When your abdominal area becomes a problem due to excess skin and a sagging bulge, and diet and exercise offer you little to no help, you may feel the urge to seek cosmetic solutions. Though you might have shed pounds by dieting and putting in effort at the gym, your abdomen could still refuse to cooperate after pregnancy or significant weight loss.
Fortunately, there is help in Chicago for your aesthetic concerns. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Florence Mussat offers two popular procedures for patients who want to look fit and feel attractive in their personal or professional lives. Liposuction and abdominoplasty are excellent cosmetic enhancements that have proven to deliver outstanding aesthetic benefits.
Liposuction for Tummy Sculpting
When excess fat is the primary reason for your belly bulge, liposuction is an excellent option. It involves tiny incisions that allow Dr. Mussat to insert a specialized device known as a cannula. After introducing the thin, hollow cannula into the incisions, she suctions the unwanted fat cells. Dr. Mussat may use a tumescent solution comprised of saline and a local anesthetic or choose ultrasound-assisted liposuction for fat removal.
Once Dr. Mussat has removed the stubborn fat, she will apply soft bandages and an overlying compression garment to support incisions as you heal. Because the incisions are so small, they typically require no sutures. Though you will notice an immediate improvement, it will take a few months to realize full benefits.
Tummy Tuck Surgery
Reducing excess skin in the abdomen requires a more intricate procedure. Abdominoplasty removes excess skin and reinforces the abdominal wall. This plastic surgery requires lifting the skin to expose damaged abdominal muscles stretched by pregnancy or weight fluctuations.
A tummy tuck uses internal and external sutures, and recovery is longer and more involved than liposuction. Dr. Mussat employs multiple techniques for tummy tuck surgery, including a mini tummy tuck and a traditional tummy tuck. The primary difference is that the mini tuck only addresses the lower abdomen below the belly button.
Combining the Two
There are advantages to combining aesthetic procedures to address multiple cosmetic concerns. Such is the case with adding liposuction to tummy tuck surgery. Here, you can resolve all the problems associated with a post-pregnancy stomach – excess skin, fat, and a damaged abdominal wall.
Dr. Mussat typically employs liposuction with mini and traditional tummy tucks. It makes sense to remove lingering fat, even if you’ve lost most of your belly pouch.
Pairing procedures will reduce risk and save you time and money. Less time in the surgery room means a more affordable cost. And by combining your surgeries, you will only have one recovery time, which will be no longer than a tummy tuck recovery when performed as a stand-alone procedure.
What’s Best for You?
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Mussat and learn more about liposuction, abdominoplasty, or a combination procedure, contact us or call (312) 751-9000.
While Dr. Mussat will make every effort to ensure you get transformative, beautiful results from your tummy tuck surgery, you must do your part during the recovery process. You can achieve optimal benefits and avoid challenging complications by following post-surgery instructions, so it’s essential to understand the healing process to ensure a successful outcome.
Abdominoplasty is a complex cosmetic surgery that aims to eliminate excess abdominal skin and fat tissue and strengthen abdominal muscles for a firm, flat tummy. While you’re healing, you must pay extra attention to how you perform your daily activities. Let’s examine some tummy tuck recovery do’s and don’ts and learn more about recovery after a tummy tuck.
Tummy Tuck Recovery Do’s
Eat Fiber-Rich Foods to Avoid Constipation
Constipation is one issue that could occur after your surgery. While this condition is usually not severe enough to need medical attention, it could be a challenge while you are managing pain after your abdominoplasty.
Constipation may lead to excessive contracture of the abdominal muscles, which is the type of pressure you should avoid for the first few weeks until your incisions heal. To prevent bloating and constipation, eat a fiber-rich diet and drink plenty of water.
Sleep With Your Knees Bent
Lying down perfectly flat while resting or sleeping could be somewhat uncomfortable after your tummy tuck. The position can pull on your incisions and even cause the sutures to rupture. You should sleep with your knees slightly bent during the first weeks after surgery. Also, you could elevate the upper part of your body with several pillows for comfort and to prevent putting pressure on the surgical wounds.
Wear Your Compression Garment
We recommend a compression garment after your abdominoplasty because it helps reduce swelling, minimizes bruising, and makes you more comfortable. In addition, wearing this garment enhances your tummy tuck benefits while protecting and supporting the incisions.
Walk Regularly
Dr. Mussat suggests taking a gentle walk as soon as you wake up from the general anesthesia used during your surgery. As you heal, you should walk a little more each day. For example, you can start with a few steps around your bedroom, then around the house, and next, venture out of the house for a short walk. Walking helps reduce the swelling after your tummy tuck surgery and prevent blood clots.
Tummy Tuck Recovery Don’ts
Walk With a Straight Back
Tummy tuck incisions often extend from one hipbone to the other. After Dr. Mussat eliminates your flab, you may feel the remaining skin is too tight. Dr. Mussat will advise you to avoid walking with your back too straight for a week or two after surgery to avoid unnecessary pressure on your incisions.
