San Diego Tummy Tuck
A San Diego Tummy Tuck, or as it is sometimes also known, an abdominoplasty, is a San Diego Plastic Surgery procedure where an individual’s excess skin and fat deposits are removed from a person’s abdominal areas. While the primary focus is on removing excess skin, it is also very common for the San Diego tummy tuck surgeon to also tighten the middle and lower abdominal muscles.
A tummy tuck is considered a major cosmetic surgery procedure. Fortunately, this surgery is one of the most common aesthetic cosmetic procedures performed today. Just as with any other significant surgery, it is vital that you contact a medical doctor who is certified to discuss the ins and outs of this procedure.
Some patients choose to combine their San Diego Tummy Tuck with other San Diego plastic surgery procedures, such as a San Diego liposuction and tubal ligations. The tummy tuck type and whether any other cosmetic surgery procedures will be performed at the same time will determine what kind of anesthesia will be used. As an example, general anesthesia would be used for an extended tummy tuck, while some surgeons will choose to use local anesthetic for a mini tummy tuck.
While it is common for the paparazzi and entertainment shows to point out who they suspect of recently having tummy tucks, it is very important for a San Diego tummy tuck candidate to understand that this procedure is not to be used as a weight loss tool. This plastic surgery procedure should only be used to eliminate hard to remove fat deposits. And as an aside, even if you are to undergo a San Diego abdominoplasty, it is highly unlikely that you will look like Britney Spears (who has been blessed with phenomenal genetics).
As you will discover later in this article, a San Diego tummy tuck can be performed on either males or females. While women have this surgery more often, due to their skin stretching during a pregnancy or multiple pregnancies, more and more men are undergoing this procedure due to a pooch developing either due to aging or significant weight loss.
Along with the concept of a woman undergoing this plastic surgery procedure due to pregnancies, it is important for her to wait an appropriate amount of time before proceeding with a San Diego Tummy Tuck. If the woman’s skin hasn’t retracted within six months of her child’s birth, than most likely, her skin is not going to fully retract back to its original state. Hence, the San Diego Plastic Surgery Guide recommends someone (both men and women) wait at least a year from their significant weight loss before proceeding with an abdominoplasty.
San Diego Tummy Tuck Reasons
People choose to have a San Diego Tummy Tuck for a myriad of reasons. Obviously, the most popular reason is for what many people call a mommy makeover. In this case, a woman is simply trying to regain her pre-pregnancy figure. During pregnancy, a woman’s midsection expands, often times to the point where damage is done to her abdominal wall muscles. In this case, it may not be possible for the woman’s abdominals to return to their pre-pregnancy form. The only way to rectify this situation is to have a tummy tuck, which can tighten the abdominal wall muscles.
One note concerning pregnancy though, if you plan on having more children in the future, this procedure is not for you. Your next pregnancy will simply undo the results of the San Diego abdominoplasty, and most likely, you will end up with the same problem of excess skin.
Besides childbirth, many people decide to have the plastic surgery to reverse the result of aging. This is becoming more and more common for men, since our society is becoming more and more focused on men’s looks and not just women’s looks anymore.
Lastly, many people, male and female, choose to undergo a San Diego Tummy Tuck due to having significant weight loss. Regardless of how often one exercises or how properly they eat, they simply can’t rid themselves of the excess skin. The only remedy in this case is an abdominoplasty.
Once this procedure has been performed, it is very important for the patient to change their nutrition program and exercise regiments, in order to maintain the weight loss. Also, while some people may choose this surgery in an attempt to get rid of stretch marks, it should be mentioned, that a tummy tuck can only alleviate this problem slightly versus getting rid of it permanently.
San Diego Tummy Tuck Cost
Unfortunately, it is impossible to provide a definitive cost estimate for a San Diego tummy tuck due to numerous factors. These factors include the surgeon’s fees, operating facility fees, anesthesiologist fees, and miscellaneous fees.
The surgeon’s fees will be dictated by his experience, skill level, and geographical location. In addition, the type of tummy tuck will also affect the surgeon’s fees. The final factor affecting the surgeon’s fees is the overall level of contouring. The more extensive the contouring, the higher the surgeon’s fees (since as we all know, time is money).
You will also have to pay for the operating facility. Your Sand Diego tummy tuck doctor will perform the surgery in either a hospital, his or her own operating suite, or a reserved operating facility.
