All cosmetic surgeries have their critics, drawing at least one negative comment for every positive success story. From these negative sources, many harmful myths have evolved leading to many misconceptions about the procedures, their patients, their results, and especially their risks. When it comes to the tummy tuck procedure, many prospective patients may wind up shying away from this life-changing procedure just because of misunderstood facts and rumors. Challenging these myths is the best way to get the truth about the tummy tuck procedure, and ultimately, to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
Myth: Tummy Tucks Leave Behind Huge Scars
Truth: Any major abdominal surgery will leave behind scars, but a tummy tuck won’t involve large, noticeable scars at all. Instead, your plastic surgeon will use small, well-hidden incisions placed within the natural creases of your skin in order to make the necessary changes to your muscles, skin, and fat cells. You won’t walk around with a slash across the tummy or a sprawling scar from hip to hip. Most tummy tucks are performed using incisions in a bib-shaped pattern from hip to hip, easily hidden by a pair of bikini bottoms when you’re ready to hit the beach after your recovery.
Myth: Tummy Tucks Can Affect Your Weight
Truth: Many prospective patients have the wrong idea about how tummy tucks will actually affect the body. Contrary to popular belief, a tummy tuck surgery will not help you to lose or cause you to gain weight. Following surgery, especially if liposuction is used to remove fat cells, you may notice a slight shift in your weight. However, the tummy tuck will not rev your metabolism, improve your fat-burning abilities, or even drop those last 10 pounds for you. Any body contouring procedure, including the tummy tuck, is not considered a substitute for weight loss, nor will it keep you looking slim for years to come. Rely on your healthy lifestyle, complete with a well-rounded diet and regular exercise, to achieve your weight loss and fitness goals instead.
Myth: Tummy Tuck Surgery Ruins Nerves in Your Abdomen
Truth: While your plastic surgeon may need to sever nerves during your tummy tuck surgery, no permanent nerve damage will result. This surgery is like other medical abdominal surgeries in that the nerves will heal and regrow. You may experience some numbness at first, sometimes lasting for months after your procedure, but you will not lose the feeling in your abdomen forever. Talk with your plastic surgeon more specifically about his surgical methods and your concerns about lasting nerve damage to put your mind at ease.
Myth: Tummy Tuck Surgery Is Extremely Painful
Truth: Every prospective patient of any cosmetic surgery may be nervous about the pain they will experience after surgery. Especially when patients add liposuction to their tummy tuck procedure, the anticipation of intense post-surgical pain only grows. Fortunately, many patients are surprised at how little pain they do experience, especially compared to what they were expecting.
Recovering from a tummy tuck, and even a dual procedure involved liposuction, will still require plenty of rest, relaxation, and post-operative care. Take your pain medication as instructed and don’t try to be a hero by skipping doses. Doing so can increase stress on your body and delay your healing. Follow your surgeon’s advice for managing the discomfort that you feel and you may be surprised how quickly and easily your recovery time flies by.
Myth: Tummy Tucks Carry Higher Risk for Complications
Truth: All surgeries come with a risk, whether they are medical or cosmetic in nature. Major surgeries involving the abdomen are perceived to carry higher risks for the patient than, say, a thigh liposuction or a fat transfer. However, your tummy tuck surgery will not put you at an increased risk for any of the typical plastic surgery complications. These are very rare in their occurrence rates, but may include infection, scarring, bleeding, hematoma, fluid accumulation, poor healing, blood clots, and numbness. The nature of your tummy tuck surgery does not increase your risks overall, but your involvement in a healthy and thorough healing process is critical to avoiding these potential outcomes. Talk with your plastic surgeon about what you can do to minimize your own risks and follow his advice carefully to achieve your best outcome and your desired results.
Choose Your Plastic Surgeon Wisely
Put these and other tummy tuck myths to rest when you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to get the information you need. Contact the office of Dr. Douglas S. Steinbrech, a fully trained plastic surgeon who is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons, to book your consultation today. He will be happy to walk you through what you should expect from a body lift procedure or any other surgery that might address your areas of concern. A specialist in Minimally Invasive Aesthetics, he incorporates this philosophy into all of his surgical and nonsurgical procedures, while aiming to get you the best results possible. Dr. Steinbrech has been selected by the Consumers’ Research Council of America as one of America’s Top Plastic Surgeons. Contact his office, located at 60 East 56th Street, Suite 3A, in New York City, by calling (212) 750-0070.