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.

After Injection

 

Before Injection

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signs of Aging in the Face

 

 

• Thinning of skin dermis and loss of volume of

     the face

 

• Greater visibility of bony  landmarks, blood

     vessels, and furrows

 

• Prominence of the nasolabial folds () around

    the mouth and nose

 

• Prominence of marionette lines () around

     corners of the mouth and chin also known as

     smiles lines

 

 

Dynamic vs Static Wrinkles

 

 

•  Dynamic wrinkles in the facial skin appear or

     are more noticeable when the underlying

     muscles are in motion, for example when you

     smile or frown

 

•  Static wrinkles appear when the face is at

      rest or not moving

 

 

Fillers—Background 

 

 

 Hyaluronic Acid (HA)

•   ^{Now approved as a dermal (skin) filler}
•   ^{Creates volulme in any tissue}
•   ^{Naturally occurring in the body}
•   ^{Attracts water and thus continues to         “plump” after the injection for a beautiful natural fill}

 

 

What Is JUVÉDERM^™? 

 

 

• ^{Juvederm injectable is a smooth gel dermal filler}

 

• ^{For the correction of moderate to severe facial folds and wrinkles}

 

• ^{Nonanimal-sourced hyaluronic acid (HA)}

 

 

 JUVÉDERM^™

 

•   ^{Not collagen}

 

•  
  • ^{Injected into facial folds and wrinkles}
  • ^{Fills the skin area just below the surface}
  • ^{Cross-linking of Hyauronic Acid extends duration of the product and longevity of results}
  • ^{Cross-linking is chemical processing of HA to}
  • ^{More cross-linking means more resistance to enzymatic degradation and}
  •   ^{Two formulations}
  •   ^{JUVÉDERM™ Ultra - optimally formulated for versatility in contouring}
  • ^{JUVÉDERM™ Ultra Plus - robust formulation for volumizing and correcting deeper}
  • ^{JUVÉDERM™ Ultra Plus is a robust formulation with a 20% thicker gel for deeper folds}
  • ^{JUVÉDERM™ injectable gel is the first smooth-consistency gel HA}
  • ^{Smooth formulation}
  • ^{Smooth, natural look}
  • ^{Smooth feel}
  • ^{JUVÉDERM™ injectable gel is made with proprietary HYLACROSS™ technology}
  • ^{Creates a smooth-consistency gel}
  • ^{Combines a high concentration of hyaluronic acid (HA)}
  • ^{With the highest amount of cross-linked HA per mL}
  • ^{Results in a smooth, natural look and feel for patients}
  • ^{Uniquely produced by proprietary HYLACROSS™ technology}
  • ^{Clinically proven to persist up to 12 months or in both formulations}
  • ^{Smooth-consistency gel and not a granular- consistency gel}
  • ^{Overwhelmingly preferred by patients over study control}
•  ^{JUVÉDERM™ injectable gel is a hyaluronic acid (HA)}

 

• ^{Naturally occurring in the body}

 

• ^{Not animal-sourced}

 

• ^{Cultivated from bacteria}

 

• ^{Pure, free from animal contaminants}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Does JUVÉDERM^{™ Work?}

 

 

 

 

 

      ^{bind strands of polymers to each other}

 

      ^{therefore longer lasting in the body}

 

 
 

^{1. Data on file, Allergan, Inc., 2006.}

 

JUVÉDERM^{™ Family of Products}

 

 

        ^{and volumizing wrinkles and folds}

 

      ^{wrinkles and folds}

 

 

 

How Is JUVÉDERM^{™ Different?}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Is JUVÉDERM^{™ Different?}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^{1. Data on file, Allergan, Inc., 2006.} 

 

So JUVEDERM^{™ Is…}