Laugh, Cough, or Sneeze
It’s essential to avoid any kind of excessive pressure on your abdomen, so try not to laugh, cough, or sneeze for the first few weeks after surgery. Doing so can cause pain and even rupture your incisions.
Take Hot Baths
Taking a relaxing bath might seem like the reward you need while recovering from major surgery. Still, we ask that you do not submerge your incisions in water of any temperature. You can take showers instead. In addition, hot water promotes infection and excess bleeding, so settle for warm water to start.
Exercise
Don’t do any strenuous activities for six to eight weeks after your abdominoplasty. Stretching, twisting, and lifting heavy weights will cause discomfort and slow your healing process. Dr. Mussat will let you know when you can ramp up your activity level above light walking.
Learn More About the Best Tummy Tuck in Chicago
Contact Dr. Florence Mussat to learn how she can help give you your perfect body contour today. Schedule a private consultation with Dr. Mussat or call (312) 751-9000.
Pregnancy significantly affects a woman’s body. While these physical changes can be minimal in some women, others may experience lifelong functional issues, including chronic pain or urinary incontinence. These may grow worse after multiple pregnancies.
Pregnancy stretches and separates the abdominal muscles, causing a condition called diastasis recti. This muscle separation and weakness leave the lower back unstable and unsupported. In addition, weakness of the pelvic floor’s internal muscles causes urinary incontinence in some patients.
Though abdominoplasty is a cosmetic procedure, many patients have reported symptomatic relief from back discomfort and urinary incontinence after having this surgery.
What Is an Abdominoplasty?
Commonly known as a tummy tuck, abdominoplasty is a body contouring procedure designed to reshape the abdominal area into a slimmer, firmer midsection, predominantly through skin removal. While the surgical procedure addresses the unwanted effects of pregnancy or weight fluctuation, it can also benefit men and women who experience loose skin and stubborn fat. However, trimming excess skin isn’t the only benefit of a tummy tuck.
Post-Pregnancy Back Pain
While a tummy tuck might resolve your nagging backache, it is crucial to understand the cause of discomfort before determining if the procedure can help. For example, if your discomfort results from orthopedic disease or nerve damage, abdominoplasty is unlikely to help. Additionally, many patients have several different issues contributing to their back pain symptoms.
However, when your backache results from sagging abdominal skin, diastasis recti, poor posture, or other factors, a tummy tuck can provide you relief from your pain.
During your initial tummy tuck consultation in Chicago, Dr. Mussat will evaluate your abdominal concerns. Then, she will discuss your symptoms and determine whether abdominoplasty is appropriate for you.
Other Tummy Tuck Benefits
Some other commonly cited complaints abdominoplasty surgery can resolve include:
- Loose skin after pregnancy or weight loss
- Stubborn fat
- Stretch marks
- Separated abdominal muscles
- Poor posture
- Urinary incontinence
- Low self-esteem
When performed with other cosmetic surgeries, like breast improvement, Brazilian butt lift, or a labiaplasty, the combination of procedures is known as a mommy makeover.
Restore Your Pre-Pregnancy Body and Relieve Back Pain
Don’t spend another day suffering from the unwanted side effects of pregnancy, weight loss, or hormonal changes. To learn more about tummy tuck surgery and how it can help relieve your back pain and other issues while restoring your pre-motherhood figure, call Dr. Florence Mussat today. We look forward to helping you achieve your ideal outcome with a tummy tuck in Chicago.
Schedule a private consultation with Dr. Mussat or call (312) 751-9000.
Abdominoplasty, better known as a tummy tuck, is a popular cosmetic correction for women and men who struggle with loose skin and tissue in the abdominal area. The surgery is effective in reinforcing the abdominal wall and removing excess, sagging skin.
While recovery is more extensive than most cosmetic procedures, you can implement some practices patients to make your healing period shorter and more effective.
Most tummy tuck patients take approximately six weeks to feel completely healed. To ensure you recover in that timeframe, or perhaps faster, here are three tips to help you speed up the process.
1. Eat Right
Eating a healthy diet with lean proteins, fresh fruits, and vegetables and drinking plenty of water is essential to a speedy recovery. Fueling your body correctly will help hasten the healing process with less risk of complications.
We suggest you grocery shop in advance of your operation to ensure you have everything you need when you return home. Also, you may want to do food prep to have nutritious meals readily available after surgery.
2. Wear Your Compression Garment as Prescribed
After your tummy tuck, Dr. Mussat will fit you with a surgical garment designed to support your sutures and prevent excess swelling and inflammation. Make sure you wear it as instructed to speed up your recovery time.
3. Avoid Lifting Heavy Objects
During your recovery period, you should avoid lifting anything heavier than a gallon of milk for six to eight weeks. Also, don’t expect to feel well enough to stand up straight during recovery. To avoid straining your sutures, you may feel more comfortable staying hunched over for several days after surgery.
Other Suggestions to Consider
Here are some other tips to consider ensuring your tummy tuck recovery goes well and you heal correctly in the shortest amount of time.
- Take all prescription and over-the-counter medications as instructed.
- Have family and friends help you around the house.
