The set of muscles that make up our abdomen can become weakened, distended, and loose for a variety of reasons. Primary one among them is a drastic loss of weight or pregnancy. The result is an abdomen that looks laxer with a saggy appearance and skin hanging loosely from it. Far from an aesthetic look.

And as with many things not aesthetic, cosmetic surgery has a procedure specifically meant to target said area. An abdominoplasty, also colloquially known as ‘tummy tuck’, corrects these imperfections.

The procedure removes the excess skin by cutting it, while also directly manipulating the muscles to tighten them.

The results leave an abdomen that is flatter, with much more toned and ‘tight’ look. An abdominoplasty is a cosmetic procedure and, thus, not covered by most insurance companies.

However, if you have a hernia or similar condition, you might be able to convince your insurer that is medically necessary.  

Types of Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

There are three types of abdominoplasties:

• Complete Abdominoplasty: For the patients with the most extreme levels of sagging skin. Aside from removing more tissue, tightening of the muscles might end up relocating your bellybutton. Drainage tubes are also applied to deal with fluid build-up.
• Mini Abdominoplasty: This one is for patients that have mostly hanging skin in the lower abdominal region. It exercises shorter incisions, and your bellybutton might not necessarily move at all. However, it still may apply drainage tubes.

• Circumferential Abdominoplasty: For patients with excessive fat in the back part of the abdomen as well. It incorporates liposuction or a circumferential incision which covers the hip and back of the abdomen.

The procedure of Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) 

Before the procedure, please refrain from smoking for two weeks minimum. Also, inform your surgeon of any medications or supplements you are currently taken. Finally, enlist someone you trust to drive you and look after you after the procedure.

For your procedure, the usage of either intravenous anaesthesia or general anaesthesia. Once you are completely asleep, our surgeon will begin to operate.

For starters, he will make an incision that goes from one side of the hip to the other over your pubic hairline.

From this incision, the surgeon will begin excising the excess of tissue and skin that hang from the midsection. Once most of it is out of the way, and the remaining is down to more manageable size, the procedure moves to the muscle’s underneath.

Through the incision, the surgeon will begin to manipulate the muscles under the fascia to begin tightening them.

He will bring them together and apply sutures that will bind them whole once again. The procedure is potentially aided by employing a thin tube with attached at its end, called an endoscope.

The moving of the muscles is likely to affect the position of your belly button. In these cases, once repositioned, the surgeon will cut open the skin over the new position and fix the bellybutton with suture.

Often, drainage tubes under the skin to help relieve the chance of fluid build-up might get placed. Those remain in place for a few days after until your surgeon deems it fit.

Once completed, stitching of the main incision in your abdomen to close it shut and bandage it after.

Aftercare Procedure of Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

The operated area receives compression garments or elasticity bands to help the healing. Depending on the extent of your surgery, you will be sent home as an outpatient or remain as an inpatient.

For your recovery, our surgeon will suggest sitting and lying positions to ease the pain. Is imperative to limit your activities as much as possible for the next two weeks. Refrain from carrying anything or sudden contorting or twisting of your midsection area.

Having someone assist you daily during the first month and a half of recovery is highly advised. If you are a physically active person, please, do not exercise for the 6 to 8 weeks after the procedure.

Failure to complain might end up reopening the incision. It might land you in the hospital with a plethora of other complications.

The Results of Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

The results of the abdominoplasty will not be initially obvious. Rather, you will begin to see the results of the tummy tuck month after the surgery.

However, the outcome can last for a lifetime if you maintain a healthy, constant weight. Since pregnancies or considerable weight gain will undo most of the procedure, you must pay extra attention to yourself.