An abdominoplasty, more commonly termed as a tummy tuck, is a major cosmetic operation that removes excess skin and fat from the lower and middle abdomen and from around the waist area. A tummy tuck can also be used to stiffen the muscles of the abdominal wall, which leaves patients with a tighter, flatter tummy and slimmer waist.

What can it do for you? This type of operation is usually sought by women (who are not considering having any more children) and individuals who have abdominal fat deposits which do not respond well to diet and exercise. It is also used after gastric banding surgery.

A mini tummy tuck can achieve many things that you cannot accomplish on your own, no matter how much you diet and work out. Diet and exercise may tone your muscles and help you lose weight, but they will not tighten your loose skin, nor will they tighten your saggy inner girdle. Therefore in such cases it is useful to you.

Depending on your desired results, this operation can take anywhere from three to five hours. You will receive general anesthesia, which will put you to sleep during the surgery. In this procedure your plastic surgeon will cut your abdomen from hipbone to hipbone, the option for those patients who want the most correction. The incision will be made low, your doctor will then manipulate and contour the skin, tissue and muscle as needed. Your naval will have a new opening if you undergo this procedure, since it's essential to free your navel from surrounding tissue. An abdominoplasty can also be combined with a liposuction treatment.

Charge A tummy tuck costs between 5,000 and 8,000.

Recuperation period

Rest is suggested after an abdominoplasty. Any sore or discomfort that follows operation can be controlled with oral medication. There will be a drainage tube in each side of your lower tummy to drain any blood or watery liquid that collects from the operation site. Bend your knees and hips slightly in order to decrease any sort of stress on your stitches.

For about a month afterwards you will require to wear an elastic support bandage around your stomach and anti-thrombosis compression stocking on your legs to prevent blood clots from forming. After about seven to fourteen days the stitches will be taken away, but youll still require to wear the support. The surgeons also put in deeper stitches and these are removed about 2 to three weeks after surgery.

In general, recovery from a tummytuck is a slow method and dressings are often needed for several weeks, depending on how much skin and fat you had removed and how well your scars are healing. While gentle walking is beneficial, experts recommend avoiding any vigorous exercise for about four to six weeks.

You can be back to your work after two to four weeks but for scars to disappear it takes at least a year.

Perils related to it Like most major surgery, a tummy tuck carries the hazard of poor healing and infection, but this can be treated with drainage and antibiotics.

Another problem is an irregular scar; a good scar will run from hip to hip and will be hidden under your bikini line. Few people may also observe red and puffy skin which your good surgeon can help you with afterwards. Loss of feeling on or around scar is also common in some of the patients.

One more risk is deep vein thrombosis, the formation of blood clots in the blood vessels. But your cosmetic surgeon will be well conscious of this risk, which is why youll be advised to gently walk around after the operation and wear compression stockings.

How dependable is an abdominoplasty Tummy tuck is usually permanent if the patient follows a balanced diet and regularly exercises.