While you would obviously want anesthesia, you will also have to pay for post operative pain medications. Lastly, you will want to figure in miscellaneous fees such as lab work and medical tests that will need to be performed.
To add insult to injury, most insurance companies will not pay for a San Diego tummy tuck, as it is considered elective plastic surgery. Usually, the he only loophole to this rule is if the surgery is for medical reasons.
Luckily, since many insurance companies will not cover this procedure, there are numerous financing options available.
San Diego Tummy Tuck Financing
When one attends a tummy tuck consultation, they will be notified that they need to pay all the required fees at the pre-operative appointment. Most doctors will not allow you to pay for this plastic surgery procedure once it has been performed.
As one would expect, San Diego Tummy Tuck surgeons will accept credit cards, personal checks, and cash as payment.
Besides these traditional forms of payment, there are companies that do both interest free loans and installment loans for this procedure. There are even credit card companies that cater specifically to plastic surgery patients.
If neither of these options sound appealing, you can also ask your abdominoplasty surgeon if he or he is willing to loan you the money. In this case, you should have a high credit score.
Types of Tummy Tucks
When most people think about getting a tummy tuck in San Diego, they usually envision a traditional tummy tuck. Many people are surprised to learn there are three main types of tummy tucks.
The most common type of tummy tuck is the traditional tummy tuck. During this procedure, the abdominal walls are exposed, via an incision in the bikini line, the abdominal muscles are tightened, and the excess skin is detached. Also, your belly button is detached and reattached, so it can be positioned properly. This procedure normally takes between two and five hours to complete.
The second type of tummy tuck is the mini-tummy tuck. The next section provides an in-depth explanation of what this actually entails.
Finally, the last type of abdominoplasty is the extended tummy tuck. This is simply an expanded traditional tummy tuck. In this procedure, the patient’s flanks, hips, and lower back are also operated on. Any excess skin in these areas is removed, with the end result being a nicely contoured abdominal area.
San Diego Mini Tummy Tuck
A San Diego mini tummy tuck is usually a one to two hour plastic surgery procedure. It is oftentimes referred to as a partial tummy tuck, partial abdominoplasty, scarless tummy tuck, and as a scarless abdominoplasty.
Most people who have a mini tummy tuck do so because their abdomens have begun to droop as a result of aging. Since only a small part of their abdomen is drooping, a mini tummy tuck is the ideal option for them.
In contrast with a normal; tummy tuck, a partial tummy tuck will often cost much less. This is because you require less of the surgeon’s and anesthesiologist’s time, as well as less time in the operating facility.
The San Diego mini abdominoplasty is much simpler than an extended tummy tuck or a normal tummy tuck. The main difference is that the belly button is not detached during the scarless tummy tuck and a smaller incision has to be made, when compared to the two other types of tummy tucks. As mentioned earlier, many tummy tuck surgeons prefer to perform this surgery under local anesthetic. Of course, if you prefer general anesthesia, you should discuss this with him or her.
To get the best results, your surgeon may recommend you also have San Diego liposuction to get the best contouring possible. As a side note, the more surgeries you have at one time, the greater the likelihood of complications.
Oftentimes, abdominoplasty surgeons refer to a mini tummy tuck as a scarless tummy tuck. However, regardless of what others may say or suggest, there is no such thing. If you have a tummy tuck, you will always have a scar. It may fade some by the ninth month, but it will still exist.
You may be wondering, why do people call it a scarless tummy tuck then? The simple answer is that the scar is hidden in the patient’s bikini or boxer line. Also, the scar itself can be as small as six inches.
Tummy Tuck Candidacy
A good San Diego tummy tuck candidate has numerous common attributes. The most important attribute is a realistic expectation of what this surgery can provide, in terms of outcomes.
Also, the ideal candidate should be physically fit, in good health, and not smoke, as smoking can increasethe tummy tuck recovery period, as well as increase the chance of complications.
Other attributes of an ideal candidate would be that they are fit, in good health, within ten percent of their ideal weight, and a non-smoker. For those candidates who smoke, it is important to realize that smoking can slow down the healing process, as well as increase the risk of post-operative complications.
The last characteristic that should be discussed is the candidate’s age. For people over the age of forty years old, the issue of skin elasticity arises. Once you become this age, you skin is less responsive. This comes into play when you choose to have a San Diego liposuction. Since your skin isn’t as elastic, your plastic surgery may turn out lumpy.
