Abdominoplasty
Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is for patients who have an abdomen that protrudes: saggy skin due to weight loss or pregnancy. This procedure is performed to tighten the abdomen wall, eliminate excess abdominal skin, fat and most stretch marks from the lower abdomen.
- Everything your need to know about TUMMY TUCK (Abdominoplasty)
What does tummy tuck surgery do?
- It helps to remove the excess skin and fat deposits that appear as a consequence of pregnancies, old age, and obesity. There are three different types of tummy tucks:
- Mini-abdominoplasty — a procedure that removes small portions of fat deposits or skin. When the affected area is smaller, located at the lower section of the abdomen below the navel, it is better to perform a mini-abdominoplasty.
- Complete/Full abdominoplasty — a procedure that removes fat deposits and skin from hip bone to hip bone.
- 360 abdominoplasty — reduces skin and fat deposits when the whole abdominal area is affected, i.e. cases of obesity.
- It removes stretch marks or scars that may be in the area.
- If necessary, the abdominal muscles may be tightened by means of a vertical fold in the middle, this will make your abdomen look firmer and your waist narrower.
- At the same time, it may also help to solve preexisting problems, such as hernias or eventrations — a tumor or protrusion of the intestine.
What does tummy tuck surgery NOT do?
- It is not indicated for treating obesity. If you suffer from obesity, we recommend that you visit the section of our site devoted to bariatric surgery.
- It is not used for removing fat deposits when they are small and the skin has a good elasticity. If this is your case, and diets and physical exercise do not produce the desired results, liposculpture is the right thing for you.
- The surgery
Anesthesia
- Epidural or general anesthesia is used.
Surgery length
- Between 2 and 4 hours, according to the complexity of the case.
What does tummy tuck surgery consist of?
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.
- Hospitalization
- You will have to stay hospitalized for one day.
Results
The results of tummy tuck surgery are permanent and very satisfactory. Your abdomen will be flatter and firmer. In spite of the resulting scars, when most patients evaluate the outcome, they feel that the benefits obtained far outweigh the negative aspects, as shown in the pictures below.
