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What is the procedure tummy tuck?
• Most commonly, the surgeon will make a long incision from
hipbone to hipbone, just above the pubic area. A second incision
is made to free the navel from surrounding tissue. With a partial
tummy tuck, the incision is much shorter and the navel may not be
moved, although it may be pulled into an unnatural shape as the
skin is tightened and stitched.
• Next, the surgeon separates the skin from the abdominal wall
all the way up to your ribs and lifts a large skin flap to reveal
the vertical muscles in your abdomen. These muscles are tightened
by pulling them close together and stitching them into their new
position. This provides a firmer abdominal wall and narrows the
waistline.
• The skin flap is then stretched down and the extra skin is
removed. A new hole is cut for your navel, which is then stitched
in place. Finally, the incisions will be stitched, dressings will
be applied, and a temporary tube may be inserted to drain excess
fluid from the surgical site.
• In partial abdominoplasty, the skin is separated only between
the incision line and the navel. This skin flap is stretched down,
the excess is removed, and the flap is stitched back into place.
The best candidates for a tummy tuck are men or women who are in
relatively good shape but are bothered by a large fat deposit or
loose abdominal skin that won't respond to diet or exercise.
• The tummy tuck surgery is particularly helpful to women who,
through multiple pregnancies, have stretched their abdominal muscles
and skin beyond the point where they can return to normal.
• Loss of skin elasticity in older patients, which frequently
occurs with slight obesity, can also be improved.
• Patients who intend to lose a lot of weight should postpone
the surgery. Also, women who plan future pregnancies should wait,
as vertical muscles in the abdomen that are tightened during surgery
can separate again during pregnancy.
• If you have scarring from previous abdominal surgery, your
doctor may recommend against abdominoplasty or may caution you that
scars could be unusually prominent.
Length of the operation Tummy tuck
• A complete tummy tuck usually takes two to five hours, depending
on the extent of work required. A partial tummy tuck may take an
hour or two.
Results
• Usually excellent results.
• The quality of the scars depends on the skin type and how
smooth the suction is.
• The optimal results will be conspicuous in 6 months to 1
year. In-patient: up to 3 days in hospital. Back to work in 2 to
3 weeks
• The stitches are removed on the 21st day or thereabouts.
Post operation Tummy tuck
• Depending on the extent of the surgery, you may be released
within a few hours or you may have to remain hospitalized for two
to three days following your tummy tuck.
• Your doctor will give you instructions for showering and
changing your dressings. And though you may not be able to stand
straight at first, you should start walking as soon as possible.
• Surface stitches will be removed in five to seven days, and
deeper sutures, with ends that protrude through the skin, will come
out in two to three weeks. The dressing on your incision may be
replaced by a support garment.
What is the time to recovery for your tummy tuck?
• Back to work: about 2 weeks
• More strenuous activities: 4 to 6 weeks or more.
• You must bear in mind that an abdominal reduction will, by
contrast, make your hips stand out. If you have prominent hips (yes,
those blessed hips), maybe it would be a good idea to have a liposuction
done too, so that your body will be well-proportioned and look more
harmonious.
• It is advisable that you ask your surgeon whatever questions
you may have so as to do away with all those doubts and fears so
common for those who are about to undergo surgeryIt is advisable
that you write down all the questions you may have prior to the
interview, so that you will be able to read them to the physician
and get answers for all of them.
• Remember that smoking reduces the body's oxygenation, and
insufficient oxygenation may result in complications after the surgery,
such as, slower healing of wounds, thicker and more visible scars,
and even skin necrosis in the area around the wounds. Therefore,
if you are a smoker, we strongly recommend you not to smoke during
a few weeks prior to the surgery.
• You should carry with you loose-fitting and comfortable clothes.
Remember that there should be enough space for bandages between
your skin and your clothes.
• It is advisable that you get the medication indicated by
the physician in advance (antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, analgesics)
so that you will not have to take care of that right after the surgery.
