Consider getting a feminine stomach tuck tattoo if you want to shed weight without losing your curves. The tattoo is designed to give the impression that you’ve lost weight without actually changing your body.
Despite the fact that there are other kinds of tummy tuck tattoos out there, this one is specifically designed for folks who wish to reduce weight without giving up their curves. This type of tattoo is perfect for women who are concerned about undergoing weight reduction surgery or other procedures that require them to lose weight.
Since tummy tuck tattoos are not permanent, if you decide they are not the best option for you, you can have them removed.
Feminine tummy tuck tattoo
My stomach tuck patients from the Scottsdale and Phoenix area make up a sizable portion of tattoo owners. These might be anything from modest, little tattoos to gigantic sleeves and complete back pieces. Although these tattoos typically have minimal bearing on surgical decisions, there are situations when they must be carefully included into my surgical strategy.
Abdominoplasty, the medical term for a tummy tuck, involves the removal of a significant quantity of lower abdominal skin (usually everything between the pubic area and the belly button).
This is advantageous for patients who now dislike their lower abdomen tattoo because the tattoo can be removed after surgery (see a real patient case).
I will describe how much of the tattoo needs to be removed in order to correctly tighten the skin for people who already have a lower abdomen tattoo that they like.
Patients can then determine whether the procedure is worthwhile and how they wish to care for their tattoo thereafter (i.e., have it redone or just leave it as is).
Can I get a tattoo to cover up my tummy tuck scar?
I occasionally see patients who are considering having a tattoo to cover or conceal a scar from a belly tuck. I go through a couple topics with these patients.
If the scar is less than a few years old, there is usually still hope for improvement because scars tend to diminish over time.
Adding a tattoo might make the scar stand out even more, making it a poor choice for concealment.
The cover-up tattoo will typically retain its color over time, whereas scars that patients are bothered by for the first few years after surgery frequently diminish so much that they naturally cease to be an issue with time.
Scar tissue does not hold ink, which is another problem with tattooing a scar.
Can I do something to reduce my scar’s appearance?
My advice regarding scars is always to take the necessary steps to make them less obvious (see my separate blog article for more information). Included in this are scar massage, avoiding UV light, topical treatments like BIOCORNEUM® or silicone sheeting, and, if required, steroid injections. I typically advise saving the ink for a gorgeous design in an area with good skin where you want attention to be directed because tattooing scars can actually make things look worse rather than better from an aesthetic standpoint.
You can reach out to us online or schedule a consultation by calling (480) 907-0468 if you’d like to learn more about tummy tuck surgery
Stages of swelling after tummy tuck
Everyone who undergoes a Pittsburgh tummy tuck that I perform laments the lower abdominal swelling and pain it brings on after the procedure. The bad news is that every patient experiences lower abdomen edema following stomach tuck surgery. Depending on how well you adhere to your surgeon’s recommendations and your general health, it might vary dramatically in how noticeable it is or how problematic it gets! I prefer to explain to patients what to anticipate before surgery at my plastic surgery practice in Pittsburgh so they are ready for the unavoidable.
After a belly tuck, you can anticipate some swelling, which will peak around days 3–5. Your swelling and/or bruising will significantly lessen as a result.
The skin immediately above the incision has a different blood supply when a horizontal incision is made across the lower abdomen. Blood can enter, but because the veins go north to the chest and gravity opposes them, it is more difficult for blood to exit. Along with an abdominoplasty, patients who had flank liposuction also appear to have increased swelling. I frequently do this to define my waist. The more fatty or thick your stomach skin was before the operation, the more likely it was that you would experience protracted abdominal edema.
Avoiding Swelling After Tummy Tuck Surgery
The good news is that there are some fairly simple steps you can take to reduce the swelling after tummy tuck surgery and speed your post-tummy tuck recovery.
