A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen, resulting in a smoother, firmer appearance. It’s also known as abdominoplasty. This surgery can help you with loose skin following pregnancy or weight loss, as well as stretch marks on your lower abdomen.
The average cost of tummy tuck surgery can vary significantly depending on where you live and which surgeon performs your operation. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) found that the national average for tummy tuck surgery was $5,819 in 2016—but this price tag doesn’t tell you much about what care might cost at local clinics or hospitals.
In this article, we’ll give you some insight into how much it costs to get ready for tummy tuck surgery and how to save money on this procedure.
Average Cost Of Tummy Tuck And Liposuction
Lymphatic massage after a tummy tuck or liposuction is sometimes recommended by plastic surgeons. Sometimes it’s even required post-surgery by some practices. However, there is significant misinformation and misunderstanding about the necessities and benefits of post-surgery lymphatic massage. Before committing to surgery with a cosmetic surgery practice that insists on lymphatic massage after plastic surgery procedures such as a tummy tuck or liposuction, learn what it is and why it is unnecessary.
Lymphatic Massage After Plastic Surgery
Are you considering liposuction or a tummy tuck and wondering if you’ll need to undergo multiple sessions of post-op lymphatic massage? It’s a common concern. Many people think that this type of post-surgery massage will smooth out irregularities created by uneven or lumpy liposuction. But that is simply not true. There are some temporary benefits from lymphatic massage, but these are mostly short-term during the weeks of post-op recovery. For instance, lymphatic massage may help with discomfort, swelling and tissue fibrosis. However, one study did not find any significant difference in swelling reduction between lymphatic massage and compression garments. What’s important to understand is that lymphatic massage is not designed to help smooth out or correct poor surgery techniques. If anything, lymphatic massage is simply an option to aid in healing rather than an essential to ensure a successful surgery.
Lymphatic Massage After Lipo
Not all liposuction is performed with equal skill and artistry. It takes years to develop the technique to create a smooth and even liposuction result on areas such as the stomach, buttocks, thighs and hips. Dr. Cat’s meticulous multi-step liposuction technique is the key to why her patients experience such extraordinary results. During the surgery, Dr. Cat focuses on creating a smooth, even surface with her surgical technique.
“Many patients waste time and money after having botched liposuction, thinking lymphatic massage will smooth out the bumps,” cautions Dr. Cat. The reality is that no amount of massage after lipo can change the long-term results that were created during surgery by a cosmetic surgeon. The truth is that your results will be determined during surgery. That is why it’s so important to choose an experienced cosmetic surgeon, like Dr. Cat, who is especially skilled in liposuction and creating smooth, even surfaces on the surface of the skin.
After liposuction, the skin must tighten around the areas where the fat was removed. During the healing process, applying constant pressure can help reduce the fluid build-up and swelling that is a natural side effect of the liposuction procedure. This continuous pressure can be maintained by using foam pads and compression garments, which Dr. Cat recommends for six weeks post liposuction surgery.
When choosing a liposuction surgeon, remember that liposuction must be performed in a precise, even, and artistic fashion to create natural and smooth results. Dr. Cat has spent years perfecting her liposuction technique to blend the area undergoing liposuction seamlessly with the adjacent areas of the body. Whether it’s BBL massages or any other type of post-op massage, be wary of the extent of benefits of lymphatic massage. Your surgeon should never rely on these types of after-surgery massage for smoothing and evening of the skin’s surface. Always check that any recommendations for post-op massage are limited to the temporary relief of discomfort and post-op swelling.
Lymphatic Massage After Tummy Tuck
With a tummy tuck, the goal is always to smooth out the abdomen region, reducing sagging skin, and in some cases tightening the ab muscles of the region. The result is a smooth, even surface. Many patients worry that they will require after surgery massage to attain this look. However, just like with lipo in other regions of the body, massage after tummy tuck is not necessary for ensuring smoothness. In fact, the lymphatic drainage benefits do not extend to smoothing out bumps, lumps or unevenness of a tummy tuck procedure.
If these problems exist after surgery, no amount of massage will correct these issues. Instead, a patient will need to consider a tummy tuck revision to address these errors in the initial procedure. This is why it is so important to select an experienced tummy tuck specialist, like Dr. Cat, who understands how to achieve a smooth tummy tuck. Although bargain tummy tuck procedures can seem appealing, they can do more harm than good. And unfortunately, massage can not reverse the damage once it has been done.
