Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck): Causes, Procedure And Recovery

Skinalaya, the best plastic surgery clinic in delhi performs abdominoplasty or tummy tuck surgery optimally with minimal complications in skilled and experienced hands. Below is all you require to know.

Causes for a tummy tuck

You may possess weakened abdominal connective tissue, poor skin elasticity and excess fat due to multiple reasons. These are:

• The natural body shape
• Ageing
• An abdominal operation like a C-section
• Pregnancy
• Major changes in weight

Abdominoplasty can help in eliminating excess, loose fat and skin and tightening weak fascia. This procedure can also help you get rid of excess skin and stretch marks below your navel in your lower abdomen. However, it cannot rectify stretch marks outside of this region.

If you earlier have received a C-section, the plastic surgeon may succeed to incorporate your present C-section scar inside your abdominoplasty scar.

Tummy tuck surgery can also be performed together with other cosmetic methods of body contouring like breast surgery. If your fat had been previously eliminated from the abdomen through liposuction, you can opt for abdominoplasty since liposuction eliminates tissue only beneath your fat and skin rather than your excess skin.

This surgery is not for all. The doctor may warn you against tummy tuck surgery if you:

• Had an earlier abdominal operation which caused major scar tissue
• Smoke
• Have a BMI (body mass index) above 30
• Possess a critical chronic issue like diabetes or heart disorder
• May consider future pregnancy
• Want to shed a major amount of weight

Tummy tuck procedure

Abdominoplasty is performed under general anaesthesia to make you unconscious so that you cannot feel surgical pain. Sometimes, the doctor may provide you with a pain-relieving drug and mild sedation (to make you partly asleep).

Before surgery
There are numerous different techniques for abdominoplasty, according to the extent of the results you want to achieve. During treatment, the surgeon creates incisions for eliminating the major part of the excess fat and skin present between the pubic region and naval in an elliptical or horizontal pattern. Next to this, the fascia existing over your abdominal muscles is rigidified with permanent stitches.

The surgeon, after that, starts repositioning your skin surrounding the naval. He/she will then bring out your belly button using a tiny cut and stitch in its normal position. The cut running from one hip to another above your pubic area is sutured together. This leaves a scar which is made to coincide with the natural bikini line crease to minimise its appearance.

During treatment, you may be provided with an antibiotic to ward off any infection. The whole process commonly needs about 2-3 hours.

After surgery
After abdominoplasty, your tummy cut and naval are probably covered with your surgical dressing. Tiny pubes may be put along your incision area for draining any additional fluid or blood. You will be assisted by the medical team to walk possibly on the very first day after surgery for preventing blood clot formation. You may experience mild pain, managed with pain drugs. You may normally have swelling in the treated site. Blood-thinning medication may also be prescribed for a short while.

Types of tummy tuck procedures

Various forms of abdominoplasty are possible. As per your specific requirements, the surgeon will carry out any one of the following 5 types of tummy tuck procedures:

• Traditional tummy tuck
  It’s the most usual type of tummy tuck procedure. It emphasises on toning up and restructuring your lower abdominal region. It’s generally carried out on women who have gone through pregnancy and child delivery. The surgeon makes an incision above the pubic section below your navel, allowing the ideal removal of excess fat and skin. He/she contours your lower abdomen with liposuction for making it slimmer. The abdominal wall underneath is restructured. Thus, your abdominal muscles are strengthened simultaneously. The navel is repositioned to appear natural. If you previously got a C-section related to pregnancy, it might be used again for lowering any additional scarring.
• Mini tummy tuck
  This surgery is beneficial if you want to get rid of a small quantity of excess fat or skin underneath your naval. Although it’s a less invasive process, it delivers the same effects as a traditional procedure. this method is apt if your exercise attempts and diet have left you with a small pooch below your naval. It requires a much smaller incision exactly above the pubic section. So, scarring is more limited. Besides, the naval does not need repositioning.
• Extended tummy tuck
  It can provide you with an elimination of a major part of your fatty skin or tissue in your lower back, lower abdomen or hip areas. It becomes more invasive since a longer cut is involved above the pubic section along the total width of the abdomen, stretching to the rear of the hips. The naval is also reconstructed to look normal. The surgeon eliminates excess skin and fat (at times, using liposuction for an enhanced body contouring). The abdominal muscles beneath, get a simultaneous tightening. Being more invasive, this technique needs a one-night hospital-stay for your recovery.
• Panniculectomy
  It’s another type of tummy tuck procedure to benefit them who have lost a significant amount of weight. it involves a more complicated surgery where a substantial amount of tissue is got rid of. The surgeon creates the incision from hip to hip above your pubic section. However, your naval and abdominal muscles are not impacted always. This technique stresses on eliminating loose skin folds. At times, it requires additional microsurgery to ensure that your blood vessels restore usual function after surgery.
• Reverse tummy tuck
  It engages the upper portion of your midsection, precisely below the breasts. At times, you may receive a toned and flat lower abdomen. However, your upper torso may remain with additional fat or loose skin. This operation needs 2 small cuts or 1 long cut underneath the breasts or in the breast folds. The additional skin and fat in your upper torso are removed and then tucked up towards the breasts. It can optimally be coupled with a mini tummy tuck for an absolute midsection makeover. It’s also an alternative with breast augmentations due to the chosen site of this procedure.

