require a very long recovery period and are generally successful.
There are a great many benefits to getting a tummy tuck, but there are also a few side effects from the surgery.
Let's look at all of these in detail.
Benefits of tummy tucks There are many advantages to tummy tucks.
These include: 1 - Tighter stomach muscles - Because the tummy tuck surgery involves tightening the tissue under the skin of the abdomen, there is a general tightening of the entire abdominal region.
Although we generally lose a good deal of elasticity in our abdomens through regular aging and childbirth, the tummy tuck can serve to bring back some of that elasticity.
2 - Long lasting results - While other kinds of cosmetic surgery often require some surgical upkeep every couple of years (or every few months, depending on the procedure) tummy tucks will often last for many years.
If you get pregnant after a tummy tuck, however, the procedure might need to be repeated to re-tighten the area.
As well, if you gain a lot of weight or simply stop exercising, the muscle will eventually lose its elasticity and over time, the benefits of the tummy tuck will be lost.
3 - Removal of excess skin - While liposuction only removes the fat under the skin, a tummy tuck surgery actually removes some of the excess skin, resulting in a flatter, firmer abdominal appearance.
This is particularly helpful when the surgery is being performed on someone who has had weight loss surgery.
Often there are large folds of fat that are not only aesthetically unappealing but they can attract fungus and become infected.
A tummy tuck can successfully remove these folds and therefore the risk.
Risks of tummy tucks Although the benefits of having a tummy tuck are great, there are also some risks associated with having the surgery.
These include: 1 - Blood clots - Blood clots are a risk after any kind of surgery, and that includes tummy tuck surgery.
2 - Infection - Rarely do infections result because the surgeon was at fault (i.
e.
, kept a non sterile surgical environment).
Usually the infections that result from tummy tucks are the fault of the patient, who fails to properly care for their incision site.
It's important to follow all the instructions given for care of the wound.
3 - Slow healing - In and of itself, this is not a risk factor because everyone heals from surgery at their own rate, but if the healing takes a particularly long time, it could be due to some extenuating problem and should be reported to the surgeon.
4 - Reactions to the anesthesia - Some people can have severe reactions to anesthesia, particularly if they have never been placed under general anesthesia before.
Any reaction will manifest itself immediately or within a day at the latest.
So there you have it.
As with any surgical procedure, anyone considering a tummy tuck should consider all the pros and cons and consider if the benefits outweigh the risks.
If they do (and often with cosmetic surgery the patient decides they are willing to risk the side effects), then the surgery is a go.
Being educated is the key.
