Tummy tuck or Abdominoplasty removes the abdominal fat and skin flaccidity present in obesity or that appears after pregnancies. When the affected area is smaller it is better to perform a Mini tummy tuck. Abdominoplasty may dramatically tighten the abdominal muscles as well as remove sagging, excess skin and accumulated fatty tissue. . Get the flat tummy that you've always dreamed of!
While the degree of improvement varies significantly depending on the magnitude of the abdominoplasty surgery, other factors contribute to the surgical outcome such as the patient''s skin tone, body build, and the individual healing process.
Most abdominoplasty procedures are performed under general anaesthesia. A tummy tuck begins with a long incision along the bikini line. Underlying muscle and tissue are drawn together narrowing the waistline and strengthening the abdominal wall. The skin is pulled down and excess skin removed. A new opening is cut for the navel.
What Is Abdominoplasty ?
Abdominoplasty or Tummy Tuck, is a procedure that removes the loose or sagging skin and fat that protrudes from your abdomen. In some cases, it can help repair hernas or separated muscles. The procedure is vry effective in changing the appearance of your abdomen, but produces a permanent scar. Depending on the complexity of the problem and the requisite surgical procedure, this scar may extend
Abdominoplasty, commonly known as a tummy tuck, is a major surgical procedure for men and women generally in good shape and health but who have large fat deposits around their abdomen or have and excess of loose skin. Abdominoplasty can reduce protruding abdominal fat but it does leave a lengthy, permanent, sometimes visible scar that runs the length of the hipbones. Most people who undergo abdominoplasty are women who don't intend to bear more children and whose previous pregnancies stretched their abdominal muscles or people suffering from obesity whose skin elasticity has diminished. Depending upon the amount of excess fat and skin a patient has and the area of the excess, different types of abdominoplasty procedures can be performed.
Tummy Tuck
During a tummy tuck, an incision is made along the length between the hipbones and around the belly button, the skin is removed along the abdominal wall up to the ribs, the vertical muscles of the abdomen are tightened and the flap of excess abdominal fat is removed and the skin is pulled down, cut off and the remaining flap is sewn back into place along the initial incision.
Mini Tummy Tuck : -
Mini-abdominoplasty, often paired with tumescent liposuction, is a more limited procedure, but still effective for many people, including those who have only lost muscle tone and skin elasticity in the lower region of the abdomen below the belly button. This surgery can be just as effective and the incision can be smaller and recover time is less. Thus this can be the solution for people with only a slight tummy problem.
Endoscopic Tummy Tuck : -
Endoscopic tummy tuck is abdominoplasty aided by an endoscope, a tiny camera, and is best for people who have excess fat below the belly button alone but have not lost skin elasticity. Muscles can be tightened and fat can be removed through liposuction via tiny holes made above the pubis or through the belly button. This is a very popular procedure because it leaves little scarring unlike more traditional tummy tuck procedures. However there is a risk of infection if the incision doesn't drain properly.
Panniculectomy Surgery
Panniculectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the large/long overlap of skin on the lower abdominal area. This usually occurs in morbidly obese individuals who have lost a substantial amount of weight. Without correcting this problem, there is a risk of developing chronic and persistent local skin conditions such as intertrigo, intertriginous dermatitis, cellulites, ulcerations, necrosis, and inflammation of subcutaneous adipose tissue.
Panniculectomy is unlike abdominoplasty because it does not deal at all with abdominal muscles. Panniculectomy is simply the removal of excess fat and skin from the "apron" left hanging anywhere from just barely above the mons pubis down to the knees or beyond.
Another Classification : -
Abdominal Etching : - This tummy tuck surgery is performed to give patients a flatter, tighter stomach area, with stronger muscle definition
Panniculectomy : - This surgery is different from abdominoplasty as the latter tightens the muscle as in addition to removing excess skin and fat while the former only removes excess skin and fat.
