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Exercise and attention to diet aren’t always enough to achieve a smooth, slender torso, especially if you're dealing with stretched, sagging skin and muscles following pregnancy or weight loss. Fortunately, there is an effective solution to get the beautiful midsection you want: a tummy tuck! By tightening loose abdominal muscles and removing excess, sagging skin, tummy tuck surgery with Dr. Thors can help you restore a smoother, firmer body contour.
Many of us strive for a flat, firm tummy, but getting there can be easier said than done. Pregnancy and childbirth, weight fluctuations over the years, or the natural aging process can result in lax abdominal muscles, protruding tummy, stretch marks, and excess, sagging skin on the belly. While diet and exercise can help you lose weight and strengthen the abs, even the most disciplined fitness program cannot address sagging skin or over-stretched muscles.
A tummy tuck can do what diet and exercise cannot, removing excess skin and tightening the underlying muscles to restore a trimmer, more youthful abdominal contour. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gunnar Thors has more than 20 years of experience performing this procedure and has helped many men and women in Algonquin restore their comfort and appearance through this life-enhancing procedure.
An abdominoplasty is an ideal procedure to remove loose, sagging skin and fat, creating long-lasting results. Abdominoplasty will also address and repair the separation of the rectus abdominus muscles, a sometimes painful condition called diastasis recti.
A tummy tuck with an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon can improve your appearance and self-confidence in a number of ways:
A tummy tuck is one of the most effective procedures to address loose, sagging skin and tighten the abdomen. Abdominoplasty will not reduce significant fat deposits, nor is it a weight loss procedure. The best tummy tuck candidates can agree with the following:
If you would like to remove unwanted fat on your hips or tummy, liposuction may offer the best results. At your consultation, Dr. Thors will help you decide the appropriate procedures to achieve your goals.
Dr. Thors typically performs tummy tuck surgery as an outpatient procedure, although a short inpatient stay may be necessary for more extensive abdominoplasty procedures. General anesthesia is provided by a licensed, board certified anesthesiology team.
Tummy tuck surgery involves a horizontal incision, placed just above the pubic mound and running across the lower abdomen, as well as one around the edge of the belly button. Through these incisions, Dr. Thors tightens the abdominal muscles using permanent sutures and removes excess skin and fat. Depending on your needs, he may perform liposuction at the same time to remove pockets of excess fat and create the most naturally pleasing body contours.
Following surgery, you will be placed in a compression garment to provide support. Drains may also be inserted to relieve excess swelling. Post-operative discomfort typically peaks about 3 to 5 days after surgery, and then subsides noticeably more each day. Patients typically return to sedentary work 2 to 3 weeks after a tummy tuck, although you will need more time off for a more physical job. Exercise may be resumed gradually beginning 6 to 8 weeks after surgery.
Scars from tummy tuck surgery are permanent, but with proper care will fade significantly over the months following surgery. Dr. Thors takes care to place incisions as low as possible so that scars can be easily covered by a swimsuit.
A tummy tuck with Dr. Thors can achieve dramatic improvements that are meant to last for many years. It’s important to maintain a stable weight, as significant weight fluctuations after surgery can negatively affect your results. Additionally, if you plan to become pregnant in the future, it may be best to postpone a tummy tuck until you are finished having children, as abdominal tissues will re-stretch to accommodate a growing baby.
If you have questions about tummy tuck surgery in Algonquin, Dr. Thors and our staff will be happy to help during a personal consultation at Midwest Plastic Surgery Specialists.