As mentioned above, if you plan on becoming pregnant, you should not consider this procedure until after you have delivered. After delivery, you should wait at least a year before undergoing a San Diego abdominoplasty. Also, if you are still in the process of losing weight, it would be wise to wait until you are done losing weight.
Male Tummy Tuck
Normally, when people envision someone attending a San Diego tummy tuck consultation, an image that usually pops into one’s head is that of a woman, who wishes to rid herself of the excess skin she acquired while she was pregnant. However, in today’s day and age, the reality is more and more men are undergoing a male tummy tuck. In 2007 alone, more than 5,600 males underwent a San Diego tummy tuck. And since society is placing more and more emphasis on a man’s looks, it is very probable that these numbers will continue to skyrocket. Failure to acquiesce to these demands may result in a man being ostracized, either in the social or professionals arenas.
Similar to when a woman undergo a tummy tuck, a male tummy tuck patient will have various concerns to deal with.
First, most men want to know how much a San Diego male tummy tuck costs? Similar to a traditional tummy tuck, it is impossible to forecast the final tally. The only way to receive a definitive answer is to contact a tummy tuck surgeon and set up a consultation.
San Diego Tummy Tuck Recovery
After the San Diego tummy tuck is over, the tummy tuck recovery period begin. The duration of this period depends of several items.
First, what are the patient’s health and fitness levels? The fitter the patient is, the quicker his or her tummy tuck recovery will be. Another significant factor is whether the tummy tuck patient smokes or not. If the patient is a smoker, than his or her recovery time will be significantly longer than a non-smoker’s recovery.
Besides these two aspects, the type of tummy tuck will also determine how long the abdominoplasty recovery takes. As one would naturally expect, it will take longer to recover from an extended tummy tuck than it would from a mini tummy tuck.
A San Diego tummy tuck patient should not expect to resume their normal routine for a period of two weeks. For the first week post op, the abdominoplasty patient will be unable to stand up straight due to the extent their abdominal skin was pulled taunt. While this may sound distressing, this temporary condition will abate in a short time period. The tummy tuck recovery can be so intense, that many tummy tuck surgeons will place their charges on bed rest for several days, in an attempt to accelerate the healing process.
As an aside, since the mini tummy tuck has recently become so popular, it is worth briefly detailing the aspects of its recovery. With the mini tummy tuck, you should be able to resume light activity within three days, while returning to work within one to three weeks of entering the mini tummy tuck recovery period. Furthermore, the patient should be able to resume strenuous activities about a month after the tummy tuck surgery.
After you surgery, your doctor may attach a tummy tuck drain to collect the fluid that develops between your skin and your abdominal muscles. This device is usually inserted into your abdomen by means of the tummy tuck incision. Although this device can be inconvenient, it is imperative you keep it is, due to safety concerns (it lessens the chance of infection). Most likely, you will have the tummy tuck drain in anywhere from three days to three weeks. Your surgeon will provide instruction for the care and maintenance of this device. In addition, your doctor will provide instructions for taking care of your surgical dressings. While you may wish to take a shower after your surgery, your doctor most likely will only authorize sponge baths during the first few days of your tummy tuck recovery.
The tummy tuck patient can expect swelling for the first few weeks following the surgery. While it is impossible to eliminate post operative swelling, it can be minimized by limiting your physical exertion during the recovery.
Besides the swelling, the patient will also have a certain amount of discomfort to contend with. This discomfort can easily be alleviated via pain medication. Similar to swelling, you can minimize your discomfort by controlling your physical exertion.
After a week into your San Diego tummy tuck recovery, you should begin a light exercise routine. The benefits of establishing this habit include accelerating the healing process while minimizing the possibility of blood clots developing. Intense strenuous exercise is prohibited at this point; the main concern being the possibility of ripping your stitches.
It should only take a few weeks for the abdominoplasty incisions to heal, while it can take up to a full year for your abdominal wall muscles to heal. Due to this fact, it is very important to take the time to heal properly. Just remember, just a little zealousness on your part (picking up your two year old during the first week of the tummy tuck recovery), can lead to the undoing of this surgery’s results.
During the tummy tuck recovery, it is important that you attend your post operative follow up appointments. These appointments are a venue where the abdominoplasty surgeon can monitor your healing while also looking for signs of infection. Failure to attend these appointments can lead a minor infection to turn into a major, festering issue that lands you in the hospital.
Besides signs of infection, if the tummy tuck patient begins to have difficulty breathing or experiences severe pain, it is important for them to contact their doctor immediately.
