Abdominoplasty Operation

If the extra flab around your waist is affecting your self-esteem and undermining your confidence, there can be no better option than a tummy tuck procedure. Whether the surgeon will remove the flab through liposuction, mini-tummy tuck or a full tummy tuck procedure will depend upon individual factors and personal preferences. These will also determine specific technique used by the surgeon to smooth and flatten your abdomen.

Understanding tummy tuck procedure?

Tummy tuck abdominoplasty is like any other surgical operation, but it’s done for cosmetic reasons. However, from anesthesia to postoperative care, the risks remain the same. Before undertaking this procedure, your plastic surgeon will discuss specific method he or she’ll employ for achieving the best results in your particular case. Once you’ve understood what’s to be done, the surgeon will proceed with the surgery.

Basically in this procedure, the excess fat and skin is removed by making incisions at specified locations. Usually, a long incision is made from hipbone to hipbone, just above the pubic area and a second incision is made to free the navel from surrounding tissue, depending largely on the amount of skin to be removed. The skin is then separated from the abdominal wall all the way up to your ribs and the large skin flap is lifted to reveal the vertical muscles in the abdomen. These muscles are then tightened by pulling them close together and stitching them into their new position. This results in a firmer abdominal wall that narrows the waistline. The skin flap is then stretched down and the extra skin is removed.

Afterwards, a new hole is cut for the navel, which is then stitched in place. Finally, the incisions are stitched, dressings done and a temporary tube is inserted, if required, to drain the excess fluid from the surgical site. Of course, the structure of abdomen and your preferred swimsuit or undergarments will dictate the contour of this incision. Although, your plastic surgeon will try to keep the incision within your bathing suit lines, but this may not always be possible.

With mini-tummy tuck abdominoplasty, the incision is much shorter and the navel may not be moved, although it may be pulled into an unnatural shape as the skin is tightened and stitched. Tummy tuck procedure after pregnancy is basically done to remove the skin of the lower abdomen as well, since it contains stretch marks. Any remaining stretch marks can be somewhat flattened and improved, but a dramatic change in their appearance shouldn’t be expected.

Variations in tummy tuck procedure?

Depending upon the case, surgeons may vary both the design of the incisions and the technique used. In some instances, they may completely do away with the incision around the navel. And in some cases, where the amount of loose skin is minimal and the excess fat deposits are located below the navel, only a short horizontal incision would be made. This procedure is called a partial abdominoplasty. In this abdominoplasty, the skin is separated only between the incision line and the navel. This skin flap is stretched down, the excess fat is removed, and the flap is stitched back into place.

If it’s the abdominal fat that’s causing the bulge in the middle, your surgeon may recommend liposuction to be used alone or in conjunction with abdominoplasty. If you’ve only a mild degree of excess fat and muscle laxity another technique, called endoscopic abdominoplasty, for minimizing the scars, may be useful.

Complete abdominoplasty usually takes two to five hours to be performed, depending on the extent of work required. Partial abdominoplasty may take an hour or two. A mini-tummy tuck surgery will probably take just an hour or so.

Tummy tuck procedure can dramatically reduce the appearance of a protruding abdomen. Your surgeon is the best person to recommend what should or shouldn’t be done, so go by his or her advice.