Tummy Tuck Surgery

Tummy Tuck surgery or more formally known as abdominoplasty is a cosmetic procedure that removes excess fat or skin from abdomen, helping patients to achieve more firm and flattened look. The difficult-to-tone area of stomach, resistant to healthy diet and exercise, can be ‘tucked-in’ with tummy tuck surgery. It can be customized to a patient’s specific requirements and the aesthetic looks they expect to achieve.

   

Suitable Candidates for Tummy Tuck Surgery –

An ideal candidate for tummy tuck surgery is the one with healthy body-weight proportion who wishes to sculpt and tone the abdominal region. Women and men both face the stubborn accumulation of fat in abdominal region, forming a flab near waistline. Women also opt for tummy tuck surgery to resume their pre-pregnancy figure. Whatever may be the reason for excess sagging skin- aging, fat deposits, weight loss or pregnancy, people with realistic expectations form the perfect candidates.

Pre-Consultation for Tummy Tuck Surgery –

In case of abdominoplasty, maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise schedule is more vital than any other precaution. Excessive weight gain or weight loss can result in post-operative risks of tummy tuck surgery. Doctors will advise you to quit smoking weeks prior to surgery. In all, you should openly discuss your goals for choosing this surgery and your expectations from its results, history of previous surgeries and current medication to minimize the after-effects of tummy tuck surgery.

Tummy Tuck Procedure –

Step1 : Anesthesia, local or intravenous, is administered for avoiding discomfort during the surgery.

Step2 : Incisions are made depending on the degree of correction required. With the help of incisions, excess fat, skin and tissues are removed and sagging muscles of abdomen are repaired and sutured. Naval incision is used for tightening of abdominal wall.

Step3 : Tummy tuck drains are inserted to allow excess fluid to drain and finally incisions are closed.

Depending on the amount of skin, fats and tissues to be removed and the expanse of abdominal region to be trimmed and sutured, candidates for tummy tuck surgery opt for different techniques catering to their requirement. There are mainly 3 types of tummy tuck surgery techniques.

  1. Traditional Tummy Tuck : for those who need to repair excessively loose and sagging skin over the waistline. This include incision along waistline, stretching hip to hip, and an incision at naval, to reshape the abdominal wall.
  2. Mini Tummy Tuck : for those who have only small section of abdomen needing to be flattened. It only involves incision at waistline.
  3. Endoscopic Tummy Tuck : This variation of mini tummy tuck uses special instruments for making incisions. Ideal for those who have protruding abdomen but negligible sagging skin.

Risks of Abdominoplasty –

There are general risks of anesthesia reaction, bleeding and nerve damage associated with tummy tuck procedure too. However, few general risks of blood clotting and slow wound healing are more specific to tummy tuck surgery. The feeling of tenderness, bruising and swelling may prevail for few weeks after tummy tuck surgery. Risk of abnormal weight gain also lurk in case patients do not follow the instructed diet and exercise regime.

Recovery from Abdominoplasty –

Wearing elastic stockings to avoid blood clot formation in calves and thighs and abdominal binder for abdomen, balanced diet intake, and proper medication to relieve from bruising and swelling in first week of tummy tuck surgery is recommended. During next several weeks, slow walking and gentle aerobic exercise is advised. Strenuous activities and resuming of normal routine is a complete no-no. Patients should remember that their body has gone massive change and requires time to adjust to these changes.

Tummy Tuck surgery has helped women and men to attain much-anticipated toned abdomen. However pleasing the results are, one should know the pros-cons of the tummy tuck surgery before opting it to improve your looks.