A tummy tuck is a procedure which removes excess fat and skin from around the stomach area, this is also known as abdominoplasty. This surgery flattens the abdomen and tightens the muscles of your abdominal wall. It is not a minor surgical procedure; so, one should learn and educate oneself about all the aspects about the procedure which helps in taking wise decisions.
Best candidates for tummy tuck?
Any man or woman with good health can opt for this surgery. It is a good option for women with several pregnancies. If someone has a good amount of bulky skin on their body, they should definitely opt for this surgery as no amount of exercise or diet can do the magic as this surgery would do. Typically this surgery in itself is not an ideal procedure for obese and should not be considered as a weight loss procedure. This is a body contouring procedure which does decrease some little weight.
Who should not have a tummy tuck?
Women who want to have children in future should not go for this surgery mainly because they would loose the benefits on getting pregnant again.
Also, a regular smoker should not undergo a tummy tuck procedure till they quit smoking.
The Procedure – How the surgery is performed?
It is a common notion that if any surgery is to be performed, there are 4-5 basic steps which are followed. Anesthesia, incisions, main procedure, closing, recovery is all that comes under a surgical procedure. Let us see how these steps are performed for a ‘full tummy tuck surgery’ –
Anesthesia – The first and the foremost step begins with giving you a general full body anesthesia which will make your body sleep throughout the whole procedure. So, it is highly recommended that the patients should have someone to take care of them before and after the surgery.
The Incisions – During a typical tummy tuck, your surgeon makes an incision from hip to hip, above the pubic hair to remove excess skin and fat from the area around your belly button. The incision is made in a horizontal or elliptical shape. Connective tissue i.e., fascia which lies over the abdominal muscles, is then tightened with permanent sutures.After this step, your bellybutton is repositioned and incision will be stitched, leaving a scar along natural crease of bikini line. Usually, the surgeons give an antibiotic during the procedure to avoid any kind of infection.
Closing and Dressing Wounds – The surgical part is completed here and your belly button is covered with surgical dressing and small tubes to drain any excessive fluids or blood. You will wear an abdominal binder for about six weeks after the surgery to prevent fluid buildup and fasten the healing process. In some cases, a blood thinning medication may also be provided for a short period of time. It is extremely important that you have someone along with you to take care of you and your needs after the surgery.
Aftercare and Recovery – One can expect full recovery time from 3 – 6 months along with some usual side effects like pain, bruising and swelling being most common but temporary which improve within 4-6 weeks. You need to be careful while moving around and avoid prolonged sitting or positions that strain the incision line. Also, you should ask your doctor how often you need to visit for regular check-up.
This surgery can take up to 4-5 hours and an overnight stay in the hospital. If all the precautions are followed properly you can have a better recovery. It is to be noted that ‘tummy tuck’ surgery leaves scars which can last forever. It may take time to get back to normal routine activities but also note that this surgery can change your entire personality and boost confidence in you. It gives you a more toned and slimmer appearance which ultimately looks and makes you feel good.
To get more information and tips about the tummy tuck procedure, you can visit the website link- indiancosmeticsurgeon.com/tummy-tuck and book an appointment with our experienced and licensed surgeon!
