Tummy tuck surgery Oakland COunty

How Long Do Tummy Tuck Results Last?

Bloomfield Hills, MI– A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures today. This outpatient surgery consists of making an incision just above the pubic hairline, taking out undesired skin and fat, possibly tightening abdominal muscles and tightening up the abdominal wall, then suturing up the cut. While results will be seen immediately, many patients wonder about the long-term outcome of this procedure.

Preparing for Success

As with any surgery, preparation will help you achieve optimal results. Detroit-area plastic surgeon Dr. Ali notes, “To obtain the best outcome possible for a tummy tuck, I strongly urge that patients get ready beforehand. While aftercare is also crucial in maintaining long-term results, pre-operative preparation is key.”

For those preparing to undergo an abdominoplasty, here are some ways to prepare:

  • Smokers should stop smoking prior to surgery, ideally at least a few days beforehand.
  • Those taking aspirin or other blood-thinning or anti-inflammatory medications should avoid them before surgery, as these might lead to excessive bleeding or hemorrhaging during the procedure.
  • Patients should be within about 10% of their ideal weight before the surgery. This weight should be maintained as long as possible following the surgery (months, if possible).
  • Patients should maintain a healthy diet immediately before and after the procedure for the best results.

Furthermore, a tummy tuck is not for everyone. Those still planning to have children should wait until they are done, as pregnancy can drastically disrupt healing after abdominoplasty. Those looking to lose a massive amount of weight should delay a tummy tuck until they are closer to their ideal weight.

“As always,” reminds Dr. Ali, “consulting with your plastic surgeon is absolutely necessary for attaining your ideal body. Your doctor will develop a care plan for you tailored exactly to your needs as well as unique anatomy and physiology.”

Short-term Recovery

Since a tummy tuck requires a substantial incision and much tissue removal, patients should expect to be in recovery for about 6 weeks after surgery. Depending on what type of abdominoplasty was done, healing time and results will vary from person to person. It’s possible that final results will only be seen 6-8 months after the procedure.

During recovery, a healthy diet is essential to healing. “Please be sure to rest and drink water. Eat well, and include plenty of vegetables and fruits in your diet to aid your body in achieving lasting results,” Dr. Ali asks of his patients.

Patients should also avoid strenuous activity – particularly of the abdominal area- for several weeks following surgery. It may help to elevate the abdomen when lying in bed.

Long-term Results

“As long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle post-procedure, there’s no reason a tummy tuck can’t last you the rest of your life,” says Dr. Ali.

There will be scarring, as the incisions made during tummy tucks are generally substantial. The good news is that these scars are usually quite low on the body, and can be easily hidden by undergarments and bathing suits.

The important thing is to keep new weight off. “Although fat tissue has been removed,” Dr. Ali explains, “the leftover adipose tissue can still grow with weight gain. This can happen to males and females alike and should be avoided.”

During follow-up visits with the plastic surgeon, periodic evaluations will be done to determine the success of the procedure.

While gravity and the aging process are ongoing adversaries for those who have had tummy tucks, patients can always undergo another procedure later on. “You can have your body contour reshaped throughout your life to keep the shape you love,” says Dr. Ali. “We’re happy to consult with you on these and any other aesthetic concerns you may have.”

To get started on your flatter stomach, schedule an appointment with Dr. Ali today! You can also call 855-335-7200 to speak with the office directly.
About Us: Dr. M. Azhar Ali is a Board-certified, Detroit area plastic surgeon who has won many awards. He and his team are experienced and knowledgeable aesthetic care professionals who are skilled in providing treatments like tummy tucks. The team at Amae Plastic Surgery Center offer competent and compassionate care to all patients.

© 2017 Millionairium and Dr. Ali. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Millionairium and Dr. Ali are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

stretch mark removal

Is It Possible to Get Rid of Abdominal Stretch Marks?

