An abdominoplasty or “tummy tuck” does require general anesthesia and can take up to several hours in the operating room. The length of time for the operation depends on the amount of skin that needs to be removed and how large a tummy you have.

If you are of “good health,” that is, if you do not have health problems with your heart and lungs, and have been cleared of any previous heart and lung problems, then you are a candidate for a tummy tuck or what I call a MOMMY MAKEOVER.

You also MUST be cigarette smoke free for at least 2 weeks before and for 2 weeks after the surgery. In fact, better results are had by those who don’t smoke at all in terms of better incision healing and fewer wound healing complications.

During a tummy tuck, I repair the rectus muscles that have become split as a result of pregnancy or perhaps were split even from birth. The result is a trimmer shape and waistline!

It is misleading to think that you will be able to sustain your new shape and size after plastic surgery if you are not willing to change your eating habit and/or exercise habits. While I will change your body absolutely remarkably in a way that you couldn’t have with diet and exercise alone, your shape will not be maintained if you don’t watch what you eat afterward.

My suggestion then is to get into the habit of at least walking 2-3 times a week to begin with for 10-15 minutes at a time. Once you get used to that level of activity then you should progress to at least 30 minutes 3 times a week then to everyday.

When I speak of changing eating and lifestyle habits, it can be as simple as portion control and giving up regular soda and skipping dessert 2-3 days a week and limiting the amount of carbohydrate intake without giving it up entirely.

A tummy tuck is an absolutely EXCELLENT way of getting rid of all your excess skin, stretch marks and fat that overhangs your midriff after children or weight fluctuations. In fact, it is the ONLY way to get rid of all that excess skin. You can lose the weight and tone up the abdomen with exercise and diet but  become extremely frustrated and discouraged when you see that torso has not changed one bit and in fact may look worse with the weight loss, when the skin looks even more saggy and flaccid.

Many of my patients such as yourself will come for a consultation when their weight loss or shape change plateaus with the exercise and diet and want to know what more can be done. This is an extremely important time not to “fall off the wagon, become discouraged” and bounce back to your previous  destructive eating binges and habits.

This is an ideal time to intervene with plastic surgery which can take you to the next level of a healthier lifestyle and new body. The tummy tuck is the “kick in the rear” that you need to stay on track and to maintain your healthier lifestyle.

When you can actually SEE the results of all your hard work with an incredible new body shape, you are much more willing and likely to maintain this new lifestyle permanently.

I hope this is encouraging and helpful and I will write more on the costs and recovery in my next MOMMY MAKEOVER BLOG.

You need to be your own best advocate. It is in your best interest and safety that you ask certain questions of your plastic surgeon when considering any surgical or even non surgical procedure. When you attend your initial consultation, you should have a list of questions already prepared regarding the procedure that you are consulting about. The first and foremost question should be, “Are you a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon?”

If the answer to that last question is “No,” head for the door or better yet don’t go through the door in the first place and waste your time and money for the consultation fee. Ask the question on the phone before you make the appointment. Make sure the office answers BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON, not Board Certified COSMETIC FACIAL SURGEON, or Board Certified FACIAL SURGEON or some combination of the term PLASTIC SURGEON. You can always verify the physician’s credentials online by GOOGLING the doctor’s name.

During your actual consultation WITH THE PLASTIC SURGEON NOT the physician assistant or nurse or assistant, you should be assessing your own comfort level with the surgeon as far as the surgeon’s genuine integrity and concern for what you want. Does your surgeon “see” and “hear” your concerns about your face, breast, or body? Does he or she empathize with you? Does your plastic surgeon become defensive when you mention that you will be seeing other plastic surgeons? Does your plastic surgeon seem comfortable and knowledgeable about your questions? Has the plastic surgeon taken care of someone you know and respect?

Again, if your plastic surgeon does NOT welcome another opinion then perhaps again you are in the WRONG PLACE.

Personally, as a plastic surgeon, I feel extremely strongly about informing you about what the best options are for YOU given your starting point and your desired endpoint. I do not want you surprised or disappointed with your ultimate results and I feel very strongly about being ethical and doing what is BEST for YOU.

Truly all things ARE possible but sometimes the tradeoffs are longer scars and a recovery that may be longer than you wish but will ultimately give you what you want in the long run. DON’T SETTLE FOR THE EASY WAY OUT, for example, LIPODISSOLVE, if it sounds TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, it probably isn’t true.

Use your gut instinct and judgment about the plastic surgeon you are meeting with and assess if you have established a rapport with the surgeon so that this surgeon will take a personal interest to achieve what it is YOU want.

Always ask the following questions:

1. May I see several before and after photographs of previous patients? (You should see as many as you want and the surgeon should be able to provide more than 5 such photographs to your liking).
2. May I talk to several former patients of yours that have had similar procedures? (You should be able to talk to at least 1 or 2 former patients and get a first hand experience of the process you are about to undergo).
3. May I return as many times as I wish to ask questions until I am absolutely sure of what it is I want?

All of the answers to the above questions should meet your satisfaction and after you have done your homework by asking friends and the State Medical Licensure Board and the American Board of Plastic Surgeons, then you will have to rely on your own good judgment. Bring your spouse or significant other or a friend for another opinion, that always helps.

BE YOUR BEST ADVOCATE, BE PATIENT, A PLASTIC SURGERY PROCEDURE CAN BE SO REWARDING AND ENHANCE AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE BUT YOU MUST DO YOUR HOMEWORK FIRST. CALL OR EMAIL ME AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU ADVICE.

WWW.DRMICHELEKOO.COM