Tummy Tuck

A supple abdomen is important in health and aesthetic terms. A healthy diet or a program of physical exercises for abdomen are sometimes not enough to remove fat accumulations and the "fallen skin" in the abdomen area; then we can appeal at the tummy tuck.

Tummy tuck is a surgery procedure used to remove the skin and the fat in excess, located on the abdomen; sometimes it also involves processes of invigoration of abdomen muscles.

Tummy tuck could be done totally or partially. During partial tummy tuck only abdomen tissue below the umbilicus are remodeled and mobilized, the umbilicus remaining fixed. It could be potentially associated with liposuction of the superior and/or side abdomen.

However if there is an exaggerated laxity on the superior abdomen teguments (above the umbilicus) total correction of the abdomen is required – totally tummy tuck.

In this case the tissue above the umbilicus will also require mobilization and this should be repositioned. This is a wider scope surgical procedure that is usually associated with side liposuction, lumpectomy, or abdomen muscle diastase correction (the muscle invigorates through sutures).

Frequently asked questions

Is the tummy tuck also indicated in my case?

Tummy tuck is recommended to both women and men with good physical condition but who show fallen skin on the abdomen, with or without volume increased abdomen fold. The best candidates for tummy tuck comply with the following requirements:

excess of squashy, fallen skin in the abdomen region
a abdomen that protrudes and is disproportional to the rest of the body
lax abdomen muscles due to multiple pregnancies or to old age
excess of concentrated fats under the abdomen skin

If you intent to get pregnant or to follow a weight loss diet you must inform your surgeon about all these plans of yours. The abdomen scars obtained following previous surgical procedures might limit the results of the tummy tuck.

What does the consultation consist of?

During the consultation your surgeon will evaluate your physical and emotional health condition. You must be prepared to provide accurate and detailed information about:

Previous surgery procedures
Past or current diseases
The medication currently taken including herb remedies or food supplements

Your surgeon will evaluate:

The quality of the abdomen skin
The location of the existing scars
The quantity of fat tissue in excess
The status of the abdomen muscles

Your surgeon might suggest you other treatments also in order to obtain the expected results. For example, some patients could take advantage of the liposuction as being the unique procedure for the abdomen region.

What does the surgery procedure consist of?

In general, a horizontal incision is practiced. The length of the incision which extends between the two bones of the pelvis depends on the quantity of skin to be removed.

In other words, higher the quantity of skin to be removed, longer the incision will be. In case of women the incision must be located under the line of the bath suite when possible.

The skin containing stretch marks could also be removed. In case of persons showing high quantity of fallen skin a secondary section might be done around the umbilicus and, hence, total tummy tuck will be applied.

This way the skin in excess above the umbilicus is separated from the profound tissues, is mobilized to the pubic area and then it is cut

Which are the other practices?

Traditional tummy tuck is not the best practice in some selected cases. Partial tummy tuck or "mini" tummy tuck approaches the inferior half of the abdomen and doesn't require a section around the umbilicus.

Thus this method will not correct also the fallen skin above the umbilicus. Liposuction, as unique practice, could be benefic if the skin shows good elasticity and the muscle tone is favorable.

What risks does this procedure involve?

Every year thousands of persons benefit of this procedure without facing major complications.

During consultation your surgeon will provide you with information about the risks and the benefits of this procedure.

What do the preparations before surgery consist of?

After fixing the surgery procedure day you will receive information about both periods, before and after the surgery: You must avoid drugs that could complicate the surgical act or the recovery You must avoid smoking for a period of not less than two weeks, before and after the surgery Clinical and lab investigations to evaluate health condition.

Tummy tuck takes place in a surgery room, under general or local anesthesia with intravenous sedation.
You will be administered a proper medication with the purpose to obtain the expected comfort throughout the procedure.

How will it be the period after the surgery?

At the end of the surgery you will be transferred to a recovery room. Most of the times during the surgery you will be provided with drainage tubes to prevent liquid accumulation. Any form of discomfort is prevented through specific medication.

The surged area will be banded by elastic dressing. Immediately possible, you will be recommended precocious mobilization.

Although every body heals differently, some general guidelines could be given:

First week:

Drainage tubes are removed
Suture material is removed (sometimes, after 10 to 12 days)
Ecchymosis and edema reach maximum limit in this period

After 7 to 8 weeks:

You may take out the elastic garment
The physical effort could be increased gradually
Ecchymosis and edema will reduce gradually and the first final results appear.
Therapeutic massages must be started, the most indicated type of massage being the endermological massage.

After 3 to 4 months:

Final results of the procedure show up
The benumbed and hem-in sensations disappear step by step, the section line starts to fade away
In the months following this procedure it is important to make an additional skin care consisting of avoidance to sun exposure and dark color apparel in sunny days. The heat absorbed by the darken color of your clothes might generate burns at the skin level and could complicate the recovery.

How will the period after the surgery be?

Immediately after the surgery you will notice a notable difference regarding the shape of your body. Lots of patients find this change as a source of increasing self confidence.

Tummy tuck has long term results except for cases where there is an enhanced weight increase. In time, gravity and ageing process might determine the loss of skin elasticity. In this case your surgeon could suggest you additional treatments to be done in order to restore the abdomen shape, as natural as possible.

More than one consultation is required after the surgery to allow your doctor to evaluate the results for a longer period of time.

Although the treatment is very efficient, 1% of the patients do not obtain the results they want!

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