Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure used to make the abdomen more firm. The surgery involves the removal of excess fat and skin from the middle and lower abdomen in order to tighten the muscle and fascia of the abdominal wall. And in most cases restores weakened or separated muscles creating an abdominal profile that is smoother and firmer. This type of surgery is usually sought by patients with loose tissues after pregnancy or individuals with sagging after major weight loss.

Abdominoplasty operations vary in scope and are frequently subdivided into categories. Depending on the extent of the surgery, a complete abdominoplasty can take 1 to 5 hours. A Mini-Tuck Abdominoplasty can be completed between 1 to 2 hours.

Complete Abdominoplasty:

• A complete abdominoplasty involves:
• An incision is made from hip to hip just above the pubic area.
• The skin is detached from the abdominal wall to reveal the muscles and fascia to be tightened. The muscle fascia wall is tightened with sutures.
• Another incision is made to free the navel from the surrounding skin.
• The remaining skin and fat are tightened by removing the excess and closing the defect.
• Liposuction is often used to refine the transition zones of the abdominal sculpture
• The old belly button stalk is brought out through a new hole and sutured into place.
• A dressing and sometimes a compression garment are applied and any excess fluid from the site is drained.

Mini-Tuck Abdominoplasty:

• A partial abdominoplasty involves:
• A smaller incision is made.
• Sometimes the belly button stalk is divided from the muscle below and the belly button slid down lower on the abdominal wall.
• The skin and fat of the lower abdomen are detached in a more limited fashion from the muscle fascia. The skin is stretched down and excess skin removed.
• Liposuction is often used to contour the transition zone.
• Sometimes a portion of the abdominal muscle fascia wall is tightened.
• The flap is stitched back into place.

Risk of Abdominoplasty:

• Unfavorable scarring
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Skin loss
• Fluid accumulation
• Anesthesia risks
• Poor wound healing
• Possibility of revisionary surgery
• Blood clots
• Major wound separation
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
• Recurrent looseness of skin
• Skin discoloration and/or prolonged swelling
• Pain, which may persist
• Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
• Asymmetry
• Nerve damage
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Suboptimal aesthetic result
• Persistent swelling in the legs

The ideal candidates for tummy tuck:

• You have realistic expectations
• You should have a good physical shape, but have excess skin or fat in the abdominal area that is resistant to exercise.
• You are bothered by the feeling that your tummy is too large.
• You are a non-smoker.
• You are bothered by the feeling that your tummy is too large.
• You are physically healthy and at a stable weight.
• The normal aging process can also cause skin to sag or lose elasticity, making many older patients excellent tummy tuck candidates.