Abdominoplasty, often called a tummy tuck, allows patients from Northwest Indiana and the Chicago area a renewed sense of self-confidence and body image. This procedure often follows major weight loss, weight loss surgery, or pregnancy, when sagging skin and pockets of fat remain around the abdomen. A tummy tuck can help you achieve a sculpted, flatter abdomen. However, there’s more to do than scheduling your surgery; in fact, there are a few steps you can take prior to surgery to ensure the best possible, longest lasting results!
First of All, Your Consultation
At your consultation, Dr. Galante will review your health and medical history, and examine your areas of concern. This will lead him to recommend the best procedure(s) to achieve your personal goals. By adapting the plan to your personal needs, Dr. Galante is better able to help you set realistic goals and expectations leading up to a surgery date. Determining a “game plan” not only enables you to heal faster, it also allows for the best possible results over time, which is what you ultimately want.
Stay Active Before Your Tummy Tuck
Exercise helps you look and feel better. When preparing for your tummy tuck procedure, you can improve your body’s ability to heal from the procedure through regular exercise. Walking 30 to 45 minutes a day until the day before your procedure is a fantastic way to settle both mind and body while avoiding weight gain prior to your tummy tuck. If you need a little more direction, a gym membership and/or a personal trainer may be your best bet. This is a great way to stay the course. But, exercising doesn’t have to seem like work. Other options for physical activity include cycling, dancing, yoga or Pilates. Find something you enjoy and you’re more likely to stick with it!
Eat Well, Be Well
Perhaps the most important part of any health plan is your diet. It is often said that the abdomen is not sculpted in the gym but rather in the kitchen. The web is filled with numerous dieting and meal plans, both proven and obscure. Do a little research, and don’t hesitate to ask Dr. Galante or your personal physician for suggestions. Some weight loss programs, such as Weight Watchers, combine accountability via weekly weigh-ins along with a structured eating plan. The benefits to you include:
- Learning good habits
- Avoiding weight gain before your tummy tuck
- Being less likely to gain weight afterwards
The Bottom Line
The interval between your consultation with me at one of my two offices in Indiana and your tummy tuck is a perfect time to get stronger and healthier in preparation for your procedure. Not only will exercise and proper diet help you trim that unwanted fat around your belly before your surgery, it will also help fuel your body to heal post surgery. In a previous post, I review some tips for making tummy tuck recovery easier.
Review some of my tummy tuck before & after photos for inspiration. If you have questions or would like to come in and talk with me, contact us online or call 800-721-3244.
To your health and wellness,
Gus Galante, MD, FACS
Board-certified Northwest Indiana plastic surgeon
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