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Negative Effects of Tummy Tucks

A tummy tuck, or an abdominoplasty, is a form of plastic surgery performed to improve the appearance of your abdomen. If you have flabby or stretched skin and muscles on your stomach, a tummy tuck could help. If you are considering one, be sure to speak to your doctor about the potential negative effects of tummy tucks.

  1. The Facts

    • Your surgeon will perform your tummy tuck in a hospital. You will be given general anesthesia and the procedure will take between two and six hours to complete. The surgeon will make an incision across your lower abdomen. She will remove excess skin and fatty tissue, then will stitch the incision closed. The tummy tuck will tighten and flatten your abdomen. Tummy tucks can sometimes also have negative effects on your appearance and your health.

    Immediate Effects

    • Negative effects of a tummy tuck that you might notice immediately include issues with the incision's healing and scarring. The incision the surgeon makes is large, and you can experience complications such as reopening and infection. The scar it leaves behind can be quite wide, especially if you've experienced trouble healing. The scar can detract from your appearance. You might also experience decreased sensation in the skin around the incision.

    Future Issues

    • For a woman who plans to have children in the future, a tummy tuck can have a negative effect on her pregnancies. During the procedure, the vertical muscles of the abdomen are tightened. During pregnancy, those muscles can become separated, leading to a hernia. If you have a tummy tuck and go on to lose more weight, the tightening effects of the surgery could be undone.

    Treatment

    • Your doctor can offer you treatment for the potential negative effects of a tummy tuck. If you develop an infection, draining the wound and a prescription of antibiotics can help. For a scar that is too large, a second surgery might help reduce its size. Hernias can be treated with surgery. If your tummy tuck is undone by further weight loss, having the procedure done again can remove the excess skin and tighten the muscles.

    Considerations

    • As with any surgical procedure, there will always be risks of negative effects with tummy tucks. You can help to reduce your risk of experiencing complications by seeking treatment for any liver or heart issues before undergoing surgery. Getting your blood pressure under control and quitting smoking can reduce your risks, too. If you are diabetic, keeping your blood sugar levels in check and steady can reduce your chances of developing an infection.

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