TUMMY TUCK (ABDOMINOPLASTY)
1. What is tummy tuck/ abdominoplasty?
Abdominoplasty (also known as tummy tuck) is a surgery to
remove the excess skin and fat on the abdomen that may accumulate after
pregnancy, obesity, or age. In a full Abdominoplasty, abdominal muscles that
may have become stretched are also tightened.
2. At what age is Abdominoplasty usually performed?
There is no "normal" age or time in one's life to
have an Abdominoplasty, but it is most often done after a woman has given birth
and does not plan to have more children, or after someone (male or female) has
lost excess weight.
3. How is a tummy tuck surgery performed?
A full tummy tuck is usually performed under general
anesthesia. The Plastic surgeon makes an incision across the lower abdomen just above
your pubic bone and pubic hair. This incision may go from hip to hip, but it is
usually placed so that it will be hidden by your under-garments. The excess
skin and fat below the belly button is removed. Abdominal muscles are tightened
and the belly button (umbilicus) is re-positioned in the normal place.
4. What are the different techniques for Abdominoplasty?
Mini Abdominoplasty
where only the excess skin is removed when the skin laxity is not too much.
Full Abdominoplasty
where the entire skin under the belly button is removed, the abdominal muscles
are tightened and the umbilicus is re-positioned.
Lipo-Abdominoplasty
where along with the Full Abdominoplasty the flanks and skin flaps require
liposuction is done to give the best possible contour.
4. How long is the stay in Hospital and in recovery?
You are advised to stay for 5 days post- surgery in the
hospital if a Full Abdominoplasty is done. . You would be instructed to remain
in a reclining position in bed for 7-10 days and allowed to walk bending over
slightly to avoid tension on the suture line for the first 4 to 5 days after
surgery. The sutures are usually taken off after 10 days and you can resume
active work in 2 weeks.
5. Is there much pain associated with Abdominoplasty?
We provide for Patient Controlled Analgesia where you
control the amount of pain medication as per your requirement and staying alert
and comfortable throughout your stay in the Hospital.
6. Where are the scars located in an Abdominoplasty?
We use techniques that leave a scar which is well hidden by a standard bikini/ under-garments. Ideally, having no scar would be
wonderful, but that isn't possible – yet.
7. Will a tummy tuck help my stretch marks?
Yes depending on where the stretch marks are located. A full
tummy tuck removes most of the skin in the lower abdomen, and any stretch marks
in this zone will be removed along with the loose skin. Stretch marks outside
of that zone are treated with fractional CO2 Laser.
8. What are the risks involved in Abdominoplasty?
Every surgery carriers with it its own list of
complications. The risk of these complications happening are minimal but the
patient has to be aware of their existence.
Bleeding; Seroma; Infection ; Change in Skin Sensation; Skin Scarring; Asymmetry; Delayed Healing; Allergic reactions; Skin Contour
Irregularities; Pulmonary Complications; Pain
Umbilicus- Malposition, scarring, unacceptable appearance or
loss of the umbilicus (navel) may occur.
Surgical anesthesia- Both local and general anesthesia
involves risk. There is the possibility
of complications, injury, and even death from all forms of surgical anesthesia
or sedation.
Smokers have a greater risk of skin loss and wound healing
complications.
Long term effects- Subsequent alterations in body contour
may occur as the result of aging, weight loss or gain, pregnancy, or other
circumstances not related to abdominoplasty.
Other- You may be disappointed with the results of
surgery. Infrequently, it is necessary
to perform additional surgery to improve your results.
9. Why not do liposuction instead of tummy tuck?
The majority of female patients who have excessive abdominal
fat find that they are very happy with the results of a simple abdominal
liposuction. But when there is excessive fat and excess skin only tummy tuck
can give satisfactory results.
10. Is this surgery covered under Health Insurance?
Most health insurance companies do not include cosmetic
surgical operations such as abdominoplasty or any complications that might
occur from surgery. Please carefully
review your health insurance subscriber-information pamphlet.
DR ASHISH GUPTA
Senior Consultant & Head
Dept. of Plastic & Micro-Vascular Surgery
S.P.S. Hospitals, Ludhiana
(Formerly; Apollo Hospitals)
Mobile: +91-977977-1111
