A tummy tuck is used to make the abdomen appear slimmer. During tummy tucks (also called abdominoplasty), the excess skin and fat around your abdomen are removed. Usually, the fascia, which connects the abdominal muscles to the skin, is also tightened with sutures. Repositioning the remaining skin creates a toned appearance. It is recommended that you have a tummy tuck if you have excess skin or fat around your belly button, or if your lower abdomen wall is weak. This procedure can also improve your body image.
When to consider a Tummy Tuck Surgery?
You need to deal with your weight loss first if you are striving to lose weight. If you have lost weight and are left with excess skin and fat, it could be the right time for the procedure. Those of you with a tummy that won’t snap back to those trimmed, tight abdomens you once had may want to think about this procedure. The tummy tuck procedure is a popular option for those who suffer from excess fat and skin around their stomachs. There are many ways by which you tone your tummy, but if none are working, get in touch with the experts to learn more about tummy tucks.
Do you qualify for Tummy Tuck Surgery?
When you diet and exercise, you realize that you are not able to change your sagging and protruding abdomen despite lower numbers on the bathroom scale. A belly tuck may be suitable for you if any of the following apply:
- The weight of your body is stable. A thin individual with extra fat and loose skin in the lower tummy is the best candidate for this procedure; you should not be overweight.
- Smoking is not an option for you. If you are a smoker since a long time then you can develop serious complications after and during surgery. If you smoke, you need to stop within six weeks of your surgery.
- Previous abdominal surgery scars, internal or external, may also affect your eligibility.
- Physically, you are in good shape. This procedure requires you to be relatively healthy.
- A person with extra skin on the abdomen or weak abdominal muscles may have extra skin due to aging, heredity, pregnancy, previous surgery, or weight fluctuations.
- It’s time to stop having children. Abdominoplasty-repaired muscles can separate again during pregnancy in the future.
- There may be a need to lose weight before a tummy tuck if you have a significant amount of fat around your internal organs.
The best candidate for this procedure is healthy, optimistic, and has realistic expectations.
Why do tummy tucks work?
An outpatient surgical clinic or hospital performs a tummy tuck procedure. After they give you general anesthesia, you will not feel any pain and be completely unconscious during a tummy tuck. Some pain-relieving medication might be administered to you along with moderate sedation (partially asleep).
- Before and during the procedure: The extent of changes you would like to see will determine the type of tummy tuck you receive. Most commonly, a tummy tuck is performed via horizontal or elliptical incisions around the belly button and pubic hair. The fascia over the abdominal muscles is then sutured permanently. Afterwards, the skin around your belly button will be repositioned by your plastic surgeon. It will be dissected and sutured back into place through a small incision. There will be visible scar in the normal crease inside the bikini line after the incision from hip to hip is stitched together. An antibiotic may be given to you during the procedure to prevent infection. Most procedures take between 2 and 3 hours to complete.
- After the procedure: Tummy tuck incisions and belly buttons are likely to be covered by surgical dressings after a tummy tuck. An incision site might be fitted with a small tube to drain blood or fluid. You will be encouraged to begin walking right after your tummy tuck to prevent blood clots from forming. Medications will control the pain, which is likely to be moderate. Swelling is normal after surgery.
The abdominal binder you wear after tummy tuck is for about six weeks. This prevents fluid buildup and promotes healing. If you have a scar, talk to your doctor about how to care for it. You’ll need to move carefully after your tummy tuck for the first six weeks. Avoid bending fast at the waist and other positions that would strain your incision line to prevent the wound from reopening. Follow-up visits will need to be scheduled regularly. Consult your doctor about how often you should be seen.
Medical benefits of Tummy Tuck Surgery
- Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) is a bladder control problem that causes leakage caused by coughing, sneezing, exercising, or even laughing after giving birth vaginally. The majority of SUI cases do not require surgery. A tummy tuck may result in a faster recovery for patients who require additional care, especially those without a caesarian section.
- If you already have a ventral hernia, recurrence is easy. Your surgeon may recommend an abdominal wall strengthening procedure in conjunction with the hernia repair to prevent further problems. Combining the procedures not only minimizes medical costs and recovery time but is also safe.
- A swayback or lordosis is often caused by weak abdominal muscles. Because the muscles supporting the spine are tightened, patients may notice improvements in their posture following abdominoplasty. Better posture and support can also contribute to relieving back pain in some cases.
By cutting away excess skin and suturing abdominal tissue, an abdominoplasty removes up to 10 pounds of stomach fat. It usually takes people to take several weeks to be able to completely recovered and infection and other complications are possible as with any surgery.
Although a tummy tuck has various medical benefits and aesthetic benefits, it remains an appealing procedure for many individuals. Before deciding whether to undergo surgery, patients should discuss the procedure with their surgeon thoroughly and think through all the advice.