Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck is one of the most effective ways to achieve a firmer abdominal section and improve your body contour. At Cosmetic Surgeons of Michigan, PC in St. Clair Shores, our highly-qualified board-certified cosmetic surgeon Dr. George T. Goffas performs tummy tuck surgery (also known as abdominoplasty) in order to help you feel more confident about the way you look and live a life free from anxiety about your appearance.
Why Consider a Tummy Tuck?
Having a toned stomach is an aesthetic that many people desire, but it’s not one that is always possible to achieve with diet and exercise alone. This is especially true for people who have lost significant amounts of weight, have given birth, or had surgery in the past, as excess skin and separated muscles are difficult to tighten naturally. For many people, tummy tuck surgery is a transformative procedure that offers both aesthetic and functional benefits.
Who Is a Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
You are a good candidate for abdominoplasty if you are experiencing a weakened abdomen that is a result of aging, pregnancy, weight loss or heredity.
Abdominoplasty will tighten muscles in the stomach as well as remove excess skin that is beginning to sag. The procedure is known to be fairly permanent so long as you take the necessary precautions not to stretch your abdominal muscles any further. Maintaining your ideal weight and refraining from having additional children will ensure that your tummy tuck procedure is long-lasting.
In addition, a tummy tuck candidate should be someone who is in good health, a non-smoker, and are at a stable weight. Together, you and our physicians can discuss your options and decide whether tummy tuck surgery is right for you.
What’s Discussed During Your Consultation?
Before you come in for surgery, you will meet with one of our physicians for a one-on-one consultation to discuss the procedural details of abdominoplasty. During your first visit, one of our physicians will perform a physical examination and review your medical history to make sure you are healthy enough to receive surgery.
During your consultation, you can discuss your cosmetic issues and increase your understanding of the tummy tuck in order to determine if the procedure will meet your expectations. Our physicians will locate the amount of skin that should be removed and show you before & after images of previous surgeries so that you’re able to see the positive change that abdominoplasty can create for your body. You can view additional tummy tuck photos in our photo gallery.
Other topics of discussion will cover the costs of surgery, the location of your procedure, how to prepare for surgery, pre-op instructions, and post-op instructions. Your consultation is also a time for you to ask any questions that you may have about receiving a tummy tuck.
Video transcript
“I think the most enjoyable aspects of cosmetic surgery center around making the patients happy and getting the results that they want. Being honest about that is crucial. I believe those are very important goals. As long as you’re honest with the patient and if you can help them, and you, you know, kind of basically underpromise and overperform, that seems to be a good combination for patients.
The other thing I’ve learned over the years is if patients come in with unrealistic expectations, you just kind of have to quash that right away. If they’ve lost, say, 100 pounds and they bring in a photo of Britney Spears’ abdomen when she was in perfect shape, you know that’s not achievable. So you just have to say, you know, this doesn’t really apply to you because of all these other factors. But we’re going to do our best, and we think this might be a better result, and maybe give them a, you know, post-op photo that logically could be achieved with your work.”–Dr. George T. Goffas
What Happens During Tummy Tuck Surgery?
Your tummy tuck surgery will be performed in our AAAHC-accredited surgical center. One of our physicians will place you under general anesthesia and make an incision along the bikini line and possibly around the navel, depending on the amount skin being removed and whether the upper abdominal muscles are being lifted.
Once your physician makes the incisions, he will tighten the underlying muscles and re-drape the skin back over your abdomen in order to remove excess skin. Your physician will also create a new belly button so that your stomach looks completely natural, after which he will close your incisions with sutures. Your abdominal region will be bandaged, and your physician will transfer you to a private recovery room.
Your Tummy Tuck Recovery and Results
You will experience some swelling immediately after the surgery, and your abdomen may feel weak due to the repositioning of your muscles. It may take one to two weeks before you are able to stand upright, and we recommend that you remain in bed during this time to allow your incisions to heal.
It also may be helpful to have a family member or friend assist you during the first few weeks of your recovery as you will be wearing an abdominal compression garment (abdominal binder), and your mobility will be limited. After a few weeks, however, you should be able to stand up straight and participate in light activity.
As you recover, it’s important that you follow the instructions given to you by you physician as they will expedite your recovery process and reduce any chances of infection. Your physician will also schedule follow up appointments with you in order to see how your incisions are healing. Although a scar will be present after your surgery, it will fade within a year.
Soon afterwards, you will begin to notice that your muscles feel tighter, your body contour is smoother and your physique looks more proportional. You can also feel more confident now that you have a slim and toned appearance.
Learn more about Tummy Tucks in our blog:
- Can a Tummy Tuck Eliminate My Stretch Marks?
- 5 Things to Consider Before Getting a Tummy Tuck
- What to Expect During Tummy Tuck Recovery
Areas served:
- St. Clair Shores
- Detroit
- Grosse Pointe
Contact Cosmetic Surgeons of Michigan, PC
Board certified cosmetic surgeon Dr. George T. Goffas has served patients in the metro Detroit area for over 15 years. He would be happy to discuss any questions you may have about tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) surgery, and to help you decide if Cosmetic Surgeons of Michigan, PC is the right fit for you. To schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Goffas, contact us online or call our St. Clair Shores cosmetic surgery center at (586) 773-6900.