- Don’t do any strenuous workouts for six weeks, or until Dr. Mussat clears you to do so.
- Walk around your house, yard, or street periodically to help circulation.
- Don’t smoke and limit alcohol intake.
- Get plenty of rest and sleep.
Why Choose Dr. Mussat to Perform Your Tummy Tuck?
Board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Florence Mussat has extensive training and experience in her craft. She has been in private practice in downtown Chicago for over 20 years.
She graduated with honors from the prestigious and world-renowned University R. Descartes School of Medicine in Paris. She completed her residency at the State University of New York Health Science Center. Currently, she serves as assistant clinical professor of surgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
If you would like more information about tummy tuck surgery, we are here for you. Contact Florence Mussat Cosmetic & Reconstructive Plastic Surgery in Chicago, Illinois, by calling (312) 751-9000 or scheduling a consultation online.
Valentine’s Day comes at the perfect time of year. The joy and excitement of the Christmas season are but a memory. As we eagerly begin to anticipate the arrival of spring, February brings us Valentine’s Day and, with it, a much-needed dose of fun, romance, and excitement.
With more and more people going the extra mile to look their best for Valentine’s Day, why not schedule a visit with Dr. Florence Mussat at her Chicago plastic surgery office?
Be on your way to a fresh, vibrant look with one of these 10 solutions from Dr. Mussat.
1. Restore Youthful Fullness to Your Face
Perhaps it’s due to genetics, aging, or simply your facial structure, but parts of your face could be lacking in volume and making you appear gaunt. Well, it is possible to enhance your facial volume and improve the appearance of your face with a facial fat transfer expertly performed by Dr. Mussat.
2. Fall in Love With Your Skin
Taking care of one’s skin is essential throughout the year, and there’s no better time than now to get back your radiant glow in time for Valentine’s Day with a nonsurgical facial rejuvenation treatment.
With medical-grade, topical retinoids, various conditions, including mild to moderate acne, signs of sun damage, freckles, fine lines, and wrinkles, can be treated.
3. Refresh Your Eyelids
Your eyes may be the window to your soul, but drooping eyelid skin or undereye bags could be concealing and aging your eyes, making you look tired, sad, or angry. If so, you could be a good candidate for an eyelid lift, also known as blepharoplasty. It could take years off your appearance and give your self-esteem a big boost.
4. Repair the Sun Damage
Even though summer is long gone, your skin could still be showing signs of too much sun with dryness, new lines, and wrinkles. Dr. Mussat offers a range of treatments to undo the harsh effects of summer, and just two of these are highlighted below.
Chemical Peel: Replaces thickened and damaged skin with fresh, youthful cells, eliminating uneven pigmentation and skin discoloration.
Microdermabrasion: By rubbing fine crystals across the skin with a medically-calibrated wand, the rough outer layer is removed, and new skin stimulated.
Laser Skin Rejuvenation: A concentrated beam of light is used to gently exfoliate the skin’s sun-damaged outer layer.
5. Reclaim Your Youthful Shape
Becoming a mother can be one of the most rewarding experiences. However, pregnancy and breastfeeding can leave you with unwelcome reminders such as stomach flab and flattened breasts.
While diet and exercise can go a long way towards reclaiming your youthful appeal, a mommy makeover as a Valentine’s gift to yourself could be all you need to restore your youthful figure.
6. Get Back Those Perky Breasts
Full, perky breasts may be a distant memory of the days before gravity, weight loss, pregnancy, or breastfeeding changed things. To regain confidence in your appearance this Valentine’s Day, a breast lift could be exactly what you need.
7. Slim Your Jawline
Whether it’s the result of age or weight gain, a double chin can be one of the most frustrating facial flaws to have. Through a facelift, Dr. Mussat can tighten loose skin under your chin and neck area, lift those sagging jowls and restore a youthful appearance.
8. Tone and Tighten
Are you plagued by problem areas of flab that won’t go away? Regardless of how much you exercise and eat healthily, do you find that lean, sexy stomach continues to elude you?
Well, you might consider a tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, which surgically removes excess skin and flesh from the abdomen and even repairs abdominal muscles damaged during pregnancy or weight gain.
9. Restore Those Smooth Contours
If you’ve lost a significant amount of weight either through diet, exercise, or bariatric surgery, you could now have excess skin in areas of the body where large amounts of fat used to be. Through one or more body contouring procedures, expertly performed by Dr. Mussat, you could be well on your way to having your body’s contours restored by Valentine’s Day.
10. Put Your Best Face Forward
Despite taking good care of yourself and trying to age gracefully, age-related changes in your face are still inevitable.
With facelift surgery, Dr. Mussat can tighten and lift the soft tissues of your face, tighten lax, excess skin and surgically reposition sagging facial tissue giving you a more youthful, rejuvenated look.
Regain Your Sexy, Youthful Look in Time for Valentine’s Day!
What better to get a self-confidence boost and bring some excitement back into your love life before Valentine’s Day than a visit to board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Florence Mussat in Chicago, IL?
Too look your absolute best before Valentine’s day, schedule a personal consultation or call (312) 751-9000 today!