Risk factors for a tummy tuck

Several different risks are associated with a tummy tuck as follows:

• Alterations in skin sensation
  During this surgery, the abdominal tissues are repositioned. This may impact your abdominal nerves, and sometimes, your upper thigh nerves also. You will probably experience some numbness or decreased sensation. This generally reduces in the months following the procedure.
• Tissue destruction or death
  During abdominoplasty, damage or demise of the fatty tissue might happen deep within the skin. Smoking raises this risk. As per the size of the site, tissue may recover on its own or need a surgical touch-up process.
• Unexpected scarring
  You will receive a permanent scar from abdominoplasty but it remains along the bikini line that you can easily hide. The prominence and length of the scar differ from patient to patient.
• Poor wound recovery
  At times, regions along your incision line cure poorly or start to part. The doctor may prescribe you certain antibiotics during and after treatment for preventing infection.
• Seroma (fluid collection underneath your skin)
  After treatment, the drainage tubes that remain in place can help decrease the risk of additional fluid. The doctor may also eliminate fluid with a syringe and needle after the procedure.

Similar to any other form of major surgery, abdominoplasty has the risks of a negative reaction to anaesthesia, infection and bleeding.

Recovery from a tummy tuck

During abdominoplasty, if you inadvertently received a surgical scar, the doctor may recommend a scar revision for addressing and minimising its prominence.

A temporary tube may be placed beneath your skin to let excess fluid drain from the treated area. You should therefore use a compression garment throughout your recovery duration.

Tummy tuck recovery may take place over 2 weeks to around 2 months. During this time, you require to keep from lifting heavy objects and doing strenuous physical activities. You should resume work only with the doctor’s allowance.

Abdominoplasty cost in India

Abdominoplasty cost in India is 2.2 lakh INR to 3 lakh INR on an approximate basis depending on the extent of surgery involved at plastic surgery clinic in rohini.

FAQ

Is abdominoplasty a major surgery?
Yes, abdominoplasty involves a major surgery which needs several weeks to months (sometimes) to heal. Usually, an incision, extending from one hip to another, is involved. Due to this, recovery from this procedure usually requires 2-3 weeks at least.

How safe is abdominoplasty?
Like any major surgery, tummy tuck treatment also involves certain risks. These range from infection and bleeding to negative reactions to the provided anaesthesia. Otherwise, it’s a safe process.

What is the difference between a tummy tuck and abdominoplasty?
A tummy tuck and abdominoplasty basically refer to the same technique. If you possess excess skin or extreme flab in the abdomen which could not be reduced with exercise or diet, you may opt for tummy tuck surgery. Doctors usually happen to refer to it with its technical name- abdominoplasty. This method will aid in the flattening of the abdomen with the elimination of additional skin and fat and a firming of the abdominal wall muscles.

How is an abdominoplasty performed?
In a typical process of abdominoplasty, the plastic surgeon creates incisions for removing most of the excess fat and skin between the pubic hair and naval in an elliptical or horizontal manner. After that, the fascia (connective tissue) lying over your abdominal muscles, is strengthened with permanent stitches. Thus, abdominoplasty or a tummy tuck is done.