If you’re ready to do something about your belly, pooch, or whatever you call those extra few inches around your belly, speaking with a specialist at Artisan Plastic Surgery is your first step toward progress. So what can you expect when discussing a belly tuck in Atlanta with our board-certified surgeons? We’re taking an in-depth look into this procedure!
Request an appointment to talk with our team in person, or keep reading to learn more.
Why do you need a belly tuck?
The first thing we’ll discuss is the driving reason behind your interest in a body transformation. A flatter stomach is typically the desired result, but we often find that the real reasons people come to us for a belly tuck in Atlanta also involve the heart and the mind. By understanding the underlying causes of your concerns, our team can curate your ideal complete plan. These are some of the most common reasons we see patients for a tummy tuck surgery:
Mom (and Dad) Bods
The miracle of life is a beautiful thing, but it can take a toll on both parents’ bodies. Moms can experience a lot of changes to their body during and after pregnancy, which is why we feature abdominal surgery in our complete mommy makeover. A typical mommy makeover includes options like breast surgeries, liposuction, and a body lift in addition to a belly tuck. All of these options work to restore the naturally beautiful looks of every woman we help.
On the other side of the equation, new fathers can gain as much as 4 lbs a year for the first 10 years of fatherhood. While this may not seem like much, “dad bods” can have a long-term effect on cardiovascular, mental, and emotional health. In addition to weight loss efforts, to go from dad to daddy, a belly tuck can help men get their physique back.
With a belly tuck, we can tighten and flatten the abdomen, removing excess skin and fat to create a firmer appearance.
Losing Beautifully
Many patients partaking in our medical weight loss program are happy to live lighter and feel better; however, there’s often one lingering side effect of weight loss that demands surgical intervention. Excess skin is a common concern after losing weight, which is why we may recommend a belly tuck in Atlanta after you have achieved your goals! From the beach to the boardroom, renewed confidence can carry you to new heights, and loose skin doesn’t need to stand between you and your best self.
Read our related blog to learn what patients wish they knew before their surgery!
“5 things I wish I knew before my tummy surgery.”
Stand Proud and Postured
Even if you haven’t experienced a dramatic change like childbirth or weight loss, a tuck can help you look and feel even more confident. Your posture is largely affected by the fat and muscle in your abdominal area.
By tightening the rectus abdominis muscle group, we create a tighter underlying structure for the rest of your muscle systems throughout the body. The tightened abdominal wall acts as a natural corset around the spine to improve posture. This helps relieve back pain, align your natural curvature, and project more confidence!
Learn With a Surgeon
Regardless of why you’re looking into a belly tuck in Atlanta, our entire team is here to help you achieve your ideal look, feel, and function! Our women-owned and operated practice is proud to have multiple award-winning, board-certified surgeons with decades of experience. To curate your complete treatment plan, we’ll sit down for an easy, in-depth consultation.
Pre-Op Preparations
Before we prep a single scalpel, we start with a pen and paper. For your consultation, we’ll ask you to bring in your most recent medical records to help determine if a belly tuck is right for you. We generally recommend this procedure for patients with a BMI below 30. Even if a belly tuck isn’t right for you at this time, we may recommend medical weight loss to help you reach your goals.
After determining that you’re a candidate, we’ll walk you through some pre-operative guidelines for in-depth surgeries like this. To account for the effects of anesthesia and intense immediate recovery needs, we share a few pointers with patients before their surgery.
- You’ll need to start a liquid diet 24 hours prior to your surgery.
- Stop taking blood thinners, NSAIDs, or supplements for at least two weeks before surgery.
- Schedule a ride or have a trusted friend take you home to recover after your surgery.
- Stop taking diet pills or injections that may cause complications.
- Abstain from nicotine products. These can reduce blood flow to the skin and complicate natural healing processes.
- Do not drink alcoholic beverages at least one week before and at least one week after surgery. Alcohol can affect anesthesia and hinder blood clotting.
