Getting a Tummy Tuck at Heartland Plastic & Hand Surgery

If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your abdominal wall and are considering a tummy tuck, you may be wondering what the process involves and what to expect before, during, and after the procedure.

At Heartland Plastic & Hand Surgery in Cape Girardeau, MO, we offer tummy tucks (also known as abdominoplasty) to help you achieve the results you desire.

Preparing for Your Tummy Tuck

Before your tummy tuck procedure, you’ll have a consultation with Dr. Humphrey to discuss your goals and medical history. During the consultation, we’ll also determine if patients are a good candidate for their surgical procedures and then discuss a treatment plan and whether a standard tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck is best for you.

A full tummy tuck involves making an incision across the lower abdomen, from hip to hip. Then, we tighten loose muscles and loose skin across the entire abdominal area. This procedure is ideal for patients who have significant excess skin and fat in the lower abdominal muscles.

Unlike a full tummy tuck, the mini tummy tuck involves a smaller incision (about half the length of a full tummy tuck incision). It only permits tightening stomach muscles in the lower stomach and removing excess skin below the belly button to offer a slimmer lower abdomen.

During Your Tummy Tuck

On the day of your tummy tuck surgery, you’ll be given anesthesia to ensure you’re comfortable throughout the involved procedure. Your plastic surgeon will make the incision(s) discussed during your consultation (depending on whether you’re having a complete tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck), carefully tightening muscles, and removing any excess fat or excess fluid. The surgeon will close the incision with sutures or skin adhesives to help the healing process.

After Your Tummy Tuck

After your tummy tuck, you’ll need to take some time to rest and recover for proper healing. You’ll be given detailed instructions on how to care for your incision and what to expect during the recovery process. It’s important to follow these as closely as possible for the best results to avoid poor wound healing.

After a typical tummy tuck procedure, you’ll experience some swelling, bruising, and discomfort for the first few days, especially around the incision site. These symptoms can be managed with pain medication and proper rest– a compression garment can also help with the swelling.

How long your recovery time will depend on a number of factors including your age, body mass index, overall health, the type of tummy tuck, and how much rest you give yourself after the major surgery.

Most people need about a month off work and even more time if they have a physically demanding job. You’ll want to take the same amount of time off from strenuous exercise as well.

It can take about three months before all the swelling and bruising go down, but the results of the remaining skin’s new appearance will begin showing earlier. There is a significant amount of downtime involved in this cosmetic surgery, but your new normal self is well worth it.

Schedule A Consultation

If you’re interested in a tummy tuck, schedule a consultation at Heartland Plastic Surgery & Hand Surgery today. During your consultation, we’ll go over your goals, medical history, and any questions you may have about the procedure.

Contact us today at our Cape Girardeau, MO office by calling us at 855-919-2707 or by using our online form. We look forward to helping you achieve the results you desire