Primarily known as a tummy tuck, Abdominoplasty helps in removing excess fat and skin from your body. The main goal is to restore your weakened muscles to create a firmer and smoother abdominal profile. Reputed and accredited surgeons are given the opportunity to work on such a detailed procedure. Patient safety is a must, and these doctors know that pretty well.
The basic steps to follow:
Before you go for a tummy tuck, it is better to run down the procedures quickly. The reliable surgeon will have a direct consultation with you, telling you everything about the process and steps involved. Let’s run down some points on that.
•Anesthesia:
The first step is anesthesia, where the medicines will be administered for your comfort, right during the surgical process. The choices will have general anesthesia and intravenous sedation, which seems comfortable for your use.
•The incision:
For a completely Abdominoplasty, surgeons will need to work on a horizontal incision in the area right between the pubic hairline and the belly button. The length and shape of the incision will determine the excess skin to be removed. When the Abdominal skin gets lifted up, it will showcase the underlying weakened muscles, which are to be repaired.
Then a second incision takes place around the navel region, if necessary, to remove excess skin in the upper abdomen. Next, the upper abdominal skin will be pulled down just like a shade of window. Excessive skin will then get trimmed off, and the remaining skin will be sutured. A new belly button opening will then be created. It will pop through the surface region first and then get into its position.
•Closing incisions:
Various tools are used by doctors for closing the skin incisions. Some doctors will use tapes, skin adhesives, sutures, or even clips for closing the areas. This surgery will result in one firmer and flatter abdominal contour. It will be highly proportionate to the weight and body type.
Who must not head for a tummy tuck operation?
In case you are planning to get pregnant, then remember to postpone a tummy tuck until you are done having children. When this surgery takes place, the vertical muscles will be tightened up. In the future, the pregnancies can separate those muscles but not right after you get the surgery done.
On the other hand, if you are trying to lose some weight, then a tummy tuck is not a perfect option for you. It needs to be the ultimate last resort when you have tried everything else for losing weight, but nothing seems to be working for you. It can never be the alternative to weight loss.
Remember to check in with the scars after you are done getting an Abdominoplasty. Before the surgery takes place, have a detailed conversation with your doctor regarding the scar length and placement.
Can tummy tuck remove stretch marks?
Well, there is a mixed answer to this question. Perhaps it can, but it is not a sure shot answer. Generally speaking, tummy tuck surgeries will not correct stretch marks. But, during this whole process, in case the marks are located on extra skin to be removed, then you can remove stretch marks. Moreover, stretch marks can be removed during surgery but not quite corrected.
How to prepare for the surgery:
It takes general anesthesia to start the process of Abdominoplasty. The entire surgery will take around 2 to 3 hours. It is advised sometimes to stay in the hospital overnight. When you are literally preparing for the surgery, make sure to follow a healthy diet routine. In case you are a smoker, you have to stop smoking at least four weeks before the surgery. Even post-operation, you must refrain from smoking for a minimum of four weeks.
• For the first few days after surgery, you will need someone at home always by your side. If you are living alone, arrange for a friend.
• The selected person who will stay with you must help you with groceries, cleaning, and even taking care of pets, if any. You need to give that person complete responsibility to take care of your home when you are recovering.
• You need someone to get you to the hospital and even back from there when the surgery is over. You can’t drive after the surgery for sure.
• Before the surgery process starts, make sure to get adequate time off from your work. You need to take leave for a minimum of 2 to 3 weeks. Speak to your surgeons during the preoperative consultations for some extra guidance.
Just before the surgery takes place, you must not eat or drink anything after midnight, the night before your tummy tucks surgery. Six hours prior to surgery, you are not allowed to eat solids or drink any milk-based fluid.
How to recover well from the surgery:
It is true that tummy tuck is a major surgical procedure, and it takes time to recover. It is vital that you get enough time to recover. There is no point in rushing it all. In general cases, it takes a minimum of 2 weeks to recover from the surgery. After that, you can start off with low-intensity work, like any probable desk job. For other heavy or physical tasks, you need to give your body a minimum of 6 weeks’ time.
• Whenever you are trying to sleep, try to bend the needs, prop up pillows, and ensure that you are not putting too much pressure on the sutures during night time.
• After you are done with surgery, you must adjust gait for allowing you a smoother recovery process. For that, you have to lean slightly forward while walking. It helps in reducing the pressure on new sutures.
If you have swelled up right after the surgery, then it is pretty normal. Give yourself 2 to 3 weeks’ time for the swelling to subside. After that, the healing process starts at its own pace. Don’t try to rush into things as that might deteriorate the condition even more. You will start seeing the initial results after six weeks of surgery. Remember that the healing process might be slow, so hold your horses!
