TUMMY TUCK

The tummy tuck (also called abdominoplasty) is a cosmetic operation that removes fat and excess skin from the abdominal area. Additionally the abdominal muscles are tightened with the aim of giving the person a flatter abdominal area.

The best candidates for this type of surgery are men and women who have loose skin around their tummy and have tried diet and exercise but find that no natural way shifts it. Women who have had many children are also good candidates as their abdominal skin may have lost its elasticity and consequently it may sag. Tummy tucks can also improve some stretch marks along the abdominal area as the skin is stretched and excess skin is removed.

People who want to lose a lot of weight or women who want to have children in the near future should wait until they have achieved these goals before considering this operation.

Complications

As in all cosmetic operations the risk of infection and bleeding is present although it is unusual. Smokers should ideally stop smoking weeks before this operation and not start again until they have fully recovered as smoking can slow the healing process and increase the risk of complications.

In the initial consultation with your surgeon, don’t hesitate to give your full medical history and clarify what medications and vitamins you are presently taking or have taken in the past. Whether you smoke or have been a smoker, whether you take drugs, what operations you have had in the past etc…

In some cases, the fatty deposits and saggy skin are only present in the abdominal area below the navel. In this case a partial tummy tuck (or mini-tummy tuck) can be carried out.

Anaesthesia

The anaesthesia used is usually general anaesthetic but can also be local anaesthetic with sedation (depending on what the particular plastic surgeon prefers).

The procedure involves making an incision along the pelvis bone from one hip to the other. A second incision is made to detach the navel. In a mini-tummy tuck the first incision is very small and the navel is not detached.

When the plastic surgeon performs the full tummy tuck procedure, the skin is detached, the muscles are tightened and the excess skin is removed. A new navel is created. After this surgery you will feel pain, discomfort and swelling. These can be minimised with medication prescribed by your plastic surgeon. Some patients take 2 weeks to recover, some take longer. It should take a few weeks to get back to all normal activities Aftercare involves the patient not being able to stand up with his/her back straight for a few days. The scars will look red for the first 6 months and may take 1 year to fade and flatten out considerably.