Many women look to tone and tighten their midsection after reaching their goal weight at the end of a weight loss journey, or after having children. Some patients choose the traditional tummy tuck approach, but many patients are now choosing liposuction assisted tummy tucks Awake Tummy Tuck. Dr. Johnson offers liposuction assisted tummy tuck procedures at his Dallas and Fort Worth practice locations. Find out why more people are leaning towards liposuction assisted, or ‘awake’ tummy tucks in this blog. Abdominoplasty, or traditional tummy tuck, is major surgery. During this procedure, the surgeon makes a cut from hip to hip, just above the pubic area. Another incision is made to free the skin from the body, creating a large flap. This flap is pulled down, and excess skin and fat are cut away. Traditional tummy tuck procedures are highly invasive, require general anesthesia, and also result in significant downtime during recovery.
Recovery from Surgical Traditional Tummy Tuck Procedure
Recovery from a tummy tuck can be uncomfortable, and it will take some time before you get back to your regular routine. You will not be able to drive a car or even sit upright for several weeks post-op. Full recovery can take three to six months. Traditional abdominoplasty patients will also end up with large scars from surgical incisions, which may be a deal-breaker for some individuals.
Awake or Avelar Tummy Tuck
An awake tummy tuck, also known as Avelar abdominoplasty, is becoming an attractive alternative to regular tummy tuck procedures. ‘Awake’ tummy tucks use laser liposuction first to remove excess fat and reshape the midsection. Dr. Johnson uses SmartLipo Laser Liposuction to melt unwanted fat and drain it away. A small incision is made in the area to be treated, and a laser fiber is inserted into the cut. The heat of the laser melts away the targeted fat. After the liposuction portion of the Avelar abdominoplasty is completed, any excess skin is removed using smaller cuts than the traditional procedures, which can help to minimize scarring. The recovery after the awake tummy tuck procedure is reduced in comparison to the traditional treatment, with patients returning to their normal routines in just a few days. Full recovery from the procedure also takes significantly less time than regular abdominoplasty. Awake tummy tucks use Tumescent Liposuction to deliver local anesthesia versus the general anesthesia used with traditional surgery – hence the “awake” part. Ideal candidates for either procedure are typically those individuals who have a larger area of skin and bulges of fat to remove.
If you are considering an Avelar awake abdominoplasty and want to know if you are a good candidate for the procedure, call Dr. Johnson today at (214) 643-8665 to set up a consultation. Awake Tummy Tucks and Mommy Makeovers are performed at both Innovations Medical’s Dallas and Fort Worth practice locations.