Who does tummy tuck surgery?

While plastic surgeons have the most experience, there are many other types of surgeons who also do this surgery. There are some good surgeons but there are more bad ones. So before you go under the knife, ask for referrals, speak to colleagues and search online. If you ever have a doubt about a surgeon, get a second opinion. Since you are paying, take your time in selecting someone who cares about your welfare. Tummy tuck is strictly an elective procedure and you should never be rushed into it.

How long does tummy tuck surgery take?

Tummy tuck is a major surgical procedure. Do not go to a surgeon who wants to perform this procedure in his private office. Tummy tuck is best done in a hospital where your safety is assured. The procedure can take anywhere from 3-7 hours. Most patients are in too much pain to go home the same day. When you stay overnight, expect to add another $2,000 to your bill. For your safety, keep away from surgeons who want to put you up in a hotel to save money. In a hotel, there are no nursing staff and dreadful complications like bleeding and death have been reported. If you do not have money to stay in a hospital then you should not undergo tummy tuck. It is a high risk procedure.

What is the cost of tummy tuck surgery?

Tummy tuck is as expensive as buying a small sedan or a down payment on a small condo. On average you can expect to fork out anywhere from $7,000-$13,000. There are fees for all the tests, the anesthesiologist and the plastic surgeon. If you plan to stay in the hospital overnight, you can add another $2,000. Moreover, no insurance plan covers tummy tuck as it is a cosmetic procedure. Finally a great result is not guaranteed for everyone. Even if the surgeon screws up, there are no refunds- but you can always sue him/her afterwards.

Is the tummy tuck operation ideal for all women?

Definitely not. First and foremost you have to be healthy and be able to tolerate the surgery. The surgery is major, can involve a lot of blood loss and take many hours to accomplish. You also have to be realistic- the procedure will make your abdomen look nice but it surely won't make you look young and some of your stretch marks may still remain. The problem is plastic surgeons always hype up their results with photos and many people develop unrealistic expectations with the surgery. If you are still planning to have children or trying to lose weight, then tummy tuck is not for you- at least not yet.

Does tummy tuck surgery have any risks?

Sure, like any surgery there are risks. The problem is that there are way too many plastic surgeons performing this procedure and some are just plain awful. So you have to pick a decent surgeon. Complications of tummy tuck include infections, fluid and blood collection at the incision site, and loss of sensation where the incision was made. If you continue to smoke, your healing may be poor and your skin may die, making closure difficult. Other side effects include formation of blood clots, wound separation, asymmetry, pain, swelling of legs, nerve damage, perhaps need for another surgery and a poor cosmetic result. These complications occur in at least 10-18 percent of women.

Are there any precautions before I undergo tummy tuck surgery?

The most important is that you stop smoking. If you continue to smoke, it will delay healing, cause breathing problems and give you a poor cosmetic result. You must stop smoking at least 6 weeks before the surgery. Moreover, you should not take any blood thinners for at least 2-3 weeks prior to the surgery.

Can the tummy tuck surgery remove fat?

Yes, often the tummy tuck procedure is combined with liposuction. Liposuction can help remove the mounds of fat around the hips, thighs and waist. This can help make the body more proportioned. All individuals who are in the process of losing weight should wait until they have reached their optimal weight. Tummy tuck is always done after you have completed your child bearing and weight loss. If you continue to lose weight after tummy tuck, you will again start to have loose excess skin.

Can you tell me if tummy tuck is a good option for weight loss?

Tummy tuck is not done to help people lose weight; rather the surgery is done to improve the flabby abdomen. Many men and women have a protuberant abdomen with poor skin elasticity. The muscles of the abdomen have lost their tone and the entire front of the abdomen looks like crap. This type of flabby abdomen is quite common in women who have had multiple pregnancies and in those who have lost weight.

Tummy tuck or abdominal plasty can help remove the loose excess skin, fat and tighten up the slack muscles and fascia. Tummy tuck can also help you get rid of some of your stretch marks and excess skin that is hanging below the belly button.

All consumers should be aware that tummy tuck is not some minor rinky dinky surgery done at the clinic; this is major surgery and a lot of bad S..T can happen. Therefore, anyone wishing to undergo this procedure better read about it first and choose their surgeon well. 

I am a 26 year old female. Recently my doctor told me I have melasma and referred me to a plastic surgeon. What should I do?

P..S on both of them. Melasma is a common skin disorder usually seen during or after pregnancy. It is often referred to as a “mask of pregnancy.” The facial skin develops patches of darkness which are chiefly on the forehead, nose and cheeks. The majority of women with this disorder do not even know if they have it. In more than 99% of cases, melasma disappears on its own. The disorder is benign and has no complications. However, many plastic surgeons and skin doctors have started offering treatments for melasma.

Some doctors offer combination creams with bleaching agents combined with tretinoin and others add a topical steroid. Some even recommend use of laser. So far no one has ever shown that any of these treatments are effective. Moreover prolonged use of steroids and tretinoin is also associated with skin dryness, redness and peeling. For a skin disorder which tends to resolve by itself, why anyone would want to seek treatment is a mystery. Perhaps these individuals need their head examined or better still, some Prozac may help

Killing for fat- to enhance lips- part 2

Both men and women in many South American countries regularly undergo cosmetic procedures to feel and look well. It is also well known that South Americans spend more time under the knife for cosmetic procedures than any other nation.

The arrested men say that the fat was being sold to cosmetic companies in Europe. So far, the buyers of this fat remain unknown but investigators have started to follow up leads.

Investigators say that gangs would ambush an individual, rapidly cut of his head and then drain the fat from the body into bottles.

Police are currently investigating deaths of more than 60 people in areas around Lima, Peru and believe these deaths are related to gangs killing for fat

Killing for fat- to enhance the breasts and lips

Very disturbing news out of Peru is that gangs have been arrested for killing people to obtain fat. It is alleged that more than 60 people have been killed and their body fat content removed to be used in cosmetic procedures. Police sources say that so far three gang members have been arrested and have confessed to killing at least 5 people in the past few weeks.

Some of the gang members were arrested carrying the liquid fat in bottles. The suspects say that a gallon of fat is worth at least $60,000. The three arrested gang members have been charged with homicide, criminal conspiracy and a variety of other related charges.

Cosmetic surgeons do use fat injections to enhance lips or breasts. Fat is normally derived via liposuction from the abdomen or thigh and then injected into other parts of the body; the process is laborious and somewhat expensive. However, it is not known how large the fat cosmetic market is. Plastic surgeons do agree that other dermal fillers like restylane, perlane, or juvederm are somewhat expensive and fat is sometimes used as an alternative.