Tummy Tuck Information, Resources and Pictures.

Alarmed at the flab accumulating around your waist? Well, middle age and bad dietary habits may bring about certain bodily changes to spoil your perfect figure. Although abdomen or tummy comes in many shapes and sizes, time, gravity and pregnancies take their toll. The washboard abdomen of your dreams turns to jelly, as the skin in the middle hangs in folds. If your middle looks like these before tummy tuck pictures(1), it’s time to do something about it. The good news is you can get rid of these ‘tires’ around your waist without even shaking a finger! This miracle procedure is called abdominoplasty, commonly known as tummy tuck.

What is tummy tuck?

Simply stated, abdominoplasty or tummy tuck procedure involves major surgery in which excess skin and fat is removed from the middle and lower abdomen, and the muscles of the abdominal wall are tightened (2). This procedure, if performed correctly, can once again give you your dream abs.

Who can go in for tummy tuck?

Your surgeon is the best person to tell you, after taking into account the following (3):

a. Your relative good health and good physical shape, of course, with the exception of the abdomen. However, you should not be severely overweight.

b. No effect of exercise and diet on your large fat deposits or loose abdominal skin.

c. Liposuction: Although tummy tuck liposuction is part of the above procedures, there are times when only liposuction is resorted to. This can be considered as scarless tummy tuck. In this, only excess fat is removed through small incisions, while the skin and muscles are left intact.

All these procedures are carried out either under general anesthesia or a local anesthesia. The surgery may take anywhere between two to five hours to perform, depending upon the extent of the procedure and the individual. You can undergo this surgery either as an inpatient and stay overnight at the hospital or as an outpatient and be home in less than twenty-four hours.

Is tummy tuck risky?

A surgery is a surgery and tummy tuck is a major one and does involve some risks. So, before you go under the knife, find out what these risks are. The tummy tuck complications may include reaction to anesthesia, excessive bleeding during surgery, blood clots, infection and poor healing resulting in tummy tuck scars. If the scars are large and too prominent, a second surgery may be required to repair them (3).

There are some postoperative complications too. However, they can be reduced by closely following your surgeon’s instructions, meticulously adhering to the given diet, consuming at least eight to ten glasses of water daily and restricting strenuous activity for the period prescribed after surgery (3).

Although tummy tuck will help you regain your self-esteem and self-confidence, it may or may not measure up to your ideals. Just have a look at the after and before photos of tuck tummy (1). The cost of tummy tuck procedure can also be prohibitive. So, before you decide to go in for a tummy tuck, weigh things carefully after discussing them with your surgeon.