Abdominoplasty — also known as a tummy tuck — is one of the most popular body contouring procedures in the country. However, there are many factors that go into planning the perfect procedure, in order to meet your unique needs and goals.
To achieve the smooth, natural-looking results you are looking for, avoid these five all-too-common mistakes when planning for your upcoming tummy tuck.
1. Not Choosing the Right Plastic Surgeon
As eager as you may be to choose a plastic surgeon and begin planning the details of your abdominoplasty, it is crucial that you slow down and take your time when choosing the right board-certified plastic surgeon.
Not only do you need to check for credentials and expertise, but you also need to make sure you feel comfortable and confident working with this particular plastic surgeon.
Do not be afraid to schedule more than one tummy tuck consultation to help you narrow down your search and ensure that you’re 100 percent satisfied with your choice.
2. Not Reaching Weight Loss Goals First
Body contouring procedures like a tummy tuck and liposuction are meant to supplement healthy lifestyle habits like getting enough exercise and eating the right foods. Therefore, you should not expect to lose a significant amount of weight after your procedure.
For this reason, you will see the best results if you are able to achieve your weight loss goals before moving forward with abdominoplasty.
3. Not Including Liposuction
If you have recently reached a significant weight loss goal, talk to your plastic surgeon about post-weight loss procedure options.
While you should come as close as possible to reaching your ideal weight before getting a tummy tuck, adding liposuction can help to address small areas of stubborn fat that are not responding to exercise.
Many people choose to get liposuction on their backside, hips and/or thighs at the same time as their tummy tuck.
4. Not Planning for the Recovery Process
Generally speaking, plan to take around two weeks off work and other daily duties to properly recover from your tummy tuck. Remember that abdominoplasty is still a surgical procedure, so your body will need adequate time to rest and recover.
Prior to the day of your tummy tuck, prepare your home and family for your recovery period by arranging for help with childcare, pet care and daily household chores ahead of time.
Many people also find it helpful to prepare a quiet recovery space in advance so that you don’t have to worry about anything when you get home from your procedure.
5. Not Getting a Tummy Tuck Sooner
One of the biggest regrets people experience after having their tummy tuck is that they didn’t begin the process sooner. If you are thinking about getting a tummy tuck but aren’t quite sure if this is the right time in your life for such a procedure, go ahead and schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon.
There is no pressure to schedule your surgery after your consultation. However, this discussion could help you decide if abdominoplasty is something you may be interested in pursuing at this time.
Dr. David Kaufman earned a bachelor of science degree from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, graduating with distinction, the highest academic honor. As an active duty naval special warfare officer, he served our nation for four years, including duty in Operation Desert Storm. He then attended Harvard Medical School, receiving his medical doctor degree in 1996. From there, he entered and completed postdoctoral surgical training in a combined general and plastic surgery residency at Stanford University Medical Center.
A board-certified plastic surgeon and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Kaufman’s diverse surgical experience and skill enables him to choose procedures and techniques to best suit each patient. Consider him and his practice, Kaufman Plastic Surgery, if you are looking for a plastic surgeon in the Sacramento area.
