Jacksonville Tummy Tuck

If you don’t like what previous pregnancies have done to your abdominal area and are not planning to have any more children, or simply have stubborn fat in the abdominal area but are otherwise fit, you are in a good position to consult with a Jacksonville tummy tuck specialist.

Tummy Tuck Procedure

Although many Jacksonville liposuction specialists also perform tummy tuck and although they both are cosmetic surgeries aiming to get rid of unwanted body fat, you should know that these are two very different procedures. The main difference is that liposuction can be used on several areas of the body, while tummy tuck can only be performed in the abdominal area, hence the name tummy tuck or abdominoplasty.

The tummy tuck begins with the surgeon creating two incisions – a long one from one hip bone to another, similar to the incision made during a C-section, and a shorter one around the navel.

What follows is a long procedure of separating skin and fat from the abdominal wall, removing the excess amount of these and then rearranging, tightening and stitching together what remains to create a flat and firm abdomen and a smaller waistline.

The surgery takes a few hours, the exact length depending on the skill of the surgeon and the amount of work required to achieve the best results. General anesthesia is also often used.

Tummy Tuck Types

The procedure described above is that of a full tummy tuck, which is recommended for those well above their average body weight or have a lot of excess fat around the abdomen.

There is also another type of tummy tuck, though, called the mini tummy tuck which only requires a small incision and focuses on tightening muscles below the navel. Jacksonville tummy tuck specialists usually combine mini tummy tucks with liposuction for better results but the decision to do so, of course, is up to you.

Is Tummy Tuck Safe?

Like liposuction, tummy tuck comes with considerable risks and can produce a variety of side effects.

The main risks include:

- risks related to the use of general anesthesia
- infection
- hematoma or the disruption of blood vessels leading to the collection of blood under the skin
- seroma, or a pocket of body fluid, usually plasma, under the skin, usually under an incision
- blood clots
- bleeding
- loss of tissue
- nerve damage
- skin discoloration

The most common side effects include:

- chronic pain
- swelling and bruising
- numbness of the skin around the incision
- permanent scarring

Tummy tuck is still generally safe, though, as long as it is done by a qualified surgeon.