Taking Care of an Ill Loved One

What You Should Know About Tummy Tucks

Many people all over the United States are in pursuit of that perfect body. And if you are among them, you may be considering getting yourself a tummy tuck to help flatten your belly and get rid of some of the excess skin you have. But, before you run off to the plastic surgeon to get your consultation and schedule your surgery, make sure you have all of the facts about tummy tucks. That way, you will be sure that this is the surgery for you and that you are fully prepared for what is to come. 

Tummy Tucks and Smoking Do Not Mix

If ever there was a time for you to quit smoking, before you have a tummy tuck or other cosmetic surgery procedure is the perfect time. Nicotine has been shown to cause problems with wound healing following surgery.  This means that you may not only take longer to heal following your procedure, but you could also run the risk of infection and other complications if the wound remains open for longer than necessary. 

Additionally, because smoking also affects the surface and condition of the skin, you may not get the high-quality results you were hoping for if you smoke leading up to and following surgery. So, a few months before you have your surgery, you should be completely nicotine-free. This means you may have to start your smoking cessation routine around four to six months prior to getting your tummy tuck just to ensure the nicotine does not cause skin necrosis or other problems. 

Tummy Tucks and Pregnancy Do Not (Always) Mix

While you, of course, know that you cannot have an abdominal surgery like a tummy tuck while pregnant, you should also wait on having a tummy tuck if you plan on getting pregnant again in the near future.  It takes the abdominal wall a while to heal from surgery, and if you get pregnant before it is healed, you run the risk of serious complications including a tear in your abdominal wall.

While it is possible to get pregnant after a tummy tuck, it is still a good idea to wait on the procedure until you have had all of the children you plan to have. That way you can  can be absolutely sure that your pursuit of the perfect flat tummy does not cause problems with your pregnancy, and that you do not undo the results of your surgery when you are pregnant. 

Now that you know more about tummy tucks and when you should get one, you are ready to make the right decision for you. Remember that once you make the necessary adjustments, that you can get your tummy tuck knowing you have done everything you can to ensure the best and safest results. Talk to a cosmetic surgeon like Body Spectrum Plastic Surgery Center - Bruce R Barton MD to see if you are a good candidate.


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