Tummy Tuck surgery, also known as Abdominoplasty, is a major cosmetic surgery procedure for women and men which removes excess skin, tightens separated muscles and removes fat from the abdomen. Women who have experienced pregnancy, and both menand women who have sustained significant and rapid weight loss, are the most usual patients for tummy tuck surgery. 

The Tummy Tuck surgery is performed under general anaesthetic, and it takes around 2–3 hours. The surgeon will cut your abdomen from hipbone to hipbone and then contour the skin, tissue, and muscle as needed. The surgery will involve moving your belly button, and you may need drainage tubes under your skin for a few days.

Tummy tuck is often chosen by patients who are dissatisfied with their bodies and feel discomfort, especially when wearing certain clothes.

The leading causes of sagging belly are:

• Excess skin after childbirth or rapid weight loss. Abdominoplasty can be performed on patients who are no longer overweight or are close to reaching their optimal body weight.

• Separated rectus muscles (diastase) after childbirth that causes protruding abdomen. In this case, it is not only an aesthetic problem because the stretched abdominal muscles and the weakened abdominal wall do not perform the protective function of the internal organs.

Classic abdominoplasty

During abdominoplasty, a crescent-shaped incision is made in the lower abdomen (bikini area). The skin with the subcutaneous tissue is separated from the abdominal wall, and the abdominal muscles are sutured to strengthen it. Any unwanted excess sagging skin is removed, and a new aesthetically pleasing navel is formed.

Mini abdominoplasty

When the problem is only the separated abdominal muscles, there is no excess skin, and the skin’s elasticity is maintained, plastic surgery can be performed only on the part of the abdominal wall.

Extended abdominoplasty

An extended abdominoplasty is a more extensive version of a traditional tummy tuck. It is typically recommended for individuals who have a significant amount of excess skin and fat in the abdomen, hips, and lower back, often because of significant weight loss.

To perform the extended abdominoplasty the surgeon creates a horizontal incision that stretches across the lower belly from the hips and sides to the lower back. Also, the surgeon uses liposuction to remove fat around the lower back and hips and contour those areas.

Abdominoplasty and other plastic surgery

Quite often, abdominoplasty is performed in conjunction with liposuction to remove fat from the upper and middle abdomen or hips. After childbirth, some patients decide to have breast lift together with abdominoplasty. In this case, Mommy Makeover, a procedure rapidly gaining popularity worldwide, is performed. Mommy Makeover combines abdominoplasty and breast lift or breast augmentation with implants.

As with any other plastic surgery, some necessary tests need to be performed. Also, you should stop smoking for at least a few weeks as it may increase the risk of complications. We also recommend avoiding exhausting diets, birth control pills, and blood thinning medicine for at least a month before surgery.

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Healing and scarring

After the operation, the incision area should be bandaged every 2 to 3 days using dry bandages. The surgery is done with soluble threads, so there is no need to remove them. A scar will remain, though little visible. We advise avoiding sunlight for at least a year to make the scar less noticeable.

Special care

You are allowed to take a shower four days after the operation. After the abdominoplasty, the entire healing period takes a couple of months. You should wear special compression garments that press against the abdomen during this time. The final result will be visible after four months when the swelling completely subsides. Intense physical activity should be avoided for about two months.