Tummy Tuck

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Dr. Vasisht’s Approach:

Tummy Tuck with a SCULPTOR’s Vision!

Many plastic surgeons perform tummy tucks. As a matter of fact, it is considered the “bread and butter” procedure for most plastic surgeons. Dr. Vasisht performs his tummy tuck with a keen eye of a sculptor to give his New Jersey patients the best result. “There is no other procedure in plastic surgery where science meets art”, according to Dr. Vasisht.

Achieving Natural Results: The Science

Having spent years training among the world’s most elite plastic surgeons, New Jersey Plastic Surgeon Dr. Vasisht learned the science of how to perform tummy tucks. The changes that a woman’s body goes through as a result of pregnancy and weight loss can often be cosmetically devastating. The science of this surgery involves the removal of excess skin and tightening of loose muscle in most cases. “All plastic surgeons have at some point learned this during their training”, according to Dr. V.

Achieving Natural Results: The Art

Over the years, Dr. Vasisht has honed his skills in performing tummy tucks to make this an art form. His reputation has grown among his patient population and beyond South Jersey. His unique proprietary technique brings together the science of ‘Lipocontouring’ and Dr. Vasisht’s technique of ‘Peri-Umbilical Liposculpting.’

“I probably see each tummy tuck patient like a sculptor looks at clay. A good sculptor already knows in their mind how that clay will be molded to create a masterpiece. When I see a tummy tuck patient in consultation, I am already envisioning how she will look in a bikini. That patient may or may not realize it, but they found a sculptor, not a surgeon!”

Sometimes simply dieting and exercising are not enough to take care of waistline problems. Post-pregnancy changes to the abdominal fat and skin can be devastating. In such cases, a patient may wish to consider a tummy tuck (or abdominoplasty). A tummy tuck is the surgical removal of excess skin or fatty deposits from the abdomen, along with the repositioning of abdomen muscles into a tighter formation. This enhancement procedure is designed for those who wish to have a flatter and tighter stomach. It is also helpful in remedying the vertical separation of abdomen muscles, known as diastasis, which can occur following pregnancy.

Reasons For A Tummy Tuck:

• Inability of dieting and exercise to improve the abdomen area
• Excessive accumulation of skin following weight loss
• Loss of skin elasticity or diastases (loose abdomen muscles) due to pregnancy
• Removal of unsightly skin and fat deposits, as well as the proper alignment of the abdomen muscles to produce a more flattering look

Am I a Candidate for a Tummy Tuck Procedure?

If you have experienced any of the above symptoms, you will likely be a candidate for tummy tuck surgery since there are very few limitations placed on candidacy. However, you must be in good physical health with no underlying conditions that can increase the risk of surgical complications.

We require that all of our patients avoid excessive smoking and drinking in the weeks and months leading up to their surgery since either of these can provoke complications during surgery or the recovery process. 

It is also paramount that you have healthy expectations about what a tummy tuck can achieve. Otherwise, you could find yourself unsatisfied and disappointed with an otherwise successful procedure. 

Like everything, abdominoplasty has its limitations, so make sure to view our before and after gallery to get a clear understanding of what those limitations are. You can likely find someone who has a condition similar to yours to have a clear idea of what to expect. 

Differences Between a Full Tummy Tuck and a Mini Tummy Tuck

Full abdominoplasty surgery involves treating excessive skin and fat tissue both above and below the belly button. An incision is made around the existing belly button and it is brought out through a separate incision. The result is an amazing transformation of the abdomen restoring a youthful appearance to this area!

Some patients with a flat upper abdomen and excessive tissue only below the belly button, typically only need a mini tummy tuck. In these patients, the belly button is not involved in the procedure. There is less tissue removed and the recovery is less involved with a mini tummy tuck. Dr. V can help you decide which is the best option for you.

How Should I Prepare for a Tummy Tuck?

Since a tummy tuck is a surgical procedure, there may be some medical steps you will have to take prior to having it performed. In some cases, we ask our patients to go and have blood work done so we can be sure that surgery is a safe option. This is especially common in patients with sensitive underlying conditions. 

We may also provide you with instructions on how to alter medication in preparation for the procedure. These instructions usually include reducing or temporarily stopping medications that affect blood pressure or blood volume. Over-the-counter options like aspirin will also need to be avoided in most cases.

This is done safely with your overall health in mind. If it is impossible to reduce or stop a medication safely, then it will be avoided. The surgery will either be performed with the medication routine continued per usual or the call will be made that surgery is not safe.

The only way to know for sure if you are a candidate for this surgery despite having preexisting conditions is to schedule a consultation with our office. One of our expert medical staff will review your medical history, examine your conditions and listen to your aesthetic goals. Only then can a final determination be made. 

