Tummy tuck surgery, or abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure that allow to remove the excess of fat and skin from the abdomen and treat the muscles to improve contour.

Through this procedures, a scar is made, disguised in the lower abs, below the underwear or swimsuit. It can also help remove scars and sagging, from the portions of skin and fat that are removed.

Planning a tummy tuck procedure

The ideal candidates for tummy tuck surgery are patients in relatively good physical shape, but have excess skin or fat in the abdominal area that is resistant to exercise. This includes the laxity of underlying muscles due to pregnancy which makes it very difficult for mothers to return their abdominal area to a flat appearance. For these women, the skin and muscles have stretched beyond the point where they can naturally return to their normal location and shape.

Other candidates can include patients who have lost a lot of weight and have excess skin in the abdominal area. The normal aging process can also cause skin to sag or lose elasticity, making many older patients excellent tummy tuck candidates.

Patients that plan to loose weight should postpone surgery, as well as women who are considering future pregnancies. The muscles that are repaired during the tummy tuck procedure can separate again loosing the effect obtained with the procedure.

anesthesia

Abdominoplasty is often performed under general anesthesia (you sleep through the procedure). It can also be performed using a local anesthetic with IV sedative.

The tummy tuck surgery procedure

Full tummy tuck time in surgery is about two to five hours, depending on the corrections needed. Partial abdominoplasty might last between one and two hours.

Normally the surgeon will begin with a long incision across the abdomen, from hip bone to hip bone. The shape of the incision is like a V, with a flat bottom. The flat part of the V occurs at the bottom point of the abdomen immediately above the pubic area. The sides of the V form angles along the pelvis up to the top of the hip bone. A second incision is made to free the navel from the abdominal tissue. In the case of partial abdominoplasty the incision might be shorter and the navel might not be moved.

After the incisions, the surgeon will separate the skin from the abdominal wall, up to the ribs, exposing the vertical abdominal muscles (rectus muscles). The rectus muscles are then stitched into a new position, tightening the muscles and reducing the waistline. After the muscles have been repositioned and tightened, the excess skin is stretched and removed.

The remaining skin is redraped over the abdominal area and sutured in place. The hole created by the incision around the belly button is normally removed when the excess skin is cut away, and a new hole is formed to place the navel proportionally. Finally the incisions are sutured. A drain might also be placed.

After Tummy Tuck Surgery

During the first days your abdomen will be swelling and you will feel certain discomfort and pain that will be controlled with medication. Depending on the reach of the surgery, you might stay at hospital from a few hours to a couple of days.

You should walk as soon as you can, although at the beginning not in a full upright position.

Sutures are removed after the first week and compressing bandages are indicated.

Some patients return to their jobs within two weeks while others need three to four weeks to recover.

Tummy tuck, either full or partial, provide excellent results in patients with weakened abdominal muscles or excess skin. In the majority of cases, results last for many years, as long as a balanced diet is kept and consistent exercising is performed.