Tummy Tuck Surgery San Jose, CA

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There are many reasons why the patients at our California clinic decide to have tummy tuck surgery in San Jose, CA. Some patients just feel more confident having a toner tummy. For others, it is because they feel uncomfortable as they go about their day-to-day life. A tummy tuck can help increase their mobility by alleviating that discomfort. While many people may think tummy tuck surgery is usually a cosmetic choice, the truth is that many of our patients come to us because they have had extreme weight loss. Others are women who have had children.

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Table Of Contents

5 Facts About Tummy Tuck Surgery Infographic
How To Recover From A Tummy Tuck
Medical Benefits Of Tummy Tuck
Medical Benefits Of Tummy Tuck Infographic
San Jose Tummy Tuck Statistics
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Dr. Kirk A. Churukian, San Jose Tummy Tuck Surgery

The medical name for tummy tuck surgery is abdominoplasty. Tummy tucks are surgical procedures that remove the excess skin around the stomach while tightening the abdominal muscles.

During the procedure, the surgeon will disconnect the skin from underlying tissue, then suture the abdominal tissue. The extra skin is cut away. A patient can lose up to 10 pounds in stomach fat with a San Jose, CA tummy tuck surgery.

5 Facts About Tummy Tuck Surgery Infographic

Although there are cosmetic reasons to have a tummy tuck procedure, there are also several health benefits for patients. When a person is dealing with excess skin and abdominal weakness following extreme weight loss and pregnancy, exercise can be difficult, whoever, tummy tuck surgery can help to make exercising easier by removing that excess skin. This is a benefit all tummy tuck patients can achieve, however, it is important to keep in mind that it does take a few months to reach this point because of the necessary recovery time needed from the surgery.

Another benefit for women who have tummy tuck surgery is that it can help with incontinence. One of the most common issues postpartum women have is incontinence because of the way the muscles of the abdomen had to stretch to make room for the baby, especially if the baby was bigger than average. While these tissues often shrink back, there are many women whose muscles don’t go all the way back. Statistics reveal that up to 35 percent of women who have gone through childbirth still experience incontinence 10 years later. A tummy tuck can actually return some of the tension to those muscles and help improve the issue.

Postpartum women also often suffer back pain because of abdominal muscle separation. When this occurs, the lower back muscles will often try to compensate for the abdominal muscle weakness, but this usually causes pain and discomfort. Up to 20 percent of all women who give birth can still be dealing with this back pain up to two years later. A tummy tuck can help ease this pain and discomfort.

How to Recover from a Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck surgery in San Jose, CA can help you achieve a slimmer silhouette and improve your self-confidence. However, in order to get the best results and heal properly, you have to take proper care of yourself after the procedure. Here are some tips for successfully recovering from a tummy tuck.

Wear compression garments. It is perfectly normal to experience swelling on your abdomen after a tummy tuck procedure. However, it can make you feel quite uncomfortable. That is why your plastic surgeon will advise you to wear a girdle or binder around your stomach during the healing process. This will reduce some of the swelling, increasing your comfort levels.

Eat a nutritious diet. Just like with other surgical procedures, it is important to eat a healthy diet after you get a tummy tuck. Consuming the right nutrients will help your body heal at a faster pace. Include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fatty fish and lean meats in your diet. Try to limit your consumption of processed foods.

Sleep on an incline. Elevating your body while you sleep can help reduce swelling following a tummy tuck procedure. You may also consider placing a pillow under your knees to reduce pressure on your stomach.

Do not partake in vigorous activities. It is critical to avoid heavy lifting and other vigorous activities for several weeks after your tummy tuck procedure. Participating in these activities too soon puts too much stress on your incision and increases your risk of complications.

Avoid too much bed rest. Although your plastic surgeon will want you to avoid strenuous activities for several weeks after your tummy tuck procedure, you do not want to be completely inactive. You should at least walk a little each day to improve blood flow and speed up the healing process.

Take antibiotics and painkillers as directed. After your tummy tuck procedure, you will be prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection and painkillers to improve your comfort levels. It is important to take both of these medications as directed to have a speedy recovery.

Drink plenty of water. It’s especially important to stay hydrated after a tummy tuck. The medications you are prescribed may lead to bloating and constipation, which can increase your discomfort. Water will help flush out your system.

Medical Benefits of Tummy Tuck

When people think about plastic surgery, they don’t often realize that there can be medical benefits too. Many people seek plastic surgery to correct something on their face or body so they can get the aesthetic appearance they are aiming for. A tummy tuck, or otherwise called abdominoplasty, is the process of tightening the stomach muscles while removing excess skin and fat in the area to create a more toned look. A person may have tried all the ab toning tips possible and dietary suggestions out there, only to still struggle to get their tummy to tighten the way they want. Tummy tucks have become increasingly popular over the years, but keep in mind that the motivations for getting them can be medical too.

