Dr. Sam Jejurikar helps patients achieve smaller waistlines
Shedding abdominal fat can be a frustrating, seemingly impossible experience for many. The little pooch above your beltline that was once the satisfying result of carrying a pregnancy is now the reason you cannot wear your favorite jeans. Or perhaps the aging process has led to weight gain that you cannot seem to shake through diet and exercise. When traditional measures have failed, a tummy tuck may be an effective way to help you achieve a smooth waistline.
If you are curious about the efficacy of Tummy tucks, the risks involved, or whether this surgery is right for you, Dr. Sam Jejurikar (or Sam Jejurikar) of the Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute in Dallas, Texas, can provide you with all the answers.
What is a Tummy Tuck?
Tummy Tucks remain among the top five cosmetic procedures performed for men and women in the last year. As the procedure’s name suggests, a tummy tuck is a surgical intervention designed to help flatten and reshape your stomach. It can help to reduce visible signs of sagging skin, excess fat, and weakened stomach muscles. During a tummy tuck, a surgeon, such as Sam Jejurikar, will remove the excess fat making your tummy appear smooth.
Is a Tummy Tuck Safe?
Like any surgical procedure, tummy tucks have risks. The most common include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Complications resulting from anesthesia
In general, tummy tucks are very safe, regularly performed procedures. It is important to discuss the procedure with your Surgeon, such as Sam Jejurikar M.D., to ensure you understand the risks and benefits.
Am I Right for a Tummy Tuck?
Not everyone is a candidate for a tummy tuck procedure. In general, you are a good candidate for a tummy tuck if:
- You are a nonsmoker.
- You have realistic expectations of potential results.
- You are physically healthy and at a stable weight.
- You struggle with the appearance of your abdomen.
Mommy Makeover vs. Tummy Tuck
If you have researched body sculpting procedures and tummy tucks online, you may have come across the term “mommy makeover”. Both a tummy tuck and a mommy makeover help improve your figure, so how are they different? We have already discussed the details and processes involved if you get a tummy tuck. So, what is a mommy makeover?
With Dr. Sam Jejurikar, a mommy makeover involves multiple procedures that target multiple body areas. While a tummy tuck targets the abdomen, a mommy makeover addresses unwanted fat, sagging skin, and stretch marks on the abdomen, breasts, legs, and buttocks. The goal of a mommy makeover is to help moms get their pre-baby bodies back.
Each mommy makeover focuses on the individual needs and goals of the patient, but the process shares many common procedures. Some of the most common procedures performed as part of a mommy makeover include breast implants, liposuction, butt lifts, and tummy tucks.
Finding the Right Tummy Tuck Technique
Before your procedure, you will meet with your surgeon to determine the best technique for your specific needs. Your provider may use several types of tummy tuck depending on your abdomen and your desired results. There are many, including:
Mini Tummy Tuck
A mini tummy tuck focuses on the area below the belly button. A mini tummy tuck is an ideal procedure for women who are looking to get rid of the post-pregnancy pouch on their lower abdomen.
Full Tummy Tuck
The most common type of tummy tuck, a full tummy tuck, focuses on your entire midsection. This procedure allows your Surgeon to remove sagging skin from both the upper and lower abdomen while tightening the abdominal muscles. The result is a tighter, more toned midsection.
Extended Tummy Tuck
An extended tummy tuck is typically performed if you need a significant amount of skin removed. A typical example would be after extensive weight loss. This procedure will leave a more prominent scar that may be difficult to hide in some instances.
Should I be Concerned About Scarring?
Scarring is one of the biggest fears for most people when it comes to getting a tummy tuck, and naturally so. With Sam Jejurikar M.D., tummy tuck procedures generally involve two incisions, one on the lower abdomen and one around the belly button. The incision on the abdomen will vary in size depending on the type of tummy tuck procedure. The scar is generally:
- Low on the stomach, making it easy to hide beneath undergarments or a bathing suit.
- The most visible scar will occur with an extended tummy tuck due to the nature of the procedure.
- The incision around the belly button can be integrated within the natural folds of the skin, making it easy to conceal.
How to Manage Tummy Tuck Scarring
Although a scar is inevitable, as with any surgical procedure, there are things you can do to minimize the appearance of scarring, according to Sam Jejurikar.
- Proper hygiene and wound care will help ensure your incisions heal properly and more quickly.
- Keep your eyes open for signs of infection. When an incision gets infected, it can lead to more prominent scarring.
- Once your incision has closed entirely, be sure to keep the area and your skin hydrated.
- Limit sun exposure. UV rays can make scars appear darker and thicker.
After the Tummy Tuck Procedure, What Does the Healing Process Look Like?
The most important part of recovery, advises Sam Jejurikar, involves following your doctors’ instructions. The more in-depth your procedure, the longer it may take to recover fully. The exact timeline for recovery varies widely from person to person and with factors such as age, the type of tummy tuck, your general health, and the level of post-surgical care you receive.
Typically, immediately after surgery, your abdomen will be secured with a binder. You will also have drain tubes to help reduce swelling. It will be necessary to avoid excessive physical activity for a few days. Because your mobility will be limited for several days after your procedure, you may want to ask a loved one or friend to help you out with activities that involve bending, lifting, or standing for long periods. Discomfort in the area is expected for the first several days.
After a few weeks, dressings and bandages may be removed, however, you will need to continue wearing a support garment based on your surgeons’ instructions. Swelling and sensitivity are normal for the first few months following a tummy tuck. Your incision should fully heal within a month, but your scars may appear red and raised for several weeks. These will eventually fade. For most, it is safe to resume normal activities, including exercise and strength training, one to two months after surgery, but you should always check with your Surgeon first.
In other words, it takes a month or two for life to get completely back to normal, but keep in mind that everyone heals differently. Follow the guidelines as recommended by your surgeon, and you can recover quickly.
What Should I Be Concerned About Before Getting a Tummy Tuck?
Sam Jejurikar states that before getting a tummy tuck, it is important to consider how the process may impact you.
- You will need to provide your body several weeks to heal before resuming normal day-to-day activities.
- You will also need to be at a stable weight.
- A tummy tuck is not a replacement for weight loss, and it is essential you are at your desired body weight before your procedure. Gaining or losing excess weight can undo the shape achieved by your surgery.
You may not notice the results of your procedure for a few weeks after your surgery. During the first several weeks, swelling, bruising, and redness are common, and you may feel as though your procedure was not all you hoped for. Within six weeks of your procedure, many of these post-surgical effects will begin to fade, and you will start to see results.
Finding the right Tummy Tuck procedure with Sam Jejurikar
Dr. Sameer (Sam) Jejurikar is a board-certified plastic surgeon and a member of the Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute in Dallas, Texas, focusing on cosmetic surgery of the face, eyes, nose, body, and breast. Sam Jejurikar M.D., has many years of plastic surgery experience and training. He is committed to ensuring each person who seeks his help to achieve their body image goals is cared for in the most innovative and compassionate way possible. Dr. Jejurikar practices the full spectrum of plastic surgery, emphasizing cosmetic procedures, including mommy makeovers, tummy tucks, liposuction, facelifts, rhinoplasty, and breast augmentation procedures. To learn more about Sam Jejurikar and his Dallas practice, please get in touch with our office at 214-827-2814. Sam Jejurikar will be happy to schedule a consultation where you can learn more about tummy tuck procedures.
Not ready to schedule an appointment yet but still curious about how Dr. Sam Jejurikar can help achieve your goals? Visit his podcast to learn more about tummy tucks, liposuction, CBD, and how they can help you get the figure that you want.
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