Bloomfield Hills, MI – Be it from weight fluctuation, pregnancy, or other lifestyle changes, it can be difficult to deal with stretch marks in the abdominal area. Since stretch marks reach down to deeper layers of skin, they are difficult to rid of and may be bothersome or unsightly. Luckily, there is some help available.

Topical Remedies

Certain creams and other topical treatments can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Here are some that can work for you:

  • Moisturize! Topical moisturizers hydrate your skin and can minimize wear and tear if your skin needs to stretch further.
  • Lotion on old stretch marks can help minimize their appearance but works best on new marks.
  • Vitamin A: Tretinoin (Retin-A) is derived from vitamin A and is prescribed by a doctor. It can increase your skin’s production of elastin and collagen, proteins that help your skin maintain its vitality. Note: This should not be used if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant soon.
  • Glycolic wash/pads: These products can help increase production of collagen due to their alpha hydroxyl content. Ask your doctor for the most effective versions available.

Lifestyle Remedies

You’re likely sick of hearing the advice to “eat well and exercise,” but these words of wisdom have their place in skin repair as well. Try these tricks to reduce the appearance of stretch marks:

  • Eat your vitamins. Fruits and vegetables are high in the nutrients your skin needs to rejuvenate itself. Avoid refined sugar and foods with a high glycemic index; regulating hormones in this way can keep your skin looking healthier. Foods with antioxidants, like blueberries, pomegranates, and green tea can help boost your skin’s hydration.
  • Hydrate. Water’s importance cannot be understated in its role of keeping skin smooth and supple. Try to drink 6-8 glasses of water per day.
  • Hit the gym. Doing strength training and weight-bearing exercise can firm up skin. Target your approach to the abdominal area, balancing the exercise with back-strengthening activities as well. By firming your skin, you can reduce the look of stretch marks.

 

Laser Options

In cases of severe discoloration or skin distortion, surgery may be the best option. Here are some options that can work well:

  • Vascular laser treatment (also called a pulsed dye laser): This treatment is best used on new stretch marks. It can decrease redness in the marks’ initial stages.
  • Laser resurfacing (also called fractional laser treatment): For small areas with older stretch marks, this procedure can smooth over edges and improve overall skin tone.

 

Surgical Options

Sometimes, if no other alternative has proven effective, surgery may be the only option. Here are two to be considered:

  • Tummy tuck (also called abdominoplasty): This procedure literally cuts the stretch marks from your body, leaving you with a flatter, smoother abdomen. While there will be a new scar from hip to hip, it can easily be covered by undergarments or a bathing suit.
  • Mommy makeover: This is a combination of plastic surgeries, suited to the new mother. This series of treatments, all done at once, can instantly reduce the visibility of stretch marks.

 

No matter how you decide to diminish the appearance of your stretch marks, you can schedule a consultation with award-winning Detroit area plastic surgeon Dr. Ali.

To find out more about how to get rid of stretch marks, or to get your own detailed surgical consultation, contact Dr. Ali’s office today!

© 2017 Millionairium and Dr. Ali. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Millionairium and Dr. Ali are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

momy

How to Get a Flatter Tummy in Far Less Time

Detroit, Mi – The secret to losing excess fat off of our stomachs is to eat less and exercise more. These are the facts that are drilled into our heads starting at tender young ages. Why, then, do half of Americans sport dangerous belly fat? If losing weight is so simple, we should all be sporting figures that would make the Kardashians envious.

Detroit Plastic Surgeon Dr. Ali has the answer. He says, “Losing weight can be easy when we are younger. But as we age, and after lifetime changes like childbirth, our metabolism slows down, skin loses its elasticity and hormones can spiral out of control.”

Dr. Ali offers three solutions to people who find that they have too much belly fat and not enough self-esteem to go around.

The procedures he recommends include Liposuction, Tummy Tucks and what he refers to as a Mommy Makeover.

