Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Articles

Even with the increasing popularity of noninvasive plastic surgery procedures, invasive plastic surgery remains on the rise.

Part of the reason may be because injectables, effective as they are, don’t offer the same level of results as a traditional surgical procedure, like a tummy tuck, which is still very prevalent—more than 130,000 were done in 2018, an increase over the prior year, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons—despite the immense growth of body-contouring procedures like CoolSculpting.

So, we’ll be taking a deep dive into the tummy tuck over the next two blogs and breaking down everything you need to know about it, including whether a noninvasive option can give you the results you’re after.

What to expect

A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, serves two purposes: It removes excess skin and reduces the separation between the abdominal muscles. As a bonus, it also gets rid of excess fat (more on that later).

A tummy tuck, in fact, is the only way to get rid of loose, sagging skin that can result from significant weight loss or pregnancy. Our skin is very much like elastic, and once it gets stretched to a certain point, it’s never going to return to its original state.

As for the muscle separation, we’re all born with it, though it increases with age, certain lifestyle factors, and, certainly, pregnancy. Once these muscles spread, the only way to bring them back together is through surgery. A tummy tuck brings the muscle edges together, acting like an internal corset.

A surgeon will make an incision across your bikini line, and through that incision, remove skin and tighten your abdominal muscles. Once the muscles are stitched together, the surgeon will pull the skin tight and remove any excess. (Yes, your belly button will shift down in the process, but don’t worry about that. The surgeon will make a new hole for it.)

Before finishing, the surgeon will place drains in your stomach to remove any excess fluid that accumulates as you heal. They’ll be removed after about a week.

Mini vs. full

Both the extent of the surgery and the recovery will depend on the type of tummy tuck, a “mini” or a full. The main difference between the two is the length of the incision and, thus, the amount of skin that can be removed. A mini runs from inner thigh to inner thigh, while a full spans the stomach from hip to hip. Another difference: The surgeon usually only stitches up the lower half of the abdominal muscles in a mini.

You’ll be under anesthesia for two-and-a-half to four hours, but tummy tucks are technically outpatient procedures, so you’ll be able to go home after spending a couple hours in the recovery room. But once you get home, you’ll need to be patient with your recovery. It could be a few days before you feel comfortable sitting or standing fully upright.

Plan to take a couple weeks off from work. You should be back to your normal activities—which will now include ample posing in front of a mirror—within five weeks.

In a survey of 2,000 people about their New Year’s resolutions, these were the three most popular goals:

1. Diet or eat healthier (71%)

2. Exercise more (65%)

3. Lose weight (54%)

Body image clearly weighs heavily on the minds of a lot of us. While there’s no discounting the numerous positive effects of eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly, it’s those first few steps that are potentially the most empowering.

As many as 60% of us admit to making New Year’s resolutions, yet only about 8% of us are successful in achieving them. In fact, right around now is when most are abandoning them. Which means that if you can find your way through this stretch, you’ll likely gain all the momentum you’ll need to enact some meaningful change in your life.

To that end, imagine how uplifting it would be know that you had a little extra support where you need it most. While you’re working up a sweat at the gym and eating more consciously, all the while something else is whittling down that stubborn pocket of fat around your thighs or bra strap that always manages to discourage you. And all you need to do to reap that benefit is spend an hour or so in a board-certified plastic surgeon’s office.

Why CoolSculpting is different

Body contouring is one of plastic surgery’s fastest-growing segments. For years, the only real solution for getting rid of excess fat was liposuction. Effective as it is, it’s surgery, which means there’s going to be some discomfort and a recovery period. By contrast, CoolSculpting, which quickly emerged as one of the most effective forms of the new generation of body-contouring technology, is noninvasive and it requires no downtime.

CoolSculpting employs a technique that was developed by scientists at Harvard where body fat is frozen through controlled cooling. Over the course of the 12 weeks after the treatment, the frozen (now dead) fat cells are shed naturally by the body, resulting in an up to 25% reduction of fat in the treated area.

It works because fat cells freeze at a higher temperature than other types of cells. Even more, once those fat cells are destroyed, they’re gone for good. So, if you do gain some weight down the road, it’ll distribute evenly and not just return to the places you targeted.

All you need is an hour

CoolSculpting has been used to help reduce body fat on the abdomen, flanks, upper back/bra area, upper arms, and inner and outer thighs.

The treatment takes about an hour, and it’s done right in the plastic surgeon’s office. The device will feel cold for the first few minutes after it’s activated. But after that, you shouldn’t feel much of anything. And once you leave the office, you’ll be able to get right back to your day. There’s no downtime at all.

You’ll likely begin to notice a difference after about a month. If your surgeon recommends a second treatment, you can schedule it as early as eight weeks after your initial treatment.

You know what’s 12 weeks away? Spring. Sunshine. Warmer weather. It’s also the point at which you can take a deep breath and tell yourself you made it. It’s no longer a New Year’s resolution. It’s your life now.