Are you looking to reshape your abs or tone up your midsection, but feel like you are losing the battle? Perhaps you are self-conscious to wear a bathing suit because of excess fat and skin that you have on your abdomen. The abdominal area is a part of the body that creates a common area of struggle for most people dealing with excess skin or unwanted fat. Weight gain, weight loss, having a baby, or the natural process of aging are all contributing factors to the “midsection struggle”. Everyone wants a flatter, more toned-looking stomach but what if daily exercise and a healthy diet are not enough?
Reshaping your midsection with a tummy tuck or reverse tummy tuck are two cosmetic options that board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jaime Schwartz of Beverly Hills can provide. A top plastic surgeon and leading expert in tummy tuck surgery, Dr. Schwartz can customize a plan that is the right fit for you. His “patient-first approach” will help you decide the best solution for your midsection makeover!
Top to the bottom help…
The abdominal area is divided into 2 different areas: the upper and lower region. The upper abdominal area resides just under the breasts, above the belly button, while the lower abdominal area is located below the belly button. In the cosmetic surgery world, there are 2 different procedures that can enhance and improve both areas. A traditional tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is for the lower region and a reverse tummy tuck is for the upper region. So you might be saying what is the difference between the two procedures? Can both be done? What if I only need help with one area of my stomach? Dr. Schwartz of Beverly Hills helps us take a look at the entire midsection and the cosmetic options available so you can feel better about how you look!
Traditional Tummy Tuck
The most common procedure between the two options is the traditional tummy tuck. A traditional tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a cosmetic surgery that concentrates on flattening and reshaping the lower abdominal area. Liposuction is generally used to remove excess, isolated areas of fat, and excess skin is trimmed away in order to contour your lower region. A traditional tummy tuck not only enhances your lower abdominal area but also reshapes the underlying abdominal wall therefore tightening the abdominal muscles at the same time. The tummy tuck incision is made just above the pubic area usually from hip to hip and below the belly button. However, there are various types of tummy tuck surgeries ranging from an extended version to a mini-tummy tuck, so incision sizes vary greatly. The belly button in a traditional tummy tuck is often repositioned so that it fits nicely with the new contour. Incisions can be concealed with undergarments or a bathing suit. If you previously had a C-section with pregnancies, then that incision area can also be used again to reduce scarring.
Reverse Tummy Tuck
On the reverse side of the abdominal area, there are some individuals who struggle with excess skin or fatty tissue on their upper torso. Some patients can have a smooth, flat lower abdominal area but fight to slim down the upper part of their stomach above their belly button. That is where a reverse tummy tuck or reverse abdominoplasty can help. Fatty tissue and any excess skin above the belly button is removed and essentially pulled upward towards the breast area. With a reverse tummy tuck no abdominal muscles are tightened, like with a traditional tummy tuck. Two incisions or one streamlined incision are made right below the breasts or in the breast fold area. The reverse tummy tuck incision can be concealed by a bra or bathing suit top.
Recovery Time for Either Procedure
The recovery time for both a traditional tummy tuck or a reverse tummy tuck are similar, but they vary depending on the complexity of surgery and how much of the underlying muscular structure was corrected below the belly button. Beverly Hills area patients should allow a good week for the initial recovery where they can return to work or normal (light) daily activity. Exercising or more strenuous activity can be resumed in 3-6 weeks or once cleared by the surgeon. A compression garment, especially with a traditional tummy tuck, is worn post-surgery for 4-6 weeks to reduce swelling and help with the healing process.
Other Cosmetic Options With Tummy Help
A reverse tummy tuck can be a perfect partner with a patient looking to have breast enhancement (not using implants) utilizing the fatty tissue removed from the upper abdomen as filler for the breasts. A patient can also consider a breast lift when having a reverse tummy tuck. Due to the location of the reverse tummy tuck incisions, below the breasts or in the breast folds, this can allow for two procedures to be done at the same time. In turn, it reduces the scarring a patient will experience as well as allow the patient to heal from two cosmetic procedures at the same time.
Another cosmetic procedure combination is when a patient has a slight issue or “pooch” with their lower abdominal area yet they need more help with their upper torso. Liposuction or a mini tummy tuck can be considered on the lower abdominal area at the same time as a reverse tummy tuck. A mini tummy tuck, is the same as a traditional tummy tuck, but the incision is smaller and the excess skin and fatty cells to be removed are on a lesser scale.
You can get life-changing results with the body contouring procedures of a tummy tuck or reverse tummy tuck. Whether you battle with your midsection due to having a baby or just the natural aging process that makes it harder to lose weight. Reshape your midsection from the top to the bottom with these amazing body contouring techniques and reveal a tighter, slimmer looking you! Call the office of board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Jaime Schwartz of Beverly Hills, today to schedule your consultation appointment and let him help you look the way you always wanted!
