How to Choose A Tummy Tuck

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By betterbody
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (6 Ratings)

To tummy tuck or not.

Everyone wants to be in better shape, no matter how good their shape is now. Why is this? An entire industry has been built around tummy tucks, prompting men and women to pay their hard earned money for this major surgery. Is a tummy tuck right for you, or would a mini tummy tuck do? Should you avoid such surgery?

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Laptop-Internet
Phone book
Medical consult
Second opinion
Money
Time to recover

Step 1

Educate yourself: Watching a tummy tuck on television might give you a little information about this surgery. Actually called an abdominoplasty, this is major surgery, not a lunch hour procedure. Check from your laptop for actual surgery footage to better understand what will be happening during your surgery.
Step 2

Know your surgeon: Any surgeon in the United States is allowed to do plastic surgery. This does not make them a plastic surgeon. Look for a physician that is a member of the ASPS-American Society of Plastic Surgeons. In order to be a member of ASPS, a physician has to have a minimum of 5 years experience as a surgeon, and a minimum of 2 years as a plastic surgeon. Research why this matters by checking resources below.
Step 3

Learn about the surgery: Men and women often enter the decision to have a tummy tuck before investigating what is really going to happen during the surgery. Some important things that should be considered include your health history: Do you have high blood pressure? Are you taking medication for high cholesterol? Do you bleed easily? What health issues have you been treated for in the last 5 years? Be sure to tell your physician everything.
Step 4

Ask about options: Be sure any physician you have a consultation with explains alternatives. Does the doctor think you can get rid of your concerns with exercise? Does the physician state you will not have a 100% success according to your hopes? Has a mini tummy tuck been offered or explained? You may not need as much surgery as you think. Would lypo be enough? See more details in the resource section.
Step 5

What will happen after your surgery: Following a tummy tuck, or a mini-tummy tuck, you will be sent home with drains in the lower abdomen that will remain for 2-3 weeks. Usually you can return to work after the drains are removed. You are required to wear a compression garment for several weeks afterward as your body heals.
Step 6

Check your insurance: In some instances, even though you may think of this as a cosmetic surgery, insurance will pay a portion of your costs. This could depend on what your surgeon states is the reason for you tummy tuck. At a cost of $3,000 to $10,000 in some areas, it would be nice to have a portion paid by insurance.
Step 7

Where does the surgeon do surgery? Will you be using a hospital facility, or will you be in the doctor's own surgical center? The location may make a difference when it comes to insurance, and emergency treatment if needed.