Tummy Tuck Procedure in Central PA
A flat and well-toned abdomen is something many women and men strive for through healthy eating and exercise. However, some patients have protruding abdomens, excess fat, or excess abdominal skin that, regardless of effort, will not go away. The most common causes of this include heredity, multiple pregnancies or significant weight loss. Abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, removes excess skin and fat, and in many cases repairs weakened or separated abdominal wall muscles. The results of a tummy tuck can be significant and can give a patient more confidence and the ability to wear clothing they could not wear prior to surgery.
Through constant education and training, Dr. de Ramón is able to offer advanced techniques during a tummy tuck. For example, a relatively new drug Exparel® is a long-acting local anesthetic that Dr. de Ramón uses during a tummy tuck procedure to numb the area of the muscle repair and to block the sensory nerves of the abdomen in order to minimize pain after a tummy tuck. Exparel provides up to 72 hours of numbing. Patients are much more comfortable and require fewer narcotics post-operatively. This advance has allowed Dr. de Ramón to perform this procedure on an outpatient basis at West Shore Surgery Center in Mechanicsburg, PA instead of needing to keep patients in the hospital for pain management.
This not only saves patients a significant amount of money, but they typically experience less pain and faster recovery. Patients routinely say that they felt less pain than they were expecting. Dr. de Ramón can also perform the surgery and position the scar to be below the bikini line in order to camouflage the scar when clothed. He can also perform different surgical approaches based on the individual needs of his patients. A patient who has lost a great deal of weight may require a different approach than a patient who has a bulging abdomen but less excess skin. In other cases, a tummy tuck may be combined with liposuction to improve the results.
What Are the Benefits of a Tummy Tuck Surgery?
The main aesthetic benefits of tummy tuck surgery include:
- Reduction in fat and skin in the abdomen
- Improved contour
- A firmer, flatter, and slimmer stomach
- A more attractive waistline
- Improved self-confidence
- Better fit of clothing
Ultimately, a tummy tuck removes unwanted fat, tissue and skin, and it helps patients achieve a flatter and youthful contour around the waistline. Apart from the obvious aesthetic benefits of this procedure, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) also states that it may offer various medical benefits, including:
Enhanced Abdominal Tone and Posture
After a patient has had multiple pregnancies or lost a substantial amount of weight, the muscles of the stomach may be displaced laterally and there may be a significant weakening of the abdominal midline or stretch of the connective tissue (Rectus Diastasis). In such cases, exercise and diet alone may not provide the desired changes.
Dr. de Ramón can perform a tummy tuck procedure to help patients tighten weak muscles (repair the diastasis) and get rid of excess fat to produce a flatter abdomen. Subsequently, stronger abdominal muscles can help improve a patient’s posture. The muscles will provide more significant support for the spine and may also help reduce lower back pain. This muscle repair also helps flatten the tummy and improve contour.
Correction of Ventral Hernia
A hernia occurs when some abdominal or intestinal tissues break through the wall of the abdominal cavity and protrudes into the space where the subcutaneous fat lives. This condition can sometimes be caused by lifting excessive weight, straining or abdominal wall weakening from weight gain or pregnancy. If a patient has a ventral hernia this can be repaired at the same time as the weakened abdominal muscles are tightened and the tummy tuck procedure is performed.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
Women and men in the Harrisburg, PA region who desire a tighter, firmer abdomen are excellent candidates for a tummy tuck. If you have loose or wrinkled abdominal skin, stretch marks from pregnancy or weight loss, hanging abdominal skin or stubborn diet-resistant localized abdominal fat, then you may be a tummy tuck candidate. Patients range in age from their early 20s to their late 60s. Patients should also be non-smokers and have a BMI of 30 or less.
What Is the Recovery for Tummy Tucks Like?
Recovery time from a tummy tuck is generally 7 to 10 days off work and avoidance of strenuous activity for 6 – 8 weeks. When patients return to work or other activities, they are restricted from heavy weight lifting and aerobic exercise for six weeks. Patients may have some discomfort post-op which is diminished by the ExparelⓇ and, if needed, narcotic pain medication. A compression garment is worn for four to six weeks postoperatively to reduce swelling and provide support. Patients routinely express that the recovery is worth the long term results.
Dr. de Ramón has a specially trained medical staff to offer personal care throughout the recovery process. Post-op patients are also given his personal cell phone number to contact him in case of problems or questions.
How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost in Pennsylvania?
In most cases, a full tummy tuck is performed under general anesthesia in an outpatient surgery facility in the Harrisburg, PA area. The average cost of a tummy tuck is between $8400 and $9200 depending upon the time in the operating room. A mini tummy tuck, which involves removal of skin below the belly button, can be performed in our in-office surgical suite under local anesthesia and costs between $2800 and $3500 or at the surgery center under general anesthesia. The fees for a mini tummy tuck vary based upon the surgical plan developed with the patient during the consultation.
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