Rid the Fat with Liposuction

Considered one of the most commonly performed Plastic Surgery procedures, Liposuction has up until recently been requested most by female patients. Males, however, are increasingly asking for lipo and the trend has only ramped up in recent years.

Women request liposuction to rid their bodies of fat deposits in the lower abdomen, hips, and the upper outer thighs (also referred to as “Saddle Bags”).

“These areas are tough to eliminate with exercise alone,” says Dr. Ali.

Men are more concerned with fat in their abdomen, chest and love handles, which can also be referred to as their “Spare Tire”.

The Liposuction procedure is designed to remove the fat or burn it away, depending on the techniques applied, and are the fastest way to a flatter tummy, no exercise or dieting required.

Restore Stomach Contour with a Tummy Tuck

When aging, pregnancy and extreme weight loss have caused the stomach to lose its contour, Dr. Ali will recommend a Tummy Tuck.

Dr. Ali says, “Fat deposits that occur during pregnancy are often resistant to exercise and dieting.” He adds that women who have recently given birth can experience decreased muscle tone and skin sag. For these ailments, Dr. Ali will recommend a Tummy Tuck.

Considered the most popular procedure among women post-childbirth, a Tummy Tuck (abdominoplasty) will restore the skin’s resiliency and the integrity of the abdominal muscles.

If excess skin, stretch marks or a saggy belly are a concern, a Tummy Tuck can give the patient the flat tummy they hope for.

A Mommy Makeover Restores Pre-Pregnancy Bodies

For women who want to get their pre-pregnancy bodies back, Dr. Ali may recommend a full Mommy Makeover, which involves several plastic surgeries performed at the same time.

In addition to giving the patient a flatter tummy with liposuction and/or a tummy tuck, many patients also request a breast lift and/or augmentation.

“There is a benefit to having all of these procedures done at once,” says Dr. Ali. “For one, a woman willonly need to recover a single time. This is ideal for busy moms who need to be active to take care of their children.”

Dr. Ali is one of the leading plastic surgeons in Detroit, proudly serving the areas of Bloomfield Hills, Rochester Hills, Troy, Clarkston and Farmington Hills.

If you have tried to lose stubborn belly fat and you find that dieting and exercise don’t do a bit of good, call Dr. Ali for a consultation at (855) 335-7200.

© 2016 Millionairium and Dr. Ali. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Millionairium and Dr. Ali are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

sensual woman in bra and jeans - darkness

Types of Tummy Tucks Explained

Bloomfield Hills, MI – For people who are concerned about loose skin around their middle, a tummy tuck is a wonderful plastic surgery option. It is also a great solution for women who have weakened abdominal muscles after pregnancy. It can provide a beautifully contoured figure, but there is more than one type of tummy tuck.

“An abdominoplasty removes loose skin, tightens muscles and removes stubborn pockets of fat,” says Bloomfield Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Ali. “Each patient has different needs and different post-surgery goals, so we tailor our approach to meet those needs. At your initial consultation, your plastic surgeon can explain the main approaches and help you choose the one that is best for you.”

The Mini
The mini tummy tuck removes a smaller portion of skin and requires a smaller incision. They are ideal for patients who are healthy and at or near their ideal weight, but have a stubborn pouch of fat around their mid-section.

The surgeon makes an incision in the lower abdominal wall to the belly button. Then, excess skin will be removed, muscles will be tightened, and the skin will be pulled tight to close the incision. Recovery times vary, but most patients can return to normal daily activities in about a week.

The Traditional
The traditional tummy tuck is ideal for patients who are healthy, but who have a more substantial amount of loose skin to be removed. It is typically used on patients who have lost a significant amount of weight, or women who have excess fat or weak abdominal muscles following a pregnancy.

The incision will be slightly larger than with a mini tummy tuck, and is typically a straight line running from hip bone to hip bone. The surgeon may use liposuction to remove excess fat. Excess skin will be removed and abdominal muscles will be tightened before closing the incision.