Tummy Tuck After Pregnancy : - For new moms with loose skin and extra fat that has not gone away within six months a tummy tuck may be recommended.
Circumferential : - This surgery is more extensive than a normal tummy tuck (normal abdominoplasty) since the the surgeon creates an incision that spans the entire circumference of the patient's torso. It is typically reserved for patients who have lost a large amount of weight and now have loose, overhanging skin around their body.
Endoscopic Abdominoplasty : - This type of tummy tuck is performed with the use of an endoscope and instruments through a small incision, which is normally in the belly button.
Mini-Tummy Tuck : - This surgery is somewhere between the endoscopic and dermolipectomy, and normally results in a shorter scar. This tummy tuck type is for patients who only need skin and fat removal. It is considered the easiet one.
Dermolipectomy : - This procedure results in the removal of excess skin and fat but also requires a new belly button for the patient.
Full Abdominoplasty : - With this procedure a new belly button is required and is typically reserved for patients who have excess amounts of skin to be excised. This tummy tuck type is the most invasive. Exciting isn't it !
Reverse Abdominoplasty : - With this proedure, the incision is made along the mammary fold in an inverted V fashion. This type of tummy tuck can be performed in conjunction with other cosmetic surgeries such as breast lifts. You heard about it before !!
Vertical Scar Abdominoplasty : - This procedure is normally only used on patients who need substantial skin excision and waist tightening. This surgical procedure combines the use of a lower abdominal incision with a midline vertical incision.
Extended Tummy Tuck : - This abdominoplasty type is usually for obese patients that have a great deal of excess fat and skin. This procedure may be combined with liposuction to achieve the optimal results for the patient.
Who is a good candidate for abdominoplasty ?
Candidates must be in good health, have no active diseases or serious, pre-existing medical conditions, and must have realistic expectations of the outcome of the surgery. If you plan to become pregnant or to lose a significant amount of weight, you should discuss these plans with your doctor before surgery. Abdominoplasty is not a treatment for obesity or a substitute for proper diet and exercise.
NOTE: You may not be a candidate for surgery if you smoke, have recently quit smoking, or if you are exposed to second-hand smoke. Primary and secondary smoking decreases blood flow to the body's tissues. This can result in prolonged wound healing, skin loss, infection, increased scarring, and a number of other complications depending on the kind of procedure performed.
How to Prepare for The Surgery ?
You must strictly follow the instructions of your plastic surgeon before surgery. These would include guidelines on eating, drinking and smoking, taking or avoiding vitamins, iron tablets and certain medications. If you develop a cold or an infection of any kind, especially a skin infection, your surgery may have to be postponed. Avoid exposing your abdomen to the sun before surgery, and do not go on a stringent diet, as both can make it difficult for you to heal post the operation.
Abdominoplasty is usually performed as an in-patient Lcedure, requiring one to two nights in the hospital. In some proes, it can be performed on an outpatient basis. In such cas tances, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and to stay with you for the next day or two. A short hospital stay may become necessary if your Abdominoplasty is performed in conjunction with other procedures such as Hysterctomy or Hernia repair.
What Happens During The Surgery ?
The surgeon makes a long incision across the abdomen right above the pubic area. Usually, the incision has a curvature that is similar to the outline of a bikini so that the future scar will be easier to conceal under your underwear.
In most cases it is necessary to make a circular incision around the navel so that it will remain in its original place, in spite of the shifting of the rest of the abdominal skin.Then, the surgeon separates the skin from the abdominal wall all the way up to the ribs, exposing the abdominal muscles. These muscles are tightened by bringing them close together and joined in the middle vertical line; this will make your abdominal muscles firmer and your waist narrower. The skin that was separated is stretched towards the pubis, the excess skin is removed and the navel is placed in its new position. Finally, the surgeon makes the sutures, and applies a bandage and a temporary drainage tube to eliminate the excess fluids.
