Tummy Tuck in Minneapolis, MN
Best known by the popular name, tummy tuck, abdominoplasty is a type of plastic surgery that is sought by both men and women to improve the appearance of their abdominal area. Loose skin and fat in the abdominal area is very common, and is difficult to change through diet and exercise for many people. In addition, losing weight can cause skin in that area to be loose and unsightly, since skin can only recover to a certain degree after being stretched. Additionally, pregnancies can result in weakened abdominal muscles, which can let the abdomen protrude. Abdominoplasty can help to improve all of those conditions, which makes it one of the most common plastic surgery procedures.
If factors like heredity, aging, weight loss, or previous pregnancy have made your abdominal area an issue for you, abdominoplasty may be a way to help you look and feel your best. A tummy tuck isn’t a substitute for exercise and a proper diet, of course, but is something to consider if you have one or more of the following problems:
If you are planning for future pregnancies or major weight loss, you may want to wait before having abdominoplasty. Dr. McCue can discuss these issues during your initial consultation.
- Sagging or loose skin in your abdominal area.
- A protruding abdomen that is out of proportion with the rest of your body.
- Weakened muscles in the abdomen from pregnancy or other reasons.
- Excessive fat in the abdominal area and hip and thigh area.
If you are planning for future pregnancies or major weight loss, you may want to wait before having abdominoplasty. Dr. McCue can discuss these issues during your initial consultation.
What to Expect at an Abdominoplasty Consultation
When you meet with Dr. McCue for a consultation, he’ll ask you to describe your reasons for considering abdominoplasty and what results you’re hoping for. He’ll ask about your current health, medical history, and your current medications and habits. He’ll also ask if you’re planning a future pregnancy or weight loss regimen. Dr. McCue will examine your abdominal area, along with your hips and upper thighs, and assess your skin type and other relevant factors. He’ll discuss various options and recommendations for your surgery, help you understand what results you can expect, along with any risks of the surgery. If you have any questions, he will be glad to answer them during the consultation. Dr. McCue’s goal is to give you all the information you need to make a decision that is right for you.
Your Abdominoplasty Surgical Procedure
If you make the decision to have abdominoplasty, Dr. McCue will schedule the procedure and you’ll both select the Twin Cities surgical facility for your surgery. You’ll be informed about all preparations you need to make, of course. Dr. McCue will recommend the type of anesthesia to be used for the surgery. Abdominoplasty usually involves a horizontal incision low on the abdomen, near the pubic area. The length and shape of the incision depends on the amount of change to be made.
In some cases, a second incision around the navel is required. Excess fat is removed, sometimes using liposuction, and weakened muscles are reinforced with sutures. Depending on your individual case, liposuction may also be used to remove excess fat from hips and thighs at the time of the surgery. Excess skin is removed and the incision is closed as the final step in the surgery, using a variety of techniques. Dr. McCue will describe the surgical plan for you in advance.
Recovering from Abdominoplasty
Following your surgery, dressings will be applied, and elastic bandages or other compression methods will help to control swelling and support your abdomen. A drainage tube may also be inserted to remove excess fluids. Before you return home, you’ll get complete instructions for self-care, along with prescriptions to help prevent infection and reduce any discomfort. Follow-up visits will be scheduled, and you’ll get complete information about things to watch for and report. Over time, discomfort will go away, along with any swelling, and your incision line will fade, although it will remain visible. Depending on your surgery, you should be able to return to work and resume activities in just a few weeks. Early in the recovery process, you’ll discover the improvements in your appearance and the fit of your clothing.
Tummy Tuck FAQs
How long do tummy tuck results last?
For many patients, the positive benefits of tummy tuck last a lifetime. The main way that skin stretches is through weight gain (or pregnancy), so keeping a steady weight is the trick to maintaining your results indefinitely. Some mild, age-related skin laxity can be expected around your midsection due to a natural decline in collagen and elastin production since these two proteins are responsible for keeping your skin tight.
Is tummy tuck an effective way to get rid of stretch marks?
Yes, when Dr. McCue pulls your abdominal skin taut, this helps to eliminate any stretch marks that have appeared between your navel and bikini line. However, if you have stretch marks above your belly button, these will not be affected.
What is diastasis recti?
Diastasis recti occurs when the abdominal muscles separate to the left and right side. It is most likely to happen during pregnancy. Unfortunately, these abdominal muscles cannot reconnect on their own, which creates the appearance of a bulging stomach and an unfirm midsection. When Dr. McCue performs tummy tuck, he can suture these abdominal muscles back together so that the midsection looks fit and firm.
Will I lose weight with tummy tuck?
Tummy tuck is not a weight loss surgery. Dr. McCue can remove a modest amount of fat while removing your excess skin, but it should not have a significant impact on how much you weigh. In fact, tummy tuck is best for patients who are close to their goal weight so that they can maintain the contours they have achieved with surgery for the long term. If you have some lingering pockets of fat that have not gone away with diet and exercise, you may ask Dr. McCue about combining tummy tuck with liposuction.
How much does tummy tuck cost?
The price of tummy tuck depends on the amount of skin needing to be removed and the specific techniques that Dr. McCue utilizes to achieve the flatter stomach you have requested. All costs will be discussed upfront during a consultation so that you may make an informed decision about your care. Because tummy tuck is an elective procedure, it is not generally covered by insurance, although financing options are available.
Can exercise eliminate my need for tummy tuck?
Unfortunately, skin that has stretched and is no longer elastic enough to retract to meet the current contours of your body cannot be improved with a healthy lifestyle. Although diet and exercise are great ways to burn surplus fat, they have no effect on your skin. Therefore, if you have loose skin, the most practical solution is to have abdominoplasty.
What kind of scarring can I expect after abdominoplasty?
Tummy tuck requires a long, horizontal incision just above the bikini line to remove excess skin from the stomach. While scarring will fade significantly over time, it will not disappear completely. However, because Dr. McCue carefully positions this incision so low, it can easily be covered by most types of underwear and swimsuits so that you can easily show off your new contours.
Making a Decision to Have a Tummy Tuck
If you’ve been considering abdominoplasty to improve the appearance and tone of your abdominal area, your decision will be simpler once you have all the facts. A consultation with Dr. McCue can give you all the facts you need to make an informed decision that is right for you. Contact his Minneapolis St. Paul office at any time to arrange for a personal consultation.