Banish the Bulge: Lay Flat
I always advise my patients to spend the first four days after surgery lying with their chests fairly flat and their legs elevated to aid in venous return from the skin flap and from their legs, thereby reducing the incidence of deep venous thrombosis, in order to prevent swelling after their tummy tuck/abdominoplasty procedure. EVERY OTHER HOUR, stand up, move around, hastily eat, then lie down again. SITTING IS THE KISS OF DEATH It will cause your blood and swelling fluid to collect in your pelvis, causing further abdominal swelling. It’s nearly as harmful to lie in a “V” position. Bad recliners raise the chest rather than the legs.
Post Tummy Tuck Compression Garments
A decent compression garment that is neither too tight nor too loose, such as Spanx, a lipo garment, or girdle, will also gently compress the tissues and lessen edema. After a belly tuck, drains are frequently required to remove the fluid that would otherwise collect beneath the skin. Verify that they are functioning properly. Every hour, strip them, empty them, and note the drainage in ccs. At least twice every day, use alcohol to clean the areas of your skin near the drain entrances.
Drains are not always a good thing. They aid in the healing of the huge internal incision by forming a seal between the fat on the skin and the abdominal wall, but they are also a source of bacteria getting into the wound and can lead to
Drains are there to reduce swelling after tummy tuck.
Recently, a new technique by a father and son plastic surgery team has been developed that accelerates the healing of the skin flap, and reduces the swelling. I use plication sutures between the deep fat and the muscles to close the space that accumulates fluid. My drainage amounts have reduced by 60%. I have been using this technique for the past 18 months.
Watch Your Diet
Making sure you are eating a healthy, low sodium diet is another great way to ensure you are reducing your post-op swelling as much as you can. Your body needs proper nutrition and hydration in order to heal, so give it what it needs!
Retained Seroma: What To Do
If your lower abdomen feels thick and woody two weeks after surgery, your surgeon should check to see if you have a retained seroma, or long-term fluid collection. Using a 30 cc syringe and an 18 gauge long needle, this can be sucked off. Continue to wear your compression garment, and try to avoid sitting down a lot. On occasion, creating the seal while resting on your stomach with a thick, flat book can help.
I have to replace a drain after I remove it after every 20 patients or such. Sometimes I use this as an opportunity to tighten the closure, de-fat the edges, and re-excise a portion of the middle incision. This additional procedure helps achieve a better outcome and treats the seroma and abdominal edema.
Tummy Tuck Results
Here are some tummy tuck before and after photos of Dr. Cherup’s patients. Our website has a full gallery of untouched patient photos so you can see the real results that are possible from Pittsburgh’s top plastic surgeon.
How to reduce swelling after tummy tuck
After having plastic surgery, particularly with a procedure as transformative as the tummy tuck, it is completely normal to feel anxious and excited about seeing your newly enhanced look as soon as possible. While there may be a noticeable difference immediately after some procedures, the final results of most cosmetic surgeries including tummy tuck – typically take weeks, months, or even longer to fully develop, as postoperative swelling subsides and incisions fade. It is important for men and women who are considering a tummy tuck to have realistic expectations about their recovery period and be patient throughout the healing process.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Khorsandi, Chief of Plastic Surgery at VIP Plastic Surgery in Las Vegas, NV, takes great care to ensure that patients not only undergo a safe and successful procedure with stunning results, but also that tummy tuck recovery is as comfortable, quick, and convenient as possible. If you are considering a tummy tuck, use this helpful information to prepare yourself appropriately for your surgery, recovery, and beyond.
WHAT DOES TUMMY TUCK DO?
Also known as abdominoplasty, tummy tuck surgery is a substantial cosmetic procedure designed to help patients achieve or restore a slimmer, smoother, tighter abdominal contour through skin removal, muscle reinforcement, and other techniques. A tummy tuck is ideal for women who have had children, patients who have experienced significant weight loss, or those who simply have loose, hanging skin and stubborn pockets of fat due to the aging process.