Figure : Abdominoplasty Surgery Details
What Happens After The Surgery ?
sit for long periods of time during the first several days after surgery even though you may not be able to stand up straight. But you must avoid straining, bending and lifting as these activities may lead to increased swlling or bleeding. You may be instructed to sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees.
Within a week following surgery, your dressings will be changed or removed. Any surgical drains will also be removed. You may be told to wear a support garment for several weeks. Over a period of one or two weeks, stitches will be removed in stages. Bruising and most of the swelling will disappear in a few weeks. However, you may be able to see the final result after a few months when all the swlling subsides. There may be some numbness over portions of the abdominal area, and this may persist for several months. Incisions will initially be red or pink in colour. They will remain this way for 1-3 months post surgery and may even appear to worsen before they fade in 6 months.
What Precautions Should You Take After The Surgery ?
You would need to visit your plastic surgeon at prescribed intervals for follow-up care. These visits will help your surgeon evaluate your progress and recommend action, if required. Please remember that the relationship with your plastic surgeon does not end when you leave the operating room.
What Are The Risks And Side Effects Of The Surgery ?
Initial wound healing may take 5 to 10 days, and you will have swelling and some discomfort which can be controlled by medication. It will be difficult to stand straight in the beginning, but you should start walking as soon as possible so as to avoid blood clots and other complications. The stitches will be removed as soon as the incisions have healed, and you should be able to return to work and normal activity (although you should not engage in excessive lifting or vigorous exercise for 6 weeks).
You must avoid any overexposure of your abdomen to the sun during this period. Healing will continue for several weeks as the swelling goes down and the incision lines improve. The results of a tummy tuck are usually long lasting if you follow a balanced diet and exercise. Although your scars may remain slightly pink for perhaps a year after surgery, they will fade.
The Recovery
Following discharge, patients will have drains in place for several days. Our doctor's use implantable catheters for continuous delivery of pain medication directly to the site of surgery which will reduce the need for narcotic pain medication. Patients are usually discharged with the pain pump. The pump and the catheters do not need additional care. Patients will return for follow-up visits on a weekly basis for the first month. Return to normal activities is slow. Most people remain out of work for 2-3 weeks.
Results
Abdominoplasty, whether partial or complete, produces excellent results for patients with weakened abdominal muscles or excess skin. Some women may choose to also undergo liposuction of their hips or other regions at the same time in order to achieve an enhanced result. In most cases, the results following abdominoplasty are long lasting, provided you follow a balanced diet and exercise regularly.
Q. What if I get pregnant ?
Although there is no official position on this, there have been cases of women getting pregnant without any difficulty and carrying their baby to full term. The skin is a wonderful elastic organ capable of being stretched over time. It has been our experience that patients may or may not need further surgery following their pregnancy.
Q. Will I gain weight again ?
The portion of skin and fat that was removed will never come back again. However, if you do not watch what you eat and neglect to exercise it is very likely that you will gain weight in all other areas.
Q. Are my abdominoplasty results permanent ?
Although we cannot state that they are, we know of many cases that were performed more than fifteen years ago, that have remained flat.
Q. Will I be completely flat ?
Maybe yes and maybe no. Remember that if you are overweight there is always a residual amount of fat underneath the abdominal skin following surgery that will not allow you to be flat. Even patients who are within their weight limit may not be "completely" flat because their expectations exceed the possible surgical outcome. A better term that we like to use is to leave you "flatter". Also remember that even thin persons when sitting will have some hanging skin and fat.
Q. Will my stretch marks go away ?
Very possibly. There are no permanent cures for stretch marks. Different creams and remedies exist that temporarily hydrate the skin making the stretch marks less visible but they do not remove stretch marks. Lasers have been utilized to treat stretch marks but are only effective in reducing the color intensity of red/bluish ones. If your stretch marks exist below the umbilicus the likelihood is very high that a TTT will remove them. However, if the stretch marks are above the umbilicus or on the hips they will not be removed. With a TTT the stretch marks above the umbilicus will lie near the pubic area following your surgery.
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