Pregnancy is a transformative experience for the body. The skin in the abdominal area and muscles stretch to accommodate the growing baby. This is accompanied by the issue of loose skin after pregnancy and an overall loose stomach area. All this loose skin can become an issue when wearing certain kinds of outfits and even limit one’s physical activity. These drastic changes in the physical appearance of the body can take an emotional toll on a woman. Not to mention, pregnancy can also weaken the abdominal muscles. The tummy tuck surgery for moms is an optimal procedure to address the issue of loose skin post-pregnancy. Continue reading to get all the details about the tummy tuck after surgery:
🏥 What is a Tummy Tuck?
The technical term for a tummy tuck procedure is an “Abdominoplasty”. It is a cosmetic surgical procedure that aims to restore the contours and aesthetics of the abdominal area. The common indications for a tummy tuck in Turkey are loose abdominal skin, excess abdominal fat deposits, a flabby belly, and abdominal muscle defects like Diastasis Recti.
Suitable candidates for an abdominoplasty are patients who:
- have lost a significant amount of weight in a short time
- had multiple pregnancies
- have had previous abdominal surgical procedures
- Patients who are looking to counter the natural effects of aging.
📍 During the procedure, the surgeon removes excess skin and fat, tightens loose abdominal muscles, and repairs any muscle defects (such as Diastasis Recti) to restore a flat abdominal contour.
There are several types of abdominoplasty. A full tummy tuck involves the whole abdomen, the incision is larger, and belly button repositioning is required. Comparatively, a mini tummy tuck is limited to below the belly button. The incision is smaller, and no belly button repositioning is needed.
Post-pregnancy Body Contouring: How a Tummy Tuck Helps After Pregnancy
The tummy tuck procedure tackles the issue of loose skin after pregnancy by contouring the mid-section and improving its appearance.
Apart from providing a flat stomach, it also helps with better posture. It does this by tightening the abdominal muscles to eliminate pressure on the back. This automatically enhances one’s posture.
This procedure also helps reduce fat around the midsection. This improves one’s appearance and overall confidence in oneself. Moreover, it also addresses the issue of saggy skin caused by pregnancy and makes the abdominal region appear smoother. Lastly, the tummy tuck procedure is often paired with procedures such as liposuction to target the excess accumulation of fat and provide the patient with an attractive waistline.
🩺 Combining Tummy Tuck with Other Procedures
A “mommy makeover” is an umbrella term that refers to several cosmetic surgical procedures to restore the pre-pregnancy body contours in women, like excess skin removal after childbirth. Common procedures that may be a part of a mommy makeover surgery are Breast lift (Mastopexy), Breast Augmentation (Augmentation Mammoplasty), Liposuction, Buttlift, Breast Reduction, and Labioplasty.
The combination of surgeries that are a part of the mommy makeover is specific to the patient. For those who come for a mommy makeover surgery in Turkey, Dr.Cengizhan provides patients with effective and custom treatment plans to regain their pre-pregnancy body contours. He carefully assesses each prospective patient to ensure the best possible aesthetic results.
A mommy makeover surgery is an encompassing procedure that targets several anatomical areas at once. It is highly customizable and cost-effective. The major advantage of a mommy makeover is that it has a single and combined recovery timeline.
Tummy Tuck for Loose Skin After Pregnancy: Recovery After a Postpartum Tummy Tuck
The postpartum tummy tuck recovery has two parts. An early recovery phase that lasts 6 to 8 weeks, and a late recovery phase that may take up to 12 months.
Early Recovery Phase
The early postpartum tummy tuck recovery typically lasts around 8 weeks. During this period, swelling, bruising, and pain in the surgical areas gradually subside and fully resolve. The surgeon removes the surgical drains, and patients resume their daily activities. By the end of the 8 weeks, most patients begin to see the visible aesthetic results of the surgery.
Late Recovery Phase
After recovering smoothly in the early phase, patients can gradually resume more strenuous activities, including high-impact exercises. While initial results become visible soon after early recovery, it may take 6 months to a year to achieve the full aesthetic outcome.
To minimize scarring and support timely healing, the surgeon advises patients to:
- Keep the surgical incision sites clean and dry
- Strictly follow the care guidelines given by the surgical team
- Maintain an optimum health status
- Maintain a stable weight
- Avoid UV exposure
- Maintain hydration and a nutritious diet
- Keep the wound site moisturized
- Use the scar-minimizing gels and ointments (as prescribed by the surgical team)
- Avoid habits that will slow down the healing process (smoking, alcohol, sun damage)
🌟 Dr. Cengizhan Ekizceli’s team provides all patients with comprehensive post-surgical care guidelines. During post-operative follow-ups, patients can discuss any concerns directly with the surgeon. Recovery requires patience, as scar tissue typically takes 6 to 12 months to fully fade and settle.
⚕️ Realistic Expectations and Long-Term Results
Some steps are essential to the success of any surgical procedure. These include having a good health status, avoiding addictions (drugs, tobacco, alcohol, medications), maintaining a stable weight, etc.
📍 Having realistic expectations of the surgical process and its outcome is also an important part of these steps. Patients have the best chances of a successful abdominoplasty if they understand the scope and outcomes of this versatile surgery before committing to it.
The outcomes of a tummy tuck in Turkey are durable and long-lasting. They usually last anywhere from 10 years to a lifetime. However, to ensure outcome longevity, strict post-surgical maintenance protocols have to be followed. Things such as rapid weight fluctuations, a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, and age-related changes can potentially compromise the outcomes of a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty.
Choose One of the Best Tummy Tuck Clinics in Turkey!
🌟 Are you interested in getting a consultation wth one of the top surgeons for Tummy Tuck in Turkey? Contact us to book your consultation with Dr. Cengiuzhan Ekizceli today.
