Surely you have heard of some famous celebrity who has gone under the knife to get a tummy tuck.
But plastic surgery is not just a celebrity affair. Many people is obsessing over having a flat belly and slim waist. If that is your case, your solution could be a tummy tuck.
A tummy tuck is a cosmetic procedure to achieve a flat abdomen by eliminating the pooch on the lower belly region. The surgeon takes off the extra skin lying near the waist area. The abdomen is contoured; it becomes strong and flat after surgery.
This surgery is also known as abdominoplasty, which is undertaken by:
- People have loose skin in their lower stomachs.
- Healthy weight people who have an extra fat problem.
- Unshaped tummy due to aging.
A tummy tuck can be combined with abdominal liposuction. People also undergo this surgery to boost their self-esteem and confidence.
A less invasive surgical option is possible: a mini tummy tuck. This procedure can be undergone if your excess skin is located only in the lower half of your abdomen. So, a mini tummy tuck targets only the area below the belly button and above the bikini line.
In this article, we will be addressing some commonly raised questions about the tummy tuck procedure.
How Does The Procedure Start?
During the process, the surgeon will cut off the excess skin. Based on the level of skin trimmed, even the stretch marks reduce or become unnoticeable after the procedure.
As a first step, an incision of 4” to 8” long is made on the lower abdomen. An incision is nothing but the cut made on the skin, and the cut made during this process is bigger than the incision done in C-section.
(Note: if you have already had a C-section surgery, then the doctors will use the same incision to perform the tummy tuck surgery.)
After the incision, the surgeon will remove the extra skin and then stitch the remaining skin together into the right position. By this, you get a flat stomach as the result.
This whole process will take around 1-2 hours to complete after anesthesia. Also, during this process, some people might require liposuction if they have too much excess fat in their stomach area.
What Is The Price Estimate?
The cost will completely depend upon the amount of fat removed and the time it consumes.
During a first consultation, your surgeon will examine yoy and will give a clear explanation about the procedure. Generally, in the USA, the tummy tuck procedure costs between $3,500 and $8,000.
What Are The Physical Complications After The Procedure?
There are chances of complications occurring when we alter our natural bodies. But if we leave our body to a proper professional, then the complications are extremely rare.
Some popular minor complications after tummy tuck include tiny scars, a little asymmetric look, or even imperfect contouring.
If you are a smoker, then it is important to reduce smoking for a couple of weeks after surgery. This is because smokers tend to have infections post-surgery, and also it takes time for the surgical wound to heal.
How Much Is The Recovery Time?
During tummy tuck post-surgery, it is common to have mild pain for 24 hours, for which you have painkillers as prescribed.
Even mild swelling and bruising appear after the procedure, which will heal naturally.
The doctors will provide a special corset or tummy tightening pants to keep the tummy in shape. You will have to wear this for 6 weeks and must have a regular post-surgery check-up.
You will also take a Lymphatic massage to increase the elasticity of abdominal skin. You might not drive for at least a month. You can also not indulge yourself sexually for a month or at least 3 weeks.
Here the major goal is to follow your doctor’s advice so that you can recover within 12 weeks.
Does This Procedure Cause Big Scars?
Scars tend to appear if you are going to have a full-abdominal surgery. Most of the time, these scars are not seen as they are present on the lower abdomen of the body. These scars can be hidden by your underwear as it is present above your pubic region.
The scar is double if you are obese and more skin has to be removed. One horizontal and one vertical scar will appear after the surgery. These scars will fade away over some time but remain on the body.
Whereas in mini-abdominal surgery, you will have a smaller scar for a few weeks, and then it eventually fades away.
Above given are the commonly asked questions about tummy tuck by the patients before surgery. If you are planning to have your tummy tucked, then consult with the specialist to know all the ins and outs.
How is an abdominoplasty performed in the case of a man?
Abdominoplasty requires a different approach in men.
The intervention is necessary when the abdominal skin is distended and the abdominal muscles relaxed. Abdominoplasty will tighten the muscles of the abdomen and eliminate sagging skin.
The scar in men is located transversely and horizontally above the pubis. The scar is camouflaged by hair in the pubic area and by underwear.
The length of the scar will depend on the excess skin to be removed. During a complete abdominoplasty, there will also be a small circular scar around the navel.
The procedure is not recommended for men in whom the excess fat is inside the belly. In these cases, the patient should rather follow a dietary or even endocrinological diet.
How to sleep after an abdominoplasty?
After an abdominoplasty, specialists advise sleeping in a position that does not involve any stretching on the sutures.
It is advisable to sleep on your back and bend your legs by putting a support under your knees (pillows for example).
Being patient and respecting these rules will ensure good healing.
