Abdominoplasty or Tummy Tuck FAQ's

Abdominoplasty, or a "tummy tuck," is the most common procedure for flattening the stomach. The tummy tuck is helpful to women who have stretched muscles and skin after pregnancy, or for women who have lost a great deal of weight. It is also a great option for women who suffer from a genetic predisposition towards loose skin. This procedure removes excess skin from the middle and lower abdomen and tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall. The resulting scar is permanent, but can be hidden below the bikini line and will fade with time.

If the area giving you the most trouble is below the belly button, you could qualify for a "mini tummy tuck," or "mini abdominoplasty," which tightens the skin between the pubic area and your navel. This is generally considered a less complex procedure and will take less time. It will also leave less scarring since the incisions will be much smaller.

While the main purpose of the tummy tuck is to tighten skin and muscles in the abdominal area, it can lead to a number of other options. For example, if you have strong abs that are hidden by skin and fat, you can get abdominal etching to sculpt and showcase your six-pack. After your abdominoplasty, you can also get a Panniculectomy, which removes skin and fat below the belly button and around to your lower back area. Or, if you've always been dissatisfied with the placement or shape of your belly button, this can be fixed during the tummy tuck procedure.

The surgeons at the Accetta Institute of Women's Health perform a special procedure for tummy tucks, which is known as high lateral tension. Unlike the regular tummy tuck, which tightens the abdomen along the center, a high lateral tension tummy tuck focuses on the sides of the abdomen. This allows for a better contour and higher tension. However, because of the precision involved, the procedure time is slightly longer than a standard tummy tuck.

A tummy tuck procedure can be performed in 2 to 5 hours as an outpatient procedure. In rare cases your doctor may recommend an overnight stay. The Accetta Institute of Women's Health are eager to answer any questions you may have about your tummy tuck procedure.

Who Can Benefit from an Abdominoplasty?

A tummy tuck is most beneficial to men or women who have a stomach with a large fat deposit or loose skin, but are otherwise in fairly good shape. Certain groups of people have found abdominoplasty to be especially effective. For individuals who are older or have lost a significant amount of weight, their loss of skin elasticity can be improved through this procedure. A tummy tuck can also be very effective for helping women who have had multiple pregnancies return their abdominal area to normal.

There are several groups of people that should not pursue a tummy tuck. If you are a woman that is planning on having a child in the future, you should wait until after your pregnancy is done. Individuals planning to lose a large amount of weight should wait until they are close to their ideal weight before considering abdominoplasty. Finally, individuals with scarring from a previous abdominal surgery may want to reconsider having a tummy tuck, as it can cause them to have very prominent scarring.

Abdominoplasty Complications / Risks

Every surgery has potential complications and risks, and abdominoplasty is no exception. Although not common, a tummy tuck can cause blood clots or infection. Blood clots can normally be avoided by beginning to walk around as soon as possible after the procedure, while any infections can normally be treated with antibiotics.

There is a possibility of the incision healing poorly and, as a result, excessive scarring can develop, which may require a second operation to correct. Smoking can increase the potential for complications and risks after surgery, so it's important for smokers to minimize or stop smoking prior to having a tummy tuck.

The key to minimizing the potential complications and risks of an abdominoplasty is strictly following all of the guidelines that are given to you by your surgeon before and after the operation.

Pre-Abdominoplasty

Your tummy tuck journey will begin with an initial consultation and evaluation with your surgeon. During this consultation, your surgeon will evaluate your skin tone and abdominal fat deposits, in addition to your overall level of health. When you are talking to your surgeon, it's important to be honest about all of the medications you are currently taking, as well as whether or not you regularly use alcohol or tobacco.

Once a full assessment of your specific case has been completed, your surgeon will be able to recommend the best course of action for you. Depending on your goals and the shape of your body, your surgeon may recommend liposuction, a partial abdominoplasty, the standard tummy tuck, or a combination of these methods. Although your surgeon's recommendation may be different than your initial expectations, you can count on your surgeon to thoroughly provide you with the best options and the risks associated with each option.

In addition to discussing the surgery itself, your surgeon will also talk to you about where the procedure will take place, how long it will take to complete, the type of anesthesia that will be used, the total cost of the procedure and any other questions that you have on your mind. You will also be given guidelines about how you should handle drinking, eating, medications and smoking prior to your procedure. If you carefully follow these instructions, you will be able to significantly minimize the risk of complications arising during or after your procedure.

Before the day of your tummy tuck arrives, you should seek the assistance of at least one friend or family member who can get you home from the hospital and help you with the early stages of your recovery.

Tummy Tuck Surgery

Your procedure will begin with the administration of anesthesia. Depending on what you and your surgeon previously agreed on, you will either be given general anesthesia or a local anesthesia with a sedative. Both types of anesthesia have their own pros and cons, but you can trust your surgeon to decide which one is best for you.

In total, a full abdominoplasty will take between two and five hours. Your procedure will begin with the surgeon making a long incision slightly above the pubic area. This incision runs from one hipbone to the other. An additional incision will also be made to free the navel from the tissue that surrounds it. Your surgeon will then separate the skin from your abdominal wall. This separation goes all the way up to your ribs. Once the skin is separated, a large flap of skin will be lifted to reveal your abdominal muscles. Your muscles will be pulled closer in order to tighten them, and then stitched into their new position, which will make them firmer and also make your waist smaller.

Once the muscles have been stitched into place, the flap of skin is pulled down and any excess will be removed. A new hole will then be cut in your skin for your navel. The tummy tuck will end with your incisions being stitched, dressings applied to the incisions, and, in some cases, a tube will be inserted to temporarily help drain any extra fluid that accumulates around the site of the surgery.

If you are having a partial abdominoplasty, the surgeon will also make an incision above the pubic area, but it will be shorter than the incision needed for a full tummy tuck. The skin between the incision line and navel is then separated. After this, the skin flap is stretched down and, before being stitched back into place, the extra skin is removed. Your partial tummy tuck should be completed in one to two hours.

Tummy Tuck Recovery

Your abdomen will probably be very sore and swollen for several days after your surgery. However, your doctor will be able to give you medication to help keep any pain under control. While it won't feel great, it's important to start walking shortly after your procedure in order to avoid complications such as blood clotting.

When you leave the hospital, your surgeon will give you directions about when you should change your dressings and how to handle activities such as showering. Any stitches on the surface of your skin will be removed by your physician within five to seven days, while deeper sutures will be removed after two to three weeks.

Recovering from a tummy tuck does take time. Some individuals are able to return to their job after two weeks of recovery, but for others it takes three to four weeks. As your scars begin to heal over the first three to six months, they may temporarily look worse than before. However, after nine months to one year, your scars will lighten in color, flatten out, and blend in fairly well with your skin.

After you have recovered from your surgery, it's important to work on following a balanced diet and exercise plan. Your surgeon will explain to you how long you need to wait before beginning to exercise. To the surprise of many, moderate exercise actually aids the healing process. Additionally, by taking the initiative to take care of yourself, you can ensure that the results you have gained from your tummy tuck will last for a very long time.

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