What is Abdominoplasty / Tummy Tuck
Prolonged deposition of excess fat in the front of the abdominal wall makes the skin and underlying soft tissue to grow along. This looseness of skin becomes very prominent when people lose weight in a drastic fashion. Pregnancy also causes a sudden enlargement of the abdomen and women are usually concerned about the loose skin and the weakness of the muscle wall after child birth. Fat and weight can be lost with exercise but the looseness of skin once present cannot be removed without surgery. Men and women with excess abdominal skin as well as fat need a special surgical procedure to remove both fat as well as the skin. This procedure is known as Abdominoplasty/Tummy tuck.
Abdominoplasty/Tummy Tuck Surgical Procedure
Tummy tuck surgery can be performed under spinal or general anaesthesia. With the availability of safer drugs, it is preferable to get the surgery done under general anaesthesia, provided the patient is comfortable with it. Hospitalization may or may not be needed depending on the extent of liposuction associated with tummy tuck.
First, a thorough liposuction of the abdominal skin is carried out. The excess skin then moves more easily and the skin is marked. The incision is marked within the bikini line and the excess skin is removed, the belly button is then cored out. The muscles are tightened in the midline as well as in the lower abdomen. If there is hernia in the region, then it is addressed during the procedure. Separation of muscles in the midline can also be fixed. The belly button is brought out through good skin and the incision is closed in layers over a drain. Contrary to popular belief, the belly button is not excised during the operation.
There are some minor variants in the techniques mainly in the use of technology. The “Cosmetic One” centers have all the modern technologies which include VASER (internal ultrasound for the perfectly contoured fat reduction), LASER ( for skin shrinkage along the jawline) and RFAL (only center in India to own this skin tightening device to be used along with liposuction in the arms, thighs and abdomen thus preventing skin removal and scars).
Benefits
Following the surgery, the patient is asked to wear a corset for about six weeks. A fluffy dressing is applied over the suture line. There will be some soreness for a few days but the patient will be essentially mobile. The drains if used are removed once the drainage is low. The patient is discharged from the hospital (if admitted) in a couple of days and will be able to walk and go about his or her routine activities albeit with care.