9101 N. Central Expwy.
Suite 600, Dallas, TX 75231
Tel: 214.827.2814

What are my limitations after Dallas Mommy Makeover? Dr. Sam Jejurikar at the Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute

Tag Archives: abdominoplasty

It is common for patients to negotiate an appropriate level of activity after undergoing tummy tuck, breast augmentation, liposuction, or any other combination of surgeries that make up a Dallas mommy makeover. The thought is, if they can convince me that they need less time to recover than other patients, somehow the surgery will be lessened in magnitude, or that they will be able to recover more quickly after the procedure.

Childbirth takes a dramatic toll on the female body. To reverse those changes with a mommy makeover, significant surgery is involved. With a Dallas tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), in addition to removing skin, extensive sculpting of the waist and upper abdomen is performed with liposuction, and the muscles of the abdominal wall are significantly tightened. Undue straining for a period of time after surgery can disrupt the sutures, and lead to a less then desirable postoperative result. In addition, straining after surgery can cause problems with wound disruption and bleeding, not to mention prolonged swelling in the abdomen, breasts, and lower extremities.

I usually recommend that my patients take 1-2 weeks off of work after surgery. Some patients will take less time and others more, depending on the level of physical exertion required at their work place. I also strongly advise my patients to refrain from any vigorous exercise for 6-8 weeks after surgery. Although it is important to walk almost immediately after surgery to prevent blood clots and respiratory problems, too much activity can lead to infection, bleeding, and wound healing problems.

Ultimately, to get the best result after mommy makeover, a patient has to allow herself the appropriate amount of time to recover. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Jejurikar’s office at 214-827-2814.

Many patients who have lost massive amounts of weight come to the office inquiring about panniculectomy. They have been told by their friends or by other physicians that it is an equivalent operation to tummy tuck (abdominoplasty).

Panniculectomy does have some pleasing effects, but it is not the same thing as an abdominoplasty. With a tummy tuck, the excessive skin of the abdominal wall is removed, the belly button is reshaped, and the abdominal wall is tightened extensively. Oftentimes, liposuction is also performed with this to help provide the patient with a narrower waistline and a more pleasing figure.

Panniculectomy is a functional operation. Specifically, excessive skin located below the belly button is removed as a wedge resection. There is no significant undermining of the skin above the belly button, so patients are still left with a significant amount of redundant skin after this operation. In addition, the belly button is not reshaped, the abdominal wall is not re-tightened, and no liposuction is performed.

Both operations have significant uses, and there is a place for both, but it is important that patients understand the key differences between these procedures.

Should you have any questions about body contouring procedures, contact Dr. Jejurikar at 214-827-2814.

Virtually no patient comes to the office requesting a long scar. In fact, this is the major draw back to abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery for most patients.

Although the scar cannot be eliminated with this operation, Dr. Jejurikar’s goal is to place it in as cosmetically acceptable position as possible. He asks his patients to wear either a bathing suit bottom or an undergarment they would like to be able to wear after surgery, and makes every attempt to design the incision to fall in this location. In addition, he attempts to close the scar as meticulously as possible, leading to as fine a scar as possible. Even with this, in some cases, the scars heal thicker and wider than desired. In these cases, topical medications or corticosteroid injections may be needed to improve the scar. In rare cases, a scar revision in which the scar is excised is required. In some patients, scarring must be treated aggressively for several months to 2 years after the procedure.

Should you have any questions regarding abdominoplasty, the location of the incisions, or scarring, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Jejurikar at 214-827-2814.

Many patients come to the office inquiring about mini tummy tucks. The rationale behind this is quite clear. They would like a smaller scar, and believe that there is very little difference between a mini tummy tuck and a standard tummy tuck.

There are key differences between the operations. In a mini tummy tuck, there is very little separation of the skin from the abdominal wall muscles, meaning that less skin can be removed. In addition, there is usually no tightening of the abdominal wall muscles, particularly in the abdominal wall above the belly button. Therefore, if a patient has upper abdominal bulging or fullness, a mini tummy tuck doesn’t correct it. Finally, there is no reshaping of the belly button with a mini tummy tuck.

An advantage of a mini tummy tuck, however, is that, given there is less lifting of the skin from the abdominal wall muscle, liposuction of the entire abdominal wall and flanks can be performed much more extensively and much more safely. This is because there is less chance of wound healing complications.

Ultimately, mini tummy tucks are best for women that have undergone pregnancy and have only small lower abdominal pooches and only minimal to moderate changes to their abdominal wall. It also can be good for men who have lost large amounts of weight. For women that have bulging of the upper and lower abdomen with significant excessive skin and stretch marks, a full tummy tuck is almost always a better option.

Should you have additional questions, contact Dr. Jejurikar at 214-827-2814.

Many patients ask if their muscles truly need to be tightened during a tummy tuck. For most patients, the answer is yes. After pregnancy or massive weight loss, many women develop a condition known as rectus diastasis. With this condition, the midline vertical muscles that extend from the sternum and rib cage to the pubic bone, known as the rectus abdominis muscle, separate in the midline. This leaves a gap that was not present before pregnancy or weight loss. The gap is not indicative of muscle weakness, but it does lead to an abnormal bulge in the upper abdomen. As well, it can contribute to an overhanging skin apron in the lower abdomen.

Because this is not indicative of muscle weakness, performing abdominal wall exercises to strengthen the rectus muscles do not considerably improve this. The only true way to fix the abdominal bulging is to tighten these muscles by bringing them back together in the midline. As of now, this can only be accomplished with surgery, with the placement of multiple sutures to restore the overall integrity of the abdominal wall.

Obviously, removal of skin and reshaping the belly button are also integral portions of an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). For most patients, however, failure to tighten the muscles of the midline abdominal wall would lead to less than optimal results.

For additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Jejurikar via the web or via telephone at 214-827-2814.

Having a child usually is the one of the most magical and emotionally-fulfilling experiences of a woman’s life. Unfortunately, the physical toll that pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding can have on a woman’s body often is devastating. Even with proper diet and exercise, it usually is nearly impossible to restore a youthful, pre-pregnancy body.

Women come in with a litany of complaints, including loosening and bulging of the abdominal wall muscles, stretching and loosening of the skin of the breasts, thighs, and abdomen, and extra fat of the belly, back and thighs. For those women out there who want a firmer, tighter body, even after childbirth, there is the Mommy Makeover. This cosmetic procedure is individualized for each patient. One patient may need a breast lift and a tummy tuck; another may opt for liposuction and breast augmentation. No two patients are the same, so the mommy makeover combines the best of several popular procedures to restore a youthful, pre-pregnancy body.

Through the end of October 2009, we are offering 10% of all surgeon’s fees on breast and body contouring surgery. Call today (214-827-2814) to schedule a consultation!

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9101 N. Central Expwy.
Suite 600, Dallas, TX 75231
Tel: 214.827.2814

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