Making a Recovery Station

We have found that our patients thrive during their recovery when they do a fair bit of preparation ahead of time. Your recovery will include many days of being confined to your bed, so making it as comfortable as possible will greatly aid in your recovery. 

Make sure all of the essentials are nearby — chargers, electronics, books, remotes, medications, snacks, drinks or anything else you think you will need during your recovery. Make sure you have enough pillows to prop yourself up into different positions since you will likely need to move around a bit to avoid becoming too uncomfortable. 

Having someone with you during the first 24 hours after your procedure will help ensure you don’t overdo it during your initial recovery. They can help with meals, chores, children and other responsibilities you would otherwise be responsible for. 

Tummy Tuck Procedure

During an abdominoplasty, Dr. V makes an incision in the lower abdomen at the pubic area. The length of the incision is determined by the amount of excess tissue that is present. A second incision is made around the belly button. The tissue is lifted above the muscle of the abdomen. Excessive tissue is then removed. The muscle is tightened and the remaining fat and skin tissue are repaired in the lower abdomen. If a patient has a C-section scar, this is used as part of the lower abdominal incision. The belly button is then brought up through a new opening in the skin.

Drains may be placed in the soft tissue and an On-Q pain pump is often left behind in the wound. The pain pump delivers numbing medicine for about 3 days. This has revolutionized postoperative pain control. The drains are removed a few days post-surgery.

Complications of a Tummy Tuck

As is true for most surgical procedures, infection and bleeding can occur post-surgery. There may be bruising, swelling, numbness and blood clots that can occur. Precautions are taken before the surgery to prevent these complications. In general, complications are extremely rare and careful pre-operative assessment is the key to prevention.

Tummy Tuck Recovery

Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing process and recovery time. As the body recuperates, patients can expect some swelling, pain, and discomfort. The pain pump helps with postoperative pain. Medication can be prescribed to relieve any pain after the pain is removed in about 3 days. Sutures are removed shortly after the surgery depending on the procedure(s) involved. Typically, patients can expect at least one week to ten days of downtime from work and other major life activities.

Normal activities can generally be resumed within two weeks. General exercise can resume in about 4-6 weeks. It may take up to a year for the body to completely adapt to the new abdominal configuration, sooner in most patients. With proper diet and exercise, the striking results of the surgery will be long lasting.

Can I Combine My Tummy Tuck with Other Procedures?

Aesthetic surgery and medicine is all about maintaining balance throughout the entire body. In some cases, it may be beneficial to address multiple areas of the body at once with multiple surgeries to ensure the overall appearance isn’t unharmonious. 

There are also several practical benefits to combining surgeries as well. The most exciting to patients is usually that the overall cost of multiple procedures is significantly cheaper when performed together. This is because you only need to pay for things like anesthesia, the facility and the surgeon’s fees once. 

Combinations can save you thousands of dollars in the long run if you are willing, but you can also save yourself months of recovery time by condensing the recovery from multiple surgeries into one period. This means less time away from work, family, friends and everything else you want to get back to. It also means saving that valuable vacation time for actual vacations.

Here are a few of the most popular surgeries that are combined with tummy tucks.

Thigh Lift

For most people, having a tummy tuck means redefining an attractive abdomen. But if you hold fat in the belly, you may also be holding excess fat and tissue in the thighs. A thigh lift excises this unwanted mass to create an even better contour that leads into the midsection. This is a critical component of attaining that desirable hourglass shape. 

Body Lift

For patients with extensive tissue sagging, a full-body lift can drastically improve the appearance of your contours alongside the tummy tuck. A body lift performs a similar function to the tummy tuck — the difference between them is the areas they are targeting. 

Brazilian Butt Lift

Your abdomen is one side of the curvy contour equation, but your derriere is perhaps just as important when it comes to having the ideal bikini body. By taking unwanted fat away from an area of the body through liposuction and reinjecting it into the butt for a fuller, naturally enhanced appearance, you can achieve leaps of improvement to your silhouette. 

Breast Augmentation

As the abdomen shrinks and tightens, you may find yourself wanting to improve your bust size as well. Going for breast implants can help you achieve a much more drastic overall improvement to your body shape if you feel like your breast size is holding you back.

Mommy Makeover

This group of procedures is named after the demographic of people who are most likely to need it. Motherhood takes quite a toll on your body, and the best thing about a Mommy Makeover is that it is entirely customizable. You can have as many or as few procedures packed into your specific treatment so that your results are exactly what you dreamed of. Nearly any cosmetic surgery can be included in this combination.