Because a larger portion of extra skin is removed, the belly button will most likely be repositioned. The average recovery time is about four weeks.

The Extended
An extended tummy tuck is for patients who have a significant amount of loose, sagging skin in their midsection, as well as their hips and lower back. Excess fat in these areas will also be removed during the procedure.

A long incision is made that reaches around the hips to the lower back. Liposuction will remove excess fat and drain an excess fluid in the area. The muscles will be tightened in both the abdomen and around the hips, and loose skin will be removed before closing the incision. The belly button will also be repositioned.

Recovery typically involves a short stay in the hospital, followed by about a month of at-home recovery. Before beginning activities that require physical exertion, patients must be cleared by their surgeon.

At your initial consultation with Dr. Ali, he will discuss what procedure will be best for you. He’ll take into account the amount of skin that needs to be removed, as well as the integrity of the abdominal muscles.

If you are interested in removing excess fat and sculpting your mid-section, schedule a consultation with Dr. Ali.

© 2016 Millionairium and Dr. Ali. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Millionairium and Dr. Ali are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

Mother Breastfeeding Baby In Nursery

When Can I Have a Tummy Tuck After Having a Baby?

Bloomfield Hills, MI – After the first few weeks of enjoying a new baby are over and routine starts to set in, many mothers wonder when they can visit a Michigan plastic surgeon to help get their bodies in pre-baby shape. But just how long should you wait after giving birth to have a tummy tuck?

“You should never have a tummy tuck right after giving birth,” says Dr. Ali. “Some women may think it makes sense to have the procedure while they’re still in the hospital, or even right after a c-section, but that isn’t the case. Your body needs time to bounce back before having an abdominoplasty procedure.”

There are several reasons for this.

  1. Hormones can affect the elasticity of skin, and the post-partum body will be full of higher levels of hormones.
  2. There is an increased risk of bleeding, including from the uterus, in a post-partum woman.
  3. To have the most success, a woman should be at or around her ideal weight, and right after a baby is born, that most likely won’t be the case.
  4. Tummy tucks require a recovery period where it will be difficult to lift anything, especially a newborn.
  5. Women who are breastfeeding still have high levels of hormones in their bodies, and anesthesia and other medication can be transferred through a mother’s milk to her newborn.

So when is the best time to have a tummy tuck?

“I always advise my patients to wait at least six months after their baby is born, longer if they are breastfeeding,” says Dr. Ali. “By this time, the influx of hormones will have started to recede, the weight will be closer to normal and the stretching of the abdomen will have recovered.”

These are important for several reasons. Waiting at least six months following the birth will allow for the stitches to hold better in the tissue because the tissue will no longer be softened to accommodate the baby.

For lasting results from a tummy tuck, it’s important to be at or near your ideal weight before having the procedure. A tummy tuck isn’t a weight loss procedure – while some fat and tissue will be removed, it’s primary goal is to tighten loose skin and give the abdomen a smoother, flatter appearance. It should never be used as a substitute for proper diet and exercise.

Following pregnancy, it’s important to remember that your body may not go back to looking exactly as it did prior to the pregnancy. But it’s also important to remember that just because your body looks a certain way in the days and weeks immediately following birth doesn’t mean it will always look that way.

“After giving birth, the skin will be stretched, the uterus will still be swollen, and you’ll be carrying extra weight that you didn’t have before,” says Dr. Ali. “And in the months following birth, these will all begin to go away. It’s hard to make aesthetic judgments based on what we think the body would look like, so I advise patients to wait.”

The body needs time to recover from all of the changes pregnancy brought. It’s also important that women be not anticipate further pregnancies prior to a tummy tuck. Becoming pregnant after a tummy tuck can alter the results, and most women will want to have the procedure redone after giving birth.

If you have questions about when is the best time to seek out a tummy tuck, or are interested in regaining your pre-pregnancy body, call Dr. Ali today to learn more about how abdominoplasty can help you.