In order to heal properly, you will have to wear a special bandage
on the treated areas during two or three weeks. It is quite uncomfortable
but, unfortunately, it is necessary. You will also have some flexible
and thin drainage tubes applied, they will drain off excess fluids
from the wounds to an airtight plastic bottle. These drainages help
reduce the incidence of bruises.
Amount of pain
Moderate. Your physician will advice you to take analgesics every
6 or 8 hours; this will bring great relief to you.
Removal of the stitches
Between 7 to 14 days after the surgery.
Bruises and swelling
It is not usual for bruises to develop. The inflammation is moderate
and will remain for some days.
Scars
We would like to say that this surgery is one of those surgeries
that leave no scars behind, but we definitely cannot. The resulting
scar runs from hip to hip, following the outline of a bikini, and
is permanent. The incision is made in such a way that the resulting
scar will always be concealed by your underwear or bathing suit.
In due time, it will turn to pale pink and will become less and
less evident. The other scar is the one around the navel, but it
is disguised by it and is not very visible.
Recovery
You will have to rest at the hotel for a few days, usually no more
than a week. You should try to start walking as soon as possible.
You will be able to go back to work two weeks after the surgery,
if your job is a sedentary one. If it is not, and you will have
to lift heavy objects or do physical exercise, you should wait between
two and four weeks more. You will probably be able to show up in
public again wearing a bathing suit after a month. The first weeks
after the surgery tend to be long and unpleasant. Some people may
experience depression during this period. This is very usual after
any kind of surgery, regardless of its triviality. You may even
feel that you made a terrible mistake in deciding to have a surgery.
But you shouldn't worry. Most of the people who today are happy
and satisfied with the results of a surgery have also gone through
that phase.
Possible risks and complications
Tummy tuck surgery is a major surgery procedure. It is very unlikely
for it to present any complications when performed by a qualified
surgeon. However, every surgical procedure, regardless of its triviality,
has some risks and we should always think of them as a possibility.
• Adverse reactions to anesthesia.
• Infections; although they are very unusual if you take the
antibiotics your physician will prescribe.
• Uneven scars that may need a simple surgical intervention
at a superficial level.
• If bruises get too large, they may require drainage.
• Seromas, or fluid accumulation beneath the skin. In some
cases, they may require to be drained with a syringe.
• Skin necrosis occurs in a very small percentage of the cases,
but it can be solved if it is taken care of in time.
• If you decided to undergo this surgery because of flaccidity
that developed after a pregnancy and you get pregnant again after
the surgery, it is very likely that you will loose part or all of
the benefits you have obtained. What is more, it is very hard to
predict the elasticity of the resulting scar and of the muscles
that were tightened during the surgery. Therefore, tummy tuck surgery
is only advisable if you have decided not to have any more children.
In spite of this recommendation, many women got pregnant again after
tummy tuck surgery and had no problems during their pregnancy, and
some have even decided to run the risk of having a second surgery.
What does tummy tuck surgery do?
• It helps to remove the excess skin and fat deposits that
appear as a consequence of pregnancies, old age and obesity, when
the whole abdominal area is affected. When the affected area is
smaller, located at the lower section of the abdomen below the navel,
it is better to perform a mini-abdominoplasty.
• It removes stretch marks or scars that may be in the area.
• If necessary, the abdominal muscles may be tightened by means
of a vertical fold in the middle, this will make your abdomen look
firmer and your waist narrower.
• At the same time, it may also help to solve preexisting problems,
such as hernias or eventrations.
What does tummy tuck surgery NOT do?
• It is not indicated for treating obesity. If you suffer from
obesity, we recommend that you consult about bariatric surgery.
• It is not used for removing fat deposits when they are small
and the skin has a good elasticity. If this is your case, and diets
and physical exercise do not produce the desired results, liposculpture
is the right thing for you.
Anesthesia
Peridural or general anesthesia is used.
Length of surgery
Between 2 and 4 hours, according to the complexity of the case.
Hospitalization
You will have to stay hospitalized for one day.
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