What is a Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure where excess fat and extra skin is removed from the patient’s abdomen to give the patient a better physical appearance. Operations, deliveries, weight gain or sudden weight loss, aging, and other things may cause the stomach to look ungainly. Physical appearance being important, people may go in for plastic surgery which will improve their body contours and give them self confidence and good looks. This procedure is less risky and less complicated or dangerous than other operations. It is also affordable.

A tummy tuck consists of making one or two incisions depending upon the problem, removing the excess skin, removing fat through liposuction, tightening the muscles and restructuring or relocating the belly button. Once a decision is made to undergo the operation, a suitable hospital and doctor have to be finalized. Adequate research has to be done till the patient is fully satisfied that the best is being done on his body.

The whole tummy tuck surgery may take one to five hours and may even be done on an outpatient basis. Full or local anesthesia is administered and the first incision is made just above the pubic area. The navel is then gently removed from the surrounding tissue and another incision is made above the navel. The skin lap is lifted and the operation takes place. After the procedure the skin is sutured back into place and a bandage applied. Sometimes a tube is left behind to drain off the excess liquid.

After the procedure there may be some swelling, redness of the area and tenderness. The patient needs someone to take care of the patient for at least a couple of days. The patient should avoid over exerting themselves and take adequate rest. Some pain may be there but painkillers and medicines will take care of that. Though this operation is relatively risk free, there may be some danger in the form of allergies to anesthesia or medicines. There may be blood clots which can be avoided by moving about under the doctor’s guidance. If there is any rupture of the sutures or there is excessive bleeding the doctor has to be immediately consulted.

Though the scars fade and total recovery takes place between three to six months, some patients may have longer periods of recovery or their scars may look ungainly. In such cases the doctor may prescribe scar removing medicines or may even suggest another corrective procedure.