Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) in Bucks County, PA
What is a Tummy Tuck?
A traditional abdominoplasty procedure (also known as a tummy tuck) is used for cases that require the muscles to be tightened and repositioned as well as the removal of tissue. An extended abdominoplasty involves an incision from the lower abdomen to the hips. Tummy tucks are appropriate for a wide range of patients. Post pregnancy to weight gain and weight loss are typical situations that leave someone with lax muscles and skin of the abdomen. You should consult a skilled plastic surgeon you can trust.
Dr. Benjamin Lam serves patients from Bucks County, Philadelphia and surrounding areas. He has extensive experience and spends as much time as necessary discussing your needs to ensure you achieve the best possible results. Providing your weight remains stable, the effects of a tummy tuck are permanent.
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Am I a Good Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
There are a couple things to think about with a tummy tuck. First, you need to be finished with having any additional children. Tummy tucks repair separated stomach muscles caused by the localized weight gain of pregnancy. They remove excess, sagging skin. If you get pregnant again, all of the same stretching will occur. Plus, the weight gain will likely distort your incisions.
Second, this isn’t a weight-loss procedure. A tummy tuck is meant for women whose abdomen area has sagging, stretched skin. This is the result of pregnancy or the gain and loss of a significant amount of weight. If you have a tummy tuck, but then go on and lose more weight, you may create additional sagging, which is what the procedure is meant to address. Dr. Lam generally wants his tummy tuck patients to be within 10 percent of their ideal weight to qualify for this procedure. It’s best to have been at a stable weight for a few months.
Tummy Tuck Cost
The usual cost of a tummy tuck is around $7500, though pricing may vary. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Lam today so that he may best address your case.
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Tummy Tuck Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Lam usually includes some amount of liposuction to remove pockets of fat with his tummy tuck procedures. If you want to have liposuction on another area around the hips — the flanks, for example — this could be combined with a tummy tuck. Modern liposuction is easy to recover from, so it won’t exacerbate your recovery.
If Dr. Lam extends the incision around the flanks and even to the back, he can provide some lifting of the thighs and even the buttocks. You’ll have to discuss the possibility of this with Dr. Lam, if the two of you see the need for lifting in these areas.
An abdominoplasty or a tummy tuck is a procedure designed to contour the abdomen by removing excess skin from the lower stomach area; commonly referred to as the “pouch” by some patients. This is commonly known as part of the “mommy makeover”.The tummy tuck procedure is commonly combined with tightening of the muscles in this area where it’s been previously stretched out by such things as pregnancies. The resulting contour is a more tightened and flattened stomach. The incision is placed low on the abdomen; immediately above the pubic area so it will remain hidden under clothes.
A tummy tuck with Dr. Lam involves one large incision and possibly a second incision at the belly button. In most cases, the stomach muscles, which have become separated by pregnancy, are brought back to the center and sutured into place. The skin is separated from the underlying muscle and excess skin is trimmed. The skin is then re-draped.
As you would assume, this will create an involved recovery. Because the large incision from hipbone to hipbone is made is an area that involves lifting, sitting, squatting, and many other movements, you need to be prepared to take it slowly in recovery. Your pain along your incision will be more intense for the first few days. From there, you will have residual soreness for weeks.
In the post-op period, most patients report “tightness” and not pain in the operative area. This is usually well controlled with oral pain medications. Tummy tuck patients are also required to wear an abdominal binder for four to six weeks in order to keep this area well supported.For maximal contouring, patients are put in a “sit up” position during the tummy tuck operation in order to maximize the amount of skin being removed. Because of this, patients need to adopt this hunched over (bent at the waist) position for a few days after the procedure. This extends to nighttime when patients may elect to sleep in a lazy boy chair in a semi-upright position.
The patient can straighten up slowly and gradually after the first few days. Typically, they are pretty much back to the upright position at the time of their first post-op appointment.
Dr. Benjamin Lam proudly provides patients from Bucks County, Langhorne, Philadelphia, Newtown, New Hope and Doylestown PA and surrounding areas with tummy tuck surgery. Contact Dr. Lam today at (855) 702-8600 or fill out a Contact Form here.