- Use an antibacterial soap every time you shower for one week before surgery.
- Report any signs of a cold, virus, infection, or pustules on the skin appearing prior to surgery.These preparations are all essential to the success and safety of your surgery, which is why we reserve the right to reschedule or cancel a procedure if the proper protocol is not followed. During your consultation, we’ll schedule your appointment and answer questions to help you feel completely comfortable. We’ll also send you home with some paperwork to fill out prior to the day of your surgery.
The Day Of
When the big day arrives for your belly tuck in Atlanta, we recommend arranging for a trusted friend or family member to drop you off and take you home since you’ll still be under the influence of anesthesia after your procedure. On the day of your surgery, these are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind:
- Take a thorough shower (with antibacterial soap).
- Please cleanse your hair to limit the possibility of infection.
- Do not apply makeup, creams, lotions, hair products, sprays, perfumes, powder, antiperspirant, or deodorant. These products can harbor bacteria and increase the risk of infection.
- Don’t take Xanax or any other anxiety medications, as these can react negatively with anesthesia.
- When you brush your teeth, don’t swallow any water.
- Do not wear any jewelry. Any permanent jewelry will be taped.
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. Pants should be easy to slip off, and tops should be button- or zip-up, enabling easier removal and redressing.
After checking in and completing any outstanding paperwork, a member of our team will escort you to a surgical ward. We complete your surgery at Northside Hospital for most major surgeries and we also have an in-office procedure room for smaller surgeries.
As you lie comfortably in a treatment chair, a surgeon will answer any final questions before an anesthesiologist begins administering a general anesthetic. As you count backwards from 100, you’ll drift comfortably off to sleep, and our skilled hands get to work!
While You Were Sleeping
During your belly tuck in Atlanta, our surgeon will start by making small incisions around your bikini area. These allow us to reposition muscle and fat while removing any excess skin throughout your abdomen. In your
surgery, we’ll use scalpels, suction, and other specialized tools to adjust or remove any necessary skin and fat. We focus on tightening and flattening the tummy area while correcting diastasis recti (often referred to as a “pooch”) if necessary. Depending on your desired results, this procedure can take between 2 and 3 hours.
Post-Op Recovery
Following your surgery, we’ll have you stay overnight in the hospital since this is such an in-depth procedure. After your stay, have a friend pick you up to recover in comfort at home. You should also have someone stay with you for at least 24 hours as the anesthesia completely wears off to keep an eye on you in the most important hours of your recovery.
Ongoing Support
It’s common to experience some pain and discomfort for the first couple of weeks after your surgery, but we prescribe pain medications to limit both as much as possible. To monitor your complete recovery, we’ll schedule regular check-ins to remove drains, talk about how you feel, and discuss any ways we can improve your recovery and results.
If you experience any of the following concerns during your recovery, call us immediately at 404-851-1998.
- Severe pain that does not respond to pain medication and is red or hot to the touch.
- A fever that reaches a temperature of 100.4℉ or greater.
- Excessive bleeding or bandages that feel too tight.
- Rashes or hives on your skin, wheezing, or tightness in the throat or chest. This can be a sign of a serious drug allergy.
- Calf pain or swelling in one leg. This can be caused by a blood clot and requires immediate attention to avoid a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event.
By paying close attention to every aspect of your recovery process, we ensure the highest-quality results possible. As you enjoy your new belly, you may also want to discuss additional options like CoolTone for improved muscle definition, or a breast surgery to balance the rest of your features. Artisan offers highly specialized surgeries, advanced aesthetic treatments, and comprehensive wellness options all under one roof. To plan your belly tuck in Atlanta or enjoy any of our other services, all it takes is a talk with our specialists!
Get the Conversation Started
Artisan makes it easy to get the care you deserve. With our virtual treatment planner, just answer a few simple questions, and a member of our team will reach out to you with personalized recommendations. If you’re more of a face-to-face person, request an appointment with the button below to talk with us in a one-on-one consultation.
