A traditional Tummy Tuck only removes excess skin and fat from the midsection, while an Hourglass Tummy Tuck focuses on contouring the abdomen by removing both excess skin and stubborn fat to create curves.
An hourglass tummy tuck does more than just flatten the belly. Unlike a traditional abdominoplasty procedure, an hourglass tummy tuck addresses the entirety of the waist, belly and hips for a classic, hourglass shape.
Cosmetically, a standard, extended, mini or panniculectomy tummy tuck procedure handles the lower abdominal area. A reverse tummy tuck cosmetic procedure enhances and reshapes the upper abdominal area. There are different options for patients depending on what their unique needs are.
Extended Tummy Tuck
This is considered the best type of tummy tuck for patients who have lost a considerable amount of weight and are looking to refine their body contours. The surgery involves a longer incision as the scope is larger, but recovery times tend to stay the same as a traditional abdominoplasty.
Hybrid differs from a traditional tummy tuck in that the incision is very short. It is approximately the same as for a C-section rather than a hip-to-hip incision. Hybrid Tummy Tuck® is most appropriate for women who are in excellent shape after having children but are left with a stubborn bulge on their abdomen.
Many patients wonder if you can be too old for a tummy tuck, such as 50 or more. There's no age limit for having this procedure; it's possible to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen in older patients.
Abdominoplasty is “Permanent”
Once subcutaneous fat has been removed, it cannot grow back. New fat can accumulate, however. If too much new fat begins to accumulate, the skin will stretch to accommodate the increasing bulk.
Whether you're contemplating a Mommy Makeover package or just want to undergo a tummy tuck, you'll be relieved to know that any pain from this cosmetic procedure is far less than that experienced after a C-section.
There are generally no limits to how much is removed in a tummy tuck (we have removed over 70lbs from a tummy in single operation), unlike liposuction in which safe volume limits have been described. It is important that enough tissue is left behind to allow for a safe closure with a good cosmetic result.
In simplest terms, during a mini tummy tuck, excess loose skin below the belly button will be removed. Underlying muscles can be tightened as well. Recovery from a mini tummy tuck is usually faster than from a full tummy tuck, because it typically involves less surgery.
There is an art to tummy tuck because simply removing excess skin and fat will not look good. For an aesthetically-pleasing look, your doctor must tighten up the area to achieve the kind of contour that appears on natural bodies, resting well against your ribs. Part of that art is dictated by the gender of the patient.
There will be some discomfort after a tummy tuck, with the worst discomfort experienced within the first week. On a scale of 1 – 10, pain is often estimated at around a 6-7 for the the first few days to a week, reducing to around a 3 – 4 in the second week.
Following mass weight loss or multiple pregnancies, a full tummy tuck is generally the most suitable option. A full tummy tuck allows access to the entire abdomen to remove excess skin, repair muscle separation and perform extensive liposuction to sculpt the waist, hips, flanks and mons area.
On average, a tummy tuck helps patients lose five pounds following surgery. The loss in pounds merely is from removing the excess skin and fat on the abdomen. Where the real “weight loss” comes in is in the loss of inches. A tummy tuck can produce dramatic results by eliminating inches around the waistline.
A properly performed tummy tuck can reduce your waist size and help you feel confident about your curves again. Some patients may lose many inches off their waist, while others will see more subtle results. It all depends on how much tissue can be removed safely.
Most women lose between 2 and 3 pants sizes after a tuck, but there are patients who lose even more. If you had a lot of loose skin before the procedure, for example, you could go down 4 more pants sizes.
They have different shapes and sizes with different reasons for wanting the procedure. You must be close to your desired weight for six to twelve months before undergoing a tummy tuck. Most surgeons will recommend patients should be between 10-15 pounds from their goal weight.
Even in most normal weight and extremely fit women, the abdomen may not be completely flat following abdominoplasty. It is realistic for patients to expect improvement in the flatness of the stomach, but should not immediately assume that their abdomen will be entirely flat.
Whilst the removal of this can result in some loss of body mass, a tummy tuck is not a weight loss solution. In fact, removing excess skin can make it easier for patients to shed pounds and contour their bodies post-surgery.
While pain tolerance can differ from individual to individual, patients often say the process of recovering from tummy tuck surgery is more painful than liposuction. While liposuction requires small incisions in the skin only, many tummy tuck techniques involve incisions that penetrate the muscle.
Yes, it's normal to regret having cosmetic surgery due to the physical and emotional toll the procedure takes on your body. However, there are a few steps you can take to minimize these feelings of regret.
While this laxity is common among all pregnant women, those who have had a c-section delivery are likely to be left with a noticeable hanging belly following the birth. This is because a c-section scar creates an effect akin to a tight band being placed at the bottom of the abdomen.
Because a tummy tuck is a more extensive surgery, patients need around 10 to 14 days to recover. The results are long-lasting, and the removed fat cells won't grow back—but remaining fat cells may expand and the skin may re-stretch if you gain a large amount of weight.
Obese or overweight. Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30. Any previous clotting issues or surgical complications. Currently taking any medications, anticoagulants, or supplements that might interfere.