In addition, some surgeons are also certified by the American Board of Surgery, making them dual board-certified. ![]() Many likely have gone through some training, and some may be very capable surgeons, but if they are not certified by the ABPS, they are not plastic surgeons. The doctor might be a dermatologist or gynecologist or a general practitioner, but since there is no nationally recognized cosmetic surgery medical board, any doctor could claim to be a cosmetic surgeon. Here's why this all matters: Legally, any licensed physician can offer "cosmetic" procedures. The ABMS recognizes only one plastic surgery board-the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). ![]() Likewise, a doctor may claim to be "board-certified" by a board that isn't recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), a recognized agency approving medical specialty boards since 1934. First, while the terms are often used interchangeably, a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon are not the same thing. It's important to do your research before choosing a surgeon.įinding a qualified plastic surgeon can be trickier than you'd think. And beyond the cost of the surgery itself, you'll also need to be prepared to spend money on prescriptions and other pre-op and post-op medical supplies. ![]() If you are having a hernia repaired or if the surgery solves another medical problem (such excess skin from massive weight loss), some insurances may (key word: may) cover a small portion of the procedure. Typically, a tummy tuck is considered a cosmetic procedure and is not covered by insurance. It isn't cheap, and insurance likely won't cover it.Īccording to the ASAPS Cosmetic Surgery National Data Bank statistics, the 2015 national average was $5,891. That's because in these types of patients, "there is horizontal skin excess as well as vertical-it extends up the midline of the abdomen," says Macias. Patients who are interested in a tummy tuck after significant weight loss or weight loss surgery can expect a large, upside-down T-shaped scar across the abdomen. "A mini tummy tuck is one in which there is a very little amount of skin excess, usually below the belly button, and the incision leaves a scar a little longer than a C-section scar," explains Luis Macias, MD, a double board-certified plastic surgeon at Marina Plastic Surgery in Marina Del Rey, CA. You will also have a scar around your belly button, because it's actually relocated (!) during the procedure.įor patients who need just a small amount of skin removed and muscles tightens, a mini tummy tuck may be an option. For a traditional tummy tuck like I had, the scar will be from hip to hip and most doctors will do their best to ensure that the scar is hidden under the bikini line. Your scar size and location will depend on the type of abdominoplasty you need. There are a few different types of scars. Also, while tummy tucks can't directly address stretch marks, since the abdominal skin is pulled downward, any stretch marks may be moved, lowered, or potentially removed if they are part of the lower excess skin. "Tummy tucks should not be thought of as a weight loss procedure, but rather as a contouring procedure," he explains. While some patients may lose a few pounds from the procedure, Elliot Hirsch, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon at Hirsch Plastic Surgery in Los Angeles, warns that tummy tucks should be used when a patient is already at his or her ideal weight. If you've been thinking about getting a tummy tuck, here are a few things I learned along the way-and a few I wish I'd known beforehand. Whether the pooch was caused by pregnancy, significant weight loss, or genetics, removing excess skin and tightening lax muscles can provide both physical and mental benefits. ![]() In fact, tummy tucks were the third most common cosmetic procedure performed in 2015, with more than 180,000 done nationwide. While often considered a procedure for the rich and famous, tummy tucks (also known as abdominoplasties) are becoming increasingly common, with a whopping 431% increase in the number of procedures performed since 1997, when the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) started tracking it. All this came to a head one sunny day after an especially great few weeks at the gym, when a checkout girl asked me when I was due. Add to this some separated stomach muscles from three pregnancies, and I was pretty disheartened at how my midsection looked. In fact, I found that the more I worked out, the worse my stomach looked: Losing weight elsewhere on my body only made my pooch more pronounced. Despite my healthy eating habits and gym visits, I could not get that belly bulge to budge, even as my youngest hit his fifth birthday. I called my belly "Donut" because I could wad up all my post-baby stomach skin into something that resembled one (sans sprinkles). 8 Things You Should Know About A Tummy Tuck-From Someone Who Got One
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