11 Secrets to Getting the Tummy Tuck Results You Want Tummy tuck surgery is often one of the best decisions a patient makes for their well-being and overall health. Patients who get tummy tucks have often lost a significant amount of weight and are left with copious amounts of extra skin, awkward fat pockets, and sometimes diastasis recti, or the separation of the abdominal muscles. Most patients have an ideal result in mind and know exactly what they want from their abdominoplasty. Whether it be restoring a pre-baby body or finally showing off the true efforts of massive weight loss, getting the tummy tuck you want requires research, diligence, and understanding. Here are 11 secrets to getting the tummy tuck results you want. Tummy tuck surgery is often one of the best decisions a patient makes for their well-being and overall health. Patients who get tummy tucks have often lost a significant amount of weight and are left with copious amounts of extra skin, awkward fat pockets, and sometimes diastasis recti, or the separation of the abdominal muscles. Most patients have an ideal result in mind and know exactly what they want from their abdominoplasty. Whether it be restoring a pre-baby body or finally showing off the true efforts of massive weight loss, getting the tummy tuck you want requires research, diligence, and understanding. Here are 11 secrets to getting the tummy tuck results you want #1: Wait Until You Finish Having Children Pregnancy is one of the top reasons patients seek tummy tuck surgery in the first place. It is also one of the top causes of diastasis recti. Thus, if you plan to have any more children in the future, it is best to wait until you have decided not to have any more children before proceeding with your abdominoplasty. Getting pregnant after a tummy tuck can completely reverse your tummy tuck results. While it may not cause the results to become fully undone, you would likely need a revision following a pregnancy after a tummy tuck. #2: Get to a Stable Weight You do not have to be at a perfectly healthy weight to get a tummy tuck Seattle. Though, you should be within about twenty pounds of your ideal or goal weight. If you have maintained your current weight for several months, you can proceed with a tummy tuck. However, if your weight continues to fluctuate significantly, you may want to wait until your weight is more stable. Gaining weight can hinder the results of a tummy tuck. #3: Eat Well This may seem obvious after discussing the previous tip. Though, eating well will likely look different for everyone. In general, eating well can look like this: ● Avoid foods based on medical conditions (diabetes, high cholesterol, etc.) ● Eat well rounded meals with protein, carbohydrates, and fat ● Avoid simple carbs, but enjoy complex carbs ● Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water ● Do not deny yourself, but practice moderation #4: Exercise Exercise in any form is good for the body. If you are limited in what you can do, a tummy tuck (once healed) may help. However, if another condition makes certain exercises difficult, do what you can and what you enjoy. Yoga, walking, dancing, and weight training can all be fantastic ways to get exercise every week. #5: Choose Your Surgeon Carefully Your choice of a plastic surgeon directly impacts your results. Before making your final decision, ensure that you like the results of other patients based on their before and after pictures. Make sure to ask them questions about their credentials, experience with tummy tucks specifically, and ensure they have board certification. Do not choose a surgeon simply because they have the lowest tummy tuck cost. #6: Consider Adding Liposuction Increasingly, liposuction accompanies tummy tuck surgery. A tummy tuck Seattle primarily removes extra skin and a limited amount of fat. Performing liposuction helps remove the small pockets of fat that may hinder the perfect contour of the abdomen. Not all patients will need or benefit from liposuction, but it is something to consider if you want to look truly snatched. #7: Have Realistic Expectations It is easy to consider plastic surgery Seattle akin to magic and want to completely transform your body. However, your results are based on your bone structure, anatomy, weight, medical history, and more. Listen when your surgeon tells you what you can expect and why. Most patients get a flatter stomach, but it may not be possible for all patients to get a completely flat stomach. #8: Ask About Drainless Tummy Tuck Traditionally, tummy tucks always required drains post-surgery. With modern stitching techniques though, some patients may be able to forego drains. This helps reduce the chance of infection or causing damage to the surrounding tissues due to pulling out a drain or snagging it on something. Again, a drainless tummy tuck is not possible in all cases, but it can be extremely beneficial for some patients. #9: Do Not Smoke Smoking often disqualifies a patient from having a tummy tuck Seattle because it can lead to worsened scarring and poor healing. If you have not smoked for several weeks and will continue not to smoke after surgery, it may be possible to get a tummy tuck. Overall, avoiding smoking altogether will improve your health and tummy tuck results. #10: Treat Scars Start treating your tummy tuck scar and incision as early as possible. Your plastic surgeon will likely have recommendations on when to start scar treatment and what to use. A tummy tuck does involve a more extensive scar than other plastic surgeries. Therefore, treating the scar is often important to patients. #11: Follow Post-Operative Instructions Post-operative instructions are not only designed to help you limit the pain and feel better, but they also promote the best possible results. For example, staying hunched and not lifting anything heavy prevents your incision from tearing open which can worsen scarring and restart the healing process. Conclusion Tummy tuck surgery is considered the gold standard for removing excess skin from the abdomen. It also can help correct diastasis recti, ventral hernias, and the weakening of the abdominal muscles. With medical and aesthetic benefits, abdominoplasty surgery is among the top plastic surgeries in the world.