Choose the Right Liposuction Cosmetic Surgeon for a Smooth Result
Researching liposuction or tummy tuck procedures can lead you to believe that lymphatic massage is a critical part of a proper procedure. It’s especially challenging to find any information online today explaining why these massages are only necessary for surgeon’s with poor technique/results. Dr. Cat hopes to better educate prospective patients, so they can make more informed choices about their bodies and the procedures they undergo.
Always remember that lymphatic massages or any type of post-op massage is not a typical part of post-op care for lipo or tummy tuck procedures If your surgery is performed artistically and meticulously, like Dr. Cat is known for, there should be no need for massages. Massages do not help with smoothing and can only aid temporarily in the reduction of post-op swelling. However, scientific studies have been inconclusive even about these fleeting benefits.
While oral and topical therapies can minimally offer some help in smoothing out the color and intensity of a tummy tuck scar, there are other scar therapies to consider. Scar massage can begin after several weeks post-surgery. This can soften the scar area and encourage healing. Steroid injections and laser resurfacing can also help minimize the scarring. Both of these can help with scar tightness and inflammation.
What is Tummy Tuck Scar Revision Surgery?
Finally, there is another option to deal with a significant tummy scar and this is tummy tuck scar revision surgery. Typically this is reserved for serious scars that need medical attention. During this surgery, a cosmetic surgeon will remove the scar tissue and carefully stitch the area back to create a less obvious scar. This procedure isn’t something people post-tummy tuck surgery should consider until at least a year after surgery.
Dr. Cat provides tummy tuck scar revision surgery where she corrects errors that other surgeons have created in a previous tummy tuck surgery. This type of scar surgery can also help with scarring from past liposuction surgery. In this procedure, Dr. Cat will address irregularities in the scar, removing excess skin and scar tissue and smoothing the area to create a more harmonious look to the abdominal region.
The Best Way to Prevent Unsightly Tummy Tuck Scars
Scar treatment for a tummy tuck is not a 100% effective solution to scarring. Topical treatments can only minimize the look and feel of tummy tuck scars. And many patients post-surgery don’t want to wait months for tummy tuck scar revision surgery, not to mention the added expense and time for this additional surgery.
Instead, it is better to work with a surgeon who works to minimize scarring as much as possible so that there isn’t a large scar to attempt to deal with after surgery. Dr. Cat understands that patients seek out a tummy tuck for a smoother, more refined belly region. The last thing they want is to undergo the tummy tuck surgery, only to then have to worry about covering up a large scar. That’s why she uses a meticulous incision closure technique.
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The Beverly Hills Tummy Tuck Surgeon Who Works Hard to Minimize Scarring
So how does Dr. Cat create a scar so thin and consistent that you can hide it with the tiniest string bikini? First, during the tummy tuck procedure, she closes the incisions in layers. This takes much more time and concentration than a typical incision closer. But, it’s worth the effort, because it produces thin, light, barely visible scars.
Dr. Cat schedules only one surgery per day so that she has the time to dedicate to each patient and provide this high level of care. Giving each patient her undivided attention has been a hallmark of Dr. Cat’s cosmetic surgery practice. She believes no surgery should ever be rushed and would rather perform fewer surgeries each year than cram patients into each day. ‘With my special incision closure technique, scars are basically invisible once you are fully healed,” explains Dr. Cat. “I believe it is important to create the best possible result and incision without any bunching, irregularities, or step-offs. I take extreme pride in my attention to detail with every single step of this surgery.”
Advice from a Cosmetic Surgeon on Tummy Tuck Scars
One thing that impresses prospective patients is Dr. Cat’s before and after tummy tuck photos of her patients. Here you can see how the incision scars are consistent without any bunching or irregularities. She advises anyone considering a tummy tuck to look out for certain issues with tummy tuck scars in the after-result photos.
When reviewing before and after photos, it’s important to look closely at each and make certain that the surgeon you’re considering shows you both photos or videos of the scar at all points in the healing process. Don’t just accept photos from the OR table, those that show one-year post-op, or images that have the patient appearing in thick underwear. Only after seeing exactly what their results look like at all stages will you get a feel for their success in tummy tuck scar minimization.
Schedule a Tummy Tuck Consultation with Dr. Cat’s Team
If you are interested in learning more about a tummy tuck procedure and you want to learn more about Dr. Cat’s meticulous technique that helps minimize scarring and leads to a swift recovery, schedule a consultation. View some of Dr. Cat’s before and after tummy tuck photos online. Her team is happy to show further evidence of how minimal tummy tuck scarring can be with her technique. Find out why patients from all over the world travel to Beverly Hills to seek the expertise of Dr. Cat. With a skilled team experienced in helping visiting patients navigate their surgery and recovery period, Dr. Cat’s team is here to help create a safe and welcoming space for you to transform your body.