Another part of your tummy tuck recovery is that you may have to wear a compression garment. More information on this aspect of the abdominoplasty is located below.
In addition to the compression garments you may have to wear, your doctor will prescribe different medication to aid in your recovery. These medicines will be both topical and oral, and should be administered according the San Diego tummy tuck surgeon’s instructions. The medicines will reduce the likelihood of infection while also providing pain relief. On a side note, it is important not to take anti-inflammatory medications, aspirin, or herbal supplements as these can lead to increased bleeding.
From an aesthetic perspective, don’t be upset if the results of your tummy tuck don’t initially turn out the way you expect. This most likely will happened for several reasons. First, there will be swelling for a few weeks. Second, it often takes somewhere between three to six months for the final outcome to appear. Additionally, it can take up to nine months before the tummy tuck scars begin to fade.
Something most people fail to realize is that the duration of the tummy tuck recovery is directly proportional to amount of abdominal scarring. The more difficult the recovery period or the longer it takes to heal, the more likely your scars will be darker. In addition, if you are a smoker, you greatly increase the chance of having noticeable scarring.
Your tummy tuck results should last for many years unless one of three things happens. If the San Diego tummy tuck patient become pregnant, the results will quickly be undone. If the abdominoplasty patient gains a significant amount of weight, the results will be undone. And finally, the last way to undo the results of this procedure is simply the aging process. As we all get older, our stomach begins to sag again. Of course, you could always have another tummy tuck in San Diego.
Compression Garments
Another aspect of a San Diego tummy tuck recovery is the need to wear compression garments during the post operative period. These garments, which are also called abdominal binders, are a critical part of the tummy tuck recovery process. These compression garments are designed to provide support to your surgical areas by applying the correct amount of pressure to your abdominal area. These compression garments improve blood circulation while helping the body rid itself of toxic fluids.
Additionally, since compression garments are considered medical garb, you should be very careful in selecting a product that will provide the required amount of pressure to the correct surgical areas. While you may consider buying a non-medical type of compression garment to save a few dollars, you would be in all likelihood just prolonging your tummy tuck recovery time. As mentioned above, the longer your recovery time, the greater the possibility of your scars being noticeable.
Not surprisingly, there are compression garments designed for practically every San Diego plastic surgery procedure. In many cases, these compression garments are gender specific. In the case of a San Diego tummy tuck, the compression garments are usually white and can be worn underneath your normal day clothes. You should never wear your compression garments to bed due to the possibility of the compression garment restricting your blood circulation. This could be possible if the compression garment slipped while you were sleeping.
Some San Diego tummy tuck surgeons will insist your wear a special compression garment, which is similar to a leg stocking. The purpose of this compression garment is to minimize the possibility of blood clots developing in your legs.
When shopping for a compression garment, you should purchase at least two pairs. Whenever you have to wash one compression garment (usually these have to be hand washed), you can wear the other. Since you may have to wear these compression garments for up to eight weeks, you will want to wash them.
Finding a San Diego Tummy Tuck Surgeon
This last section will discuss the fundamentals of finding a San Diego tummy tuck surgeon. This is one of the most important aspects of the whole process, since whoever you choose will determine the quality of your San Diego tummy tuck.
The most important characteristic you are looking for in a tummy tuck surgeon is compatibility. You should be comfortable with him or her when discussing your medical concerns.
In order to find a good tummy tuck surgeon, you must review the abdominoplasty doctor’s previous work. Nowadays, many surgeons are posting before and after pictures of the patients on their websites. You simply review a few of these websites and decide which surgeons perform the best work (It will quickly become evident when your begin looking).
Once you have identified a few surgeons whose work looks acceptable, you schedule a consultation with them. Before the actual consultation, you should verify the tummy tuck surgeon’s credentials via the Board of Medical Examiners.
During the consultation, you will assess whether the cosmetic surgeon is appropriate for your desires and wishes. You will simply listen to what he or she is saying. The San Diego Plastic Surgery Guide recommends you choose a surgeon who continuously stresses the precautions he or she takes to minimize the possibility of complications.
If you feel comfortable with the plastic surgeon, you can then inquire about his or her fee structure. While you may have to pay more for an experience and skilled surgeon, you can consider this money well spent.
Hopefully, the San Diego Plastic Surgery Guide has been helpful in providing a solid introduction to the world of a San Diego Tummy Tuck.
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