Hernia Correction

Hernias happen when an organ gets pushed through the muscle that is supposed to be keeping it in place. There are many different types of hernias that can occur, and one of them is the ventral hernia, where the abdominal tissue or intestine protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal wall muscles. A surgeon for tummy tuck surgery San Jose, CA residents trust from Kirk A. Churukian, MD, FACS can provide a tummy tuck along with correcting the hernia, as strong stomach muscles reduce the risk of a hernia happening again.

Weight Loss

Patients who undergo surgeries such as sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and adjustable gastric band, may have a tummy tuck done at the same time. These patients, called Bariatric patients, can keep the weight they lost off much easier if their surgery included a tummy tuck. Patients who have had these two surgeries are less likely to regain weight in the years to come. To learn more, contact our San Jose tummy tuck surgery team today to have your questions answered.

Improved Posture

An added benefit of the tummy tuck is that it tones the abdominal muscles, and with these tighter muscles, patients will notice an improvement in their posture. Those who receive a tummy tuck are at a lower risk of being diagnosed with lordosis, an excessive inward curvature of the spinal column. As your San Jose surgery tummy tuck team can talk with you more about, tummy tucks have the potential to relieve some types of back pain too.

Urinary Incontinence

Those who have given vaginal birth may be affected by urinary incontinence. This condition entails an uncontrollable leaking of the bladder, particularly when laughing, sneezing, or coughing. Such a condition can, understandably, cause quite a bit of stress. No one should have to worry about not controlling their bladder when socializing, in the car, or at the workplace. A medical benefit of tummy tucks is that it can alleviate the severity of urinary incontinence. Your San Jose surgery tummy tuck surgeon can do this by creating a slight and safe obstruction to the bladder using the soft tissue around your pelvic area.

The following are some common questions about tummy tuck surgery San Jose, CA patients recommend:

MEDICAL BENEFITS OF TUMMY TUCK INFOGRAPHIC

San Jose Tummy Tuck Statistics

Tummy tucks are a type of cosmetic surgery that is performed to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen. They are often used to improve the appearance of the abdomen after pregnancy, weight loss, or other factors that have caused the abdomen to become stretched or saggy. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), there are approximately 140,000 tummy tucks are performed each year in the United States, making it the sixth-most common cosmetic surgery.

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No matter what the reason is why you are considering tummy tuck surgery in San Jose, CA, contact Kirk A. Churukian, MD, FACS to schedule a consultation and find out if this is the right procedure for you.

How long will it take to recover from my surgery?

Generally, it takes at least three months for a patient to be completely recovered from surgery – although each person is different and your recovery time may be shorter or longer. Most of the recovery occurs during the first few weeks of the procedure, however, patients still need to be careful until their doctor gives them the go-ahead to be able to resume all of their normal activities. You will still need to avoid any strenuous activities and avoid heavy lifting, running, weightlifting, playing sports, etc. Your doctor will provide you with a list of activities you should be avoiding.

Will I need a compression garment after my San Jose tummy tuck?

Yes, every patient must wear a compression garment following their procedure. It is very important to wear this garment for as long as your doctor instructs you to. How long that is will depend on how quickly you are healing and can be anywhere from two weeks to two months. The compression garment provides support to your abdomen and helps reduce swelling. It is a critical part of your healing and recovery.

How do I take care of my incision?

Your incision will be covered by some type of bandage or surgical dressing. This is to protect it from exposure to the external environment. Your doctor will provide detailed instructions on how to care for the area. You want to make sure to keep the incision area clean. You also want to avoid any activity that could cause the area to bleed or cause an injury. If there is any discharge coming from the incision or swelling around the area, make sure to contact your doctor immediately.

Will I have a drain?

Many patients do have drainage tubes that are placed under the skin around the surgical area. These tubes are only temporary. Once fluid stops building up, the tubes will be removed. Your doctor will also show you the proper care for these tubes and how to empty them.

What type of medications will I need to take?

It is very likely you will experience some pain or discomfort following your San Jose tummy tuck procedure. Your doctor will provide you with a prescription painkiller to help alleviate this discomfort. Since many of these medications will make you drowsy, it is important to be careful and it is also helpful to have another person staying with you, for at least the first couple of days after the procedure.

Your doctor will also give you antibiotics. This is to help ensure the surgical site will not become infected.

Make sure your doctor knows of any allergies to medications that you have and that it is noted in your medical records.