Tummy tuck surgery, also known as abdominoplasty, removes excess fat and skin and, in most cases, restores weakened or separated muscles creating an abdominal profile that is smoother and firmer.
A flat and well-toned abdomen is something many of us strive for through exercise and weight control. Sometimes these methods cannot achieve our goals.
During your tummy tuck consultation, be prepared to:
There are several different procedures for a tummy tuck, depending on the extent of change you would like to see. During the typical tummy tuck, your plastic surgeon makes incisions to remove most of the skin and fat between your bellybutton and pubic hair in a horizontal oval or elliptical shape. Connective tissue (fascia) that lies over the abdominal muscles is then tightened with permanent sutures.
Your plastic surgeon will then reposition the skin around your bellybutton. Your bellybutton will be brought out through a small incision and sutured in its normal position. The incision from hip to hip above the pubic hair will be stitched together and will leave a scar that falls along the natural crease within the bikini line. During the procedure you might be given an antibiotic to prevent infection. The procedure typically takes about two to three hours.
If you’ve decided on a tummy tuck, you should know that there are three different types.
A mini-abdominoplasty targets skin that hangs around the navel. This procedure removes excess skin and fat from this area to reduce bulge in the lower abdomen. A mini tummy tuck doesn’t involve the repair of abdominal muscles.
When you think of a tummy tuck, you probably think of a traditional abdominoplasty. During a traditional tummy tuck, abdominal muscles stretched during pregnancy or weight fluctuations are repaired and excess skin and tissue are removed from the abdomen. A traditional tummy tuck can be combined with liposuction.
An extended abdominoplasty is a great choice for those who have lost a significant amount of weight. People who choose an extended abdominoplasty often have dramatic results. During an extended abdominoplasty, excess skin and tissue are removed from the abdomen, hips, thighs, and back. Muscles in the back, flanks, and abdomen are repaired and toned.
Is it safe?
Tummy tuck risks include:
These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It’s important that you address all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon.
There will be some discomfort after a tummy tuck, with the worst discomfort experienced within the first week. On a scale of 1 – 10, pain is often estimated at around a 6-7 for the first few days to a week, reducing to around a 3 – 4 in the second week. This would, of course, depend on the individuals. During a tummy tuck surgery, you’ll be under general anesthesia — which makes you completely unconscious and unable to feel pain.
Once you’re at home, you will need to rest for 10 – 14 days, to recuperate fully. You will then need to take at least four weeks off work, whilst avoiding exercise and any strenuous activity. You should also avoid driving for at least 4 weeks after the procedure and try to ensure you keep your knees bent whilst you sleep, to avoid putting any unnecessary strain on your stitches. Typically, full recovery should take around 6 weeks, but it may take up to 9 months to see the full results of the procedure.
The benefits from your tummy tuck will not be immediately noticeable. In fact, over the first several weeks, redness, bruising, stiffness, and swelling are common. This will slowly resolve over the next four to six weeks and the results will start to show. However, residual swelling can linger for six months or longer. A temporary numbness or a loss of sensation along the incision line is normal but will slowly resolve. While you should be feeling close to your old self after a few months, it can take a full year before the stomach has finished healing and the complete results of surgery can be seen.
The results of the procedure differ from one individual to another as the problem is never the same. However, one should expect the following results after full healing:
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