Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

Abdominoplasty, also known as Tummy Tuck, is a surgical procedure that is done to remove fat and extra skin from the tummy area, accompanied in many cases with muscle plication (tightening) to get a smoother looking tummy.
A flat and smooth tummy is what most people try to achieve through a healthy diet and exercise, but in some cases these methods are not enough to achieve this goal, especially if there is laxity in the skin over the abdomen due to:
Pregnancy
Increasing age
Massive body weight loss
Genetic factors
Previous abdominal surgeries

What should I expect from the surgery?

Always have realistic expectations from any plastic surgery, as for the tummy tuck, results are long lasting especially if a healthy lifestyle is followed after the procedure including diet and exercise to keep the abdomen in its tight shape. Tummy Tuck is not an alternative surgery to weight loss and it cannot remove stretch marks unless the stretch marks are part of the skin removed during the surgery.

What is the recovery period after a Tummy Tuck?

Swelling is normal after the surgery and could last for a couple of days along with some pain. The pain is usually the result of the muscle tightening and could be managed with over the counter pain killers. Other methods to reduce the pain include putting a pillow under the knees during sleep which reduces the tension on the abdominal muscles. Light physical activity is also important after the surgery to reduce the possibility of complications like deep venous thrombosis of the leg veins.

In most cases, the sutures are absorbable by the body and there won’t be any need to remove them after the surgery. A pressure garment is worn for six weeks around the abdomen to decrease the swelling and fluid collection under the skin. Recovery period is variable from one person to another. Some people can return to normal daily activities from 2-4 weeks after the surgery, but most people take around 6 weeks. It is advised that no strenuous physical activities or heavy lifting is done during the first 6 weeks after the surgery, however, some physical activity like walking and swimming is encouraged.

Benefits of Tummy Tuck

Tummy Tuck is one of the most popular surgeries which has a high rate of satisfaction from those who had it, since it is usually the best solution to treat laxity of the abdominal wall especially after pregnancy or massive body weight loss. This no doubt increases the self-esteem and confidence of the patient and encourages a healthy lifestyle.