The abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is a cosmetic surgery procedure that is designed to improve the appearance of a person’s abdominal region. Known by most people as the tummy tuck, this surgery is designed to eliminate excess skin and trim fat from the mid-section of a person’s body.
The tummy tuck is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures, given the fact that it not only improves a person’s appearance and body shape, but it also helps them look slim, trim, and healthy. It is one of the top choices of women who have had children and people who have lost a significant amount of weight. However, while it is a cosmetic surgery by nature, it is still a major operation. Patients should recognize that there are risks and complications associated with it.
For years, people who wanted to look younger avoided the offices of cosmetic surgeons. While they wished they could get rid of the lines and wrinkles on their body, they didn’t necessarily want to look tight or pulled back in return. Now, these same patients have the opportunity to get their youth back through a more natural procedure that produces realistic-looking results. Expert cosmetic surgeons pioneered the fat grafting procedure and perform it on patients who desire to move unwanted fat from one area of the body to another. A tummy tuck can be used to remove excess skin afterwards. This is a wonderful alternative cosmetic procedure that still allows patients to look ten years younger in the end.
What are the Risks and Complications of the Tummy Tuck?
Damaging the Results
Patients may be at risk of damaging the results of the surgery, especially if the patient becomes pregnant after the operation has been performed, or an underlying condition is later discovered that was not known prior to the surgery. A pregnancy will naturally distort the abdominal region and will stretch the skin. This may damage the results of a tummy tuck surgery, but patients should be able to completely restore their results after they have recovered from childbirth. Talk with the surgeon about options that are available if you require a revision abdominoplasty because of a pregnancy that occurred after an initial operation.
Risk of Infection
Infection is a common risk associated with the tummy tuck surgery. In general, infection is a risk associated with any type of surgical procedure, whether it is medically necessary or performed for cosmetic reasons. Signs of infection include fever, redness, inflammation at the incision site, or discharge near the incision. Patients who feel they have signs or symptoms of infection should make a follow-up appointment with their surgeon immediately in order to receive the proper treatment.
Skin Loss or Loss of Sensation
Patients also may suffer from skin loss or loss of sensation after the operation is complete. Given the location of the incision and the fact that nerve damage can occur, as a result, of this surgery, patients should be prepared that this can happen after the fact. Patients should address this issue with their surgeon during a follow-up appointment.
Tummy Tucks with Fat Grafting
One reason to seek a tummy tuck is the related fat grafting procedure. Fat grafting is a surgical alternative that emphasizes its natural components. It utilizes products from the patient’s own body, allowing the body to accept the changes better and making the recovery process easier. Fat grafting is the process by which the surgeon removes fat from unwanted areas of the body, including the stomach, thighs, or buttocks, and then grafts it into a person’s aging face.
Many experienced cosmetic surgeons ensure the success of the facial graft by using Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP. PRP is created at the time of the surgery by the area’s top surgical teams using the patient’s own bloodstream. The PRP is inserted into the fatty tissue that will be grafted, and as another natural component of the body, the graft will adhere easily to its new location.
The PRP allows the graft to set and, at the same time, makes the recovery process easier for the patient in the long run. The result is a lush, full face once again. As the skin has not been stretched or repositioned, the patient does not appear as if they just had a major cosmetic surgery. Quite simply, they appear ten years younger in a matter of hours. The fat grafting procedure revitalizes a person’s body in a natural way, so they always look like themselves.
Discuss Options with a Professional Surgeon
To find out if you are a good candidate for the fat grafting procedure and to discuss specifics with a board-certified cosmetic surgeon, take the time to set up an appointment with the surgeon. This consultation appointment is free and will last about 30 minutes, allowing you the time you need to make the best decision for you and your body. Combine with a tummy tuck procedure to eliminate excess skin that may remain.
While it is essential to be aware of the risks and complications associated with this particular cosmetic surgery, patients should also note that these risks are greatly minimized when an expert cosmetic surgeon performs the procedure. Patients should make an effort to research the surgeon they are working with prior to heading to the operating room. They should only work with a cosmetic surgeon who has significant experience in performing the abdominoplasty and who is genuinely focused on providing patients with individual results. This will ensure that they get the best results after their surgery and can enjoy a brand new look as well as a fresh burst of self-confidence once their recovery is complete.