What to look for when searching for a Tummy Tuck Plastic Surgeon?
Finding a Board-Certified cosmetic surgeon who has plenty of experience in your procedure of choice is critical to getting the results you desire.
An abdominoplasty or Tummy Tuck has many variations from one surgeon to another, and we are also exposed to all kinds of marketing campaigns where surgeons promise to provide the best result, therefore a thoughtful education and research is necessary if we want to make sure that we’ve made the best decision.
VERY BASIC
1) CERTIFICATIONS
CARMINA CÁRDENAS MD.
BOARD CERTIFIED AESTHETIC, PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGEON
I specialize in after weight loss procedures, I’m a post bariatric patient myself, Weight loss and reconstructive surgery changed my life completely, after that I knew that I wanted everyone who had struggled with self esteem due to obesity to feel free and comfortable in their own body. I’m an advocate of safe, ethical and artistic plastic surgery.
CERTIFICATIONS
2) EXPERIENCE
Practice makes perfect!
1. Years of experience
Look for someone that has been in the field for a reasonable amount of years.
2. Average Tummy Tucks performed per year
Make sure that your surgeon has been performing Tummy Tucks frequently over the years.
Average number of procedures performed per year by Dr. Cardenas
3) REPUTATION
There are many online resources where you can get valuable information about your plastic surgeon, you may also look for groups of patients who can share their real experiences, the good and the bad and they can also help you with additional recommendations related to how to deal with your recovery once you are back home!
1. Real patient’s reviews
2. Ratings
FACEBOOK REVIEW
Daniel Jd
REALSELF REVIEW
Deelissh
GOOGLE REVIEW
Luisanna Dato
4) CONSISTENT RESULTS
1. Belly Button (size and position)
2. Incision distance from pubic area
3. Average inches in muscle repair
4. The number of procedures that will be combined with your Tummy Tuck
Start by discussing these topics with your surgeon, then look for before and after pictures, you should be able to determine if the pictures posted on their website are just a one-time thing or if the surgeon can really help you to achieve the results that you are expecting.
5) QUALITY OF CARE
1. Surgical facility certifications
2. Doctor and staff responsiveness
3. Recovery and after care
Will you go home right after the surgery? Will you have someone to help you in case of an emergency? The first 3-4 days are critical as your hemoglobin levels may drop after surgery, causing dizziness or even fainting. Iron infusions may be required to help your body recover quickly, cleaning your wounds will also be critical during this period and even taking a bath will be a very exhausting task.
Pain control during this stage is also very important, regular pain killers may not be sufficient and can lead to a painful experience..
6 PROCEDURES - 1 DOCTOR
OUR ROYAL TUMMY TUCK
An hour-glass effect can only be created by removing as much fat as possible from the waist area and lower back / love handles (always within safety standards), tightening the abdominal muscle to achieve real waist reduction, and increasing volume in the hip area to make it look bigger in proportion to the waist size.
THEREFORE DR. CARDENAS COMBINES 6 DIFFERENT PROCEDURES IN 1:
1. Excess skin resection.
The amount of skin removed will depend on the severity of the flaccid skin; a Tummy Tuck can be mini, short, extended or circumferential.
2. Muscle repair.
This refers to the number of inches that your abdominal muscles will be closed to create a smaller waist. Dr. Cardenas closes in average 6 inches per patient, it is important to know that to perform an aggressive muscle repair the patient must be breathing on their own, therefore no general anesthesia can be used.
3. Liposuction (waist and flanks).
A maximum of 2000 cc´s can be safely harvested in combination with a Tummy Tuck, Dr. Cardenas will remove that fat from your waist and love handles to reduce the waist size, it is important to be aware that liposuction and Tummy Tucks are not weight loss procedures, therefore, the closer you are to your ideal weight, the better the results that you’ll have.
4. Autologous dermal flap gluteal augmentation (If applicable)
5. Fat transfer to buttocks and hips.
Your own fat will be used to contour your buttocks and hips creating roundness and new curves; having realistic expectations is important, as your bone frame cannot be altered with plastic surgery.
6. Pubic lift.
This is a highly demanded procedure after a Tummy Tuck, as it is usually not included in it. It leaves Tummy Tuck patients with a flat upper abdomen but with a droopy and saggy pubic area, or even worse, with a protruding pubis if no reduction is performed.
Our Royal Tummy Tuck includes everything you need to enjoy a smooth and safe recovery plus a beautiful and renewed body shape to enjoy all the great things that you’ve accomplished in life.