Koger Cosmetic Clinic & Medspa offers tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) for men and women in Palm Beach County, including West Palm Beach, Vero Beach, Wellington, and the surrounding areas of Florida.
Many fitness professionals struggle to maintain a sculpted or perfectly flat stomach, so it’s no wonder that most people need a little help. If you have lost a significant amount of weight, you may have sagging skin that will not respond to diet and exercise, no matter how hard you work. You may also need skin removal after pregnancy or abdominal surgery.
About the tummy tuck procedure
Dr. Koger will then remove any excess skin or fat in the area and suture your belly button into its new place before stitching the incisions closed. The incision site is then wrapped to begin the healing process. In some cases, a drainage tube is placed under the skin and will remain in place for up to a few days.
Before and After
Benefits of tummy tuck surgery
A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to improve the functionality and appearance of the lower and middle abdomen. There are three reasons patients ask Dr. Koger to perform this procedure:
- Excess skin removal
- Excess fat removal
- Muscle tightening
If you work hard to maintain an attractive body, but your stomach won’t firm up or stay flat, a tummy tuck may help you reach your goals. You may also consider this procedure to remove excess skin after significant weight loss, pregnancy, or other surgeries.
Candidates for abdominoplasty
If you’re in good physical shape but suffer any of the following problems, Dr. Koger may consider you a suitable client for abdominoplasty:
- Excess fat in the abdominal area is unresponsive to diet and exercise
- Excess or sagging skin over the abdominal area
- Stretched skin from multiple pregnancies
- Loose skin or stretched muscles due to significant weight loss
- Poor elasticity in the abdominal skin
Many patients come to Dr. Koger after following a healthy diet and exercising for long periods of time without achieving results. Others have lost weight or enjoyed multiple pregnancies and need assistance removing stretched skin that will never conform to their new bodies. Most are already living healthy lifestyles or are ready to adopt healthier habits, so they recognize that a tummy tuck is not a weight loss method or a substitute for healthy living.
There are three reasons that Dr. Koger may consider a patient unsuitable for abdominoplasty at this time:
- You intend to lose a significant amount of weight in the future
- You are planning to have children in the future
- You have scarring in the abdominal area from previous surgeries, including a cesarean
If you want to lose weight or have a baby in the future, it’s best to wait until you reach a stable weight and are beyond your childbearing years. You can then have a tummy tuck without separating the abdominal muscles or stretching your skin again. You want your results to be long term.
Planning your tummy tuck procedure
If you are considering a tummy tuck, you should schedule a consultation with Dr. Koger. He will review your medical history thoroughly to determine if you have any risk factors that may determine your suitability for the procedure. He will also ask about lifestyle factors that may determine your ability to go through the surgery and recover properly. Make sure to answer these questions honestly, even when they pertain to your use of vitamins, herbs, supplements, alcohol, and tobacco.
During this consultation, Dr. Koger will look at your abdominal area to determine the amount of excess fat and loose or sagging skin. This allows him to create a unique treatment plan tailored to your individual needs.
Where your tummy tuck is performed
Your tummy tuck may be performed in an outpatient surgical center or the hospital. Dr. Koger provides these details during the consultation.
Type of anesthesia for your abdominoplasty
Most patients receive general anesthesia so that they remain asleep during the procedure. If local anesthesia is required or preferred, you will receive a local anesthetic and a sedative. This will keep you alert during the operation.
After your abdominoplasty
Many patients are released from the medical facility the same day as surgery, but some surgeries may require an overnight stay. Swelling and tenderness in the abdominal area is common for three or four days following the surgery, but over-the-counter medication is often enough to manage any discomfort.
Getting back to normal after tummy tuck surgery
The better shape you’re in prior to surgery, the faster you can expect to recover after surgery. There are some exercises that will assist the healing process without placing unnecessary stress on your sutures.
It takes some patients three or four weeks to return to their daily routines comfortably, while others may return to work within a week. You should wait for Dr. Koger to clear you for more aggressive forms of exercise.
Your new look after abdominoplasty
As the swelling subsides, you will see the results of your abdominoplasty. This may take six to 12 months.
Paying for your tummy tuck procedure
The cost of a tummy tuck varies. You will receive an estimate during your initial consultation. Since most medical insurance policies won’t cover this procedure, we do offer financing.
Dr. Koger is a board-certified plastic surgeon who offers tummy tuck surgery for residents of West Palm Beach, Vero Beach, Wellington, and the surrounding areas of Palm Beach County. Contact us to schedule a consultation.