During tummy tuck surgery in Las Vegas, NV, Dr. Khorsandi will make an incision on the lower abdomen, just above the pubic area. The length of the incision needed will vary based on how much skin needs to be removed and if any additional procedures are being performed. Dr. Khorsandi fully understands the importance of keeping cosmetic surgery discreet and shares in his patients’ desires to have the least amount of visible scarring possible, taking great care to place his incisions where they can be concealed with underwear or swimsuits, and keeping them as small and thin as they can be to allow for an ideal result.
In many cases, liposuction is used during tummy tuck to remove small pockets of fat from the abdomen and further elevate the patient’s final outcome. For patients suffering from diastasis recti, which is a common result of pregnancy or weight fluctuation, Dr. Khorsandi can reposition and reinforce the abdominal muscles and eliminate the telltale “mommy pooch” or pouch-like tummy. Once these corrections have been made, Dr. Khorsandi will carefully excise the loose, excess skin, pull the remaining skin tight, and secure it with sutures, resulting in a smooth, firm, sexy physique.
HOW LONG IS TUMMY TUCK RECOVERY?
The recovery time after tummy tuck can vary somewhat depending on several factors, including the patient’s overall health and whether or not any other procedures were performed during the surgery. For example, women who combine a tummy tuck with breast augmentation, thigh lift, and other treatments as part of a full mommy makeover transformation may require extended recovery time. In general, tummy tuck patients should expect to take about two weeks off of work, depending on the physical demands of their jobs. Light activity can usually be resumed after about 1 – 2 weeks, while more strenuous physical activity and exercise should be paused for at least 6 – 8 weeks, or until cleared by your surgeon. Though there will be a noticeable difference in your abdominal contour relatively quickly, the results will continue to improve as the body heals and the swelling reduces over time.
HOW LONG DOES TUMMY TUCK SWELLING LAST?
f your lower abdomen feels thick and woody two weeks after surgery, your surgeon should check to see if you have a retained seroma, or long-term fluid collection.
Using a 30 cc syringe and an 18 gauge long needle, this can be sucked off.
Continue to wear your compression garment, and try to avoid sitting down a lot.
On occasion, creating the seal while resting on your stomach with a thick, flat book can help.
I have to replace a drain after I remove it after every 20 patients or such.
Sometimes I use this as an opportunity to tighten the closure, de-fat the edges, and re-excise a portion of the middle incision.
This additional procedure helps achieve a better outcome and treats the seroma and abdominal edema.
Arguably the most notable aspect of recovery after tummy tuck is postoperative swelling. This is a completely normal and expected part of tummy tuck recovery, as well as nearly any surgical procedure, so don’t be alarmed. Swelling after tummy tuck can last for several weeks, but there are some things you can do to help keep it under control. Three helpful ways to reduce tummy tuck swelling time include:
1. Wear compression garments: As part of your postoperative routine, you will be required to wear medical compression garments, specifically to reduce swelling and promote proper, efficient healing. It is critical that you wear your compression garments as directed, which may be 24/7 for several weeks.
2. Stay mobile: While it is essential that patients get plenty of rest during tummy tuck recovery, it is also important to incorporate very light walking into your daily routine. This helps to reduce swelling, improve circulation, and minimize the risk of postoperative complications, such as blood clots. Simply walking around the room or to and from the bathroom several times a day is usually sufficient for the first several days after surgery. Too much activity, or activities that are too strenuous, can actually slow your healing and cause complications as well. Talk to your surgeon about finding the right balance.
3. Watch your diet: Whether you have had surgery or not, eating too much salt can exacerbate swelling, bloating, and water retention. A common misconception is that drinking more water will make the swelling worse, but the opposite is actually true. Make sure you stay adequately hydrated and minimize your sodium intake to reduce tummy tuck swelling.
At your preoperative appointments, as well as on the day of surgery, Dr. Khorsandi will provide you with both written and verbal instructions to ensure that your recovery is as smooth, comfortable, and speedy as it can be.