Tummy Tuck: What to Look for in Your Doctor

Tummy tuck is a body contouring procedure designed to tighten the skin around the abdomen. It’s a perfect choice for patients looking to get rid of saggy loose skin. It is commonly used in mommy makeover procedures and is very effective in giving patients a flatter stomach after pregnancy.

Before scheduling your consultation, here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a tummy tuck surgeon:

How to Find a Tummy Tuck Specialist

1. Ensure the doctor is a board-certified plastic surgeon by either the American Board of Plastic Surgeons (ABPS) or its foreign equivalent, the International Society of Plastic Surgeons (ISAPS). These organizations will make sure the doctor is trained in the highest standards of plastic surgery.
2. Find out how much experience the plastic surgeon has specifically with tummy tuck. See how many patients he or she has dealt with in the past that had similar cases to yours.
3. Most certified plastic surgeons should have hospital privileges but it is never a bad thing to double check. Obtaining hospital privileges is a very tedious process and is another great way to make sure your doctor is trained to the absolute highest standards.

Results after Tummy Tuck

Tummy tuck results are usually permanent unless drastic weight fluctuation occurs. Patients who are planning for pregnancy are strongly encouraged to wait to do the procedure afterwards. Patients who ignore this advice will have to get the procedure redone to bring back their initial results.

Another consideration is the potential risks and limitations of a tummy tuck procedure. For example, if the skin is tightened and stretched too much, there is a chance for the wound to not heal properly. This can result in excessive scars or even infection. This is another reason why finding an experienced and well trained surgeon is critical to a successful procedure.

Getting Feedback from Real patients

Reviewing the past work of your potential surgeon is crucial when evaluating whether the doctor can meet your needs. Start by asking friends and family to see if anyone you know has had a tummy tuck before. Not only can this help build relationships, you are also getting feedback from a trusted source which is infinitely better than simply looking up online reviews. If you are lucky, they may even refer you to their doctor which is possibly the best outcome you could hope for.

Your second option is to see if your potential doctor will let you speak privately with one of their previous patients. This is the next best thing for people who don’t know anyone who had a similar procedure. Most doctors are usually transparent about their practice and, since you are spending thousands of dollars while risking your health, they usually have no qualms in letting you chat with one of their patients.

3 Types of Tummy Tucks

1. Mini Tummy Tuck – Also known as the scarless tummy tuck, this technique removes smaller portions of skin. This procedure is perfect for patients that only have minimal flabs on their abdomen. The surgery is essentially a smaller scale version of a standard tummy tuck which naturally makes the scars less visible as a consequence. Recovery only takes about one week.
2. Traditional Tummy Tuck –This is the tried and true method which can effectively remove a considerable amount of saggy belly skin. Minor liposuction is typically used in conjunction with a tummy tuck to help smooth out areas of the abdomen.
3. Extended Tummy Tuck –This variation is designed for patients who had massive weight loss and have excessive amounts of unwanted loose skin on the abdomen and lower back area. This variation will create a considerably bigger scar as the incision needs to go around the entirety of the hips. Liposuction is a requirement and will be heavily used to ensure the abdomen looks aesthetically pleasing after large amounts of flabby skin are removed.

What Questions to Ask Before Tummy Tuck?

• How many tummy tuck procedures similar to my case have you done?
• How many revisions of your own have you done? How often do your patients require revision?
• How much will my surgery cost?
• How can I prepare for the surgery to maximize results?
• What happens during surgery and how long do you expect mine to last?
• What type of scarring should I expect?
• What possible complications or side effects do I need to know about?
• What should I expect after surgery?
• What will recovery be like?
• What kind of supplies and assistance will I need for recovery?
• If I experience some kind of emergency during surgery or recovery, will you be the attending physician?