© 2015 Millionairium and Dr. Ali. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Millionairium and Dr. Ali are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

Who Qualifies for a Tummy Tuck?

A “Tummy Tuck”, or Abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure undertaken to remove excess loose skin or fatty deposits in the abdominal area. This procedure is not a substitute for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a stable and reasonable weight. It is usually undergone by individuals who have lost a significant amount of weight, who have had bariatric surgery, or who have had pregnancies that have stretched the muscles of the abdomen.

Under general anesthesia, a highly trained, skilled plastic surgeon removes loose or sagging skin and excess fat deposits from the abdominal area using incisions and strategic liposuction. Extensive experience is needed to re-sculpt the area. Loose muscles are also tightened during the surgery, all of which contributes to a firmer, more sleek profile.

Individual expectations are evaluated beforehand, as well as the patient’s medical history and current health status. Any cosmetic procedure is a highly individualized decision, and the expectations for the outcome must be realistic. Patients must insure that they are pursuing the procedure for their own personal reasons, and are not attempting to live up to some perceived ideal body image or to someone else’s expectations. Additionally, it is imperative that the patient maintain the same body weight into the future, as weight gain or additional pregnancies may reverse or diminish the results of the procedure.

Dr. Ali is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which is recognized by the American Board of Plastic Surgery – the highest governing board in plastic surgery. He is committed to individualized consultation and treatment for each patient, to assure the best outcome from every procedure he performs. Contact Dr. Ali today for your personalized consultation to determine if a Tummy Tuck is right for you.

What a Tummy Tuck Will Not Do

One of the most common misconceptions about plastic surgery is that it is a quick fix. The reality is that most cosmetic procedures are not a quick fix — they are carefully calculated choices to enhance or repair areas of the body that may not be responding to other means of improvement. We sometimes see the “quick fix” misconception with individuals who pursue a tummy tuck, also known as an abdominoplasty. It is important to us at Dr. Ali’s office that our patients and the general public are educated about surgery, and what it does and does not do for you.

So what does a tummy tuck NOT do?

  • It is NOT a way to lose weight. Will you drop some pounds? Of course — you are removing fat and skin.
  • It is NOT a long term solution for body image issues. Will it make you more confident about your appearance? Most likely — will it fix body image issues you may have? Possibly not. Seeking help for conditions around body dysmorphia require a multi-faceted approach.
  • It is NOT a replacement for living a healthy, active lifestyle that is. Will it immediately tighten your tummy? Yes. Will it help slow the aging process, improve your overall quality of life and keep you healthy? No – only a healthy, active lifestyle can do that!

This is not to say that a tummy tuck isn’t a fantastic procedure. It truly is — tummy tucks can help individuals who have lost significant weight feel comfortable in their skin by removing the excess around the abdomen. It is ideal for mothers who have lost abdominal strength due to their pregnancies as it helps tighten muscles that were compromised.

Considering a tummy tuck? Let us help you evaluate the options to see if it’s the right fit. Contact Dr. Ali today for a consultation!

Dr. Ali Releases Tummy Tuck Whitepaper

Michigan plastic surgeon Dr. M. Azhar Ali has released another whitepaper as part of his patient education initiative. The topic of this whitepaper is tummy tucks, also known as abdominoplasty. Dr. Ali’s whitepapers have been well-received by patients who are looking to gather information about a procedure they may be considering.

Dr. Ali’s tummy tuck whitepaper contains information about the various types of tummy tuck procedures available, as well as information about the procedure itself, like recovery time, what to expect, etc.

Dr. Ali is a top board-certified Michigan plastic surgeon with years of experience with tummy tucks and other cosmetic and reconstructive procedures including breast augmentation, breast reconstruction, face lifts, liposuction and more. To learn more about any of these procedures, download one of Dr. Ali’s whitepapers or visit the following site:

www.breastaugmentationinmichigan.org

 

To download the whitepaper, visit Dr. Ali’s website.