Abdominoplasty - The Tummy Tuck Procedure
The tummy tuck procedure otherwise known as abdominoplasty is major surgery in which excess skin and fat are removed from the middle of the abdomen and the abdominal wall is tightened.
Who Gets The Tummy Tuck Procedure?
Most patients who get a tummy tuck are mothers who have loose, sagging skin after pregnancy or individuals who have lost large amounts of weight and have problems with sagging skin.
If a female patient who has had children wants to continue to give birth to more children, plastic surgeons agree that the patient should wait until she is finished having all her children before getting a tummy tuck. If she gets a tummy tuck procedure and then has another child, the pregnancy will stretch the muscles back out and will undo the effects of the tummy tuck.
Consider Elective Surgery Carefully
The tummy tuck procedure is virtually never a medical necessity. Patients should consider all their options before they decide to have a tummy tuck. The procedure is major surgery, and it carries with it all the risks associated with undergoing anesthesia and surgery, including death.
Moreover, many cosmetic surgery candidates have unrealistic expectations about the results of their surgery. Although a tummy tuck procedure will result in the patient's having a nice, flat stomach, the procedure will not change a person's life or turn them into a different individual.
Complications Of The Tummy Tuck Procedure
No surgery is without the risk of complications. With a tummy tuck, patients should discuss all the potential risks with their doctor well in advance of the surgery. The surgeon should encourage questions from the patient and should be approachable if the patient has a question about risks.
Some of the complications that may occur with a tummy tuck procedure are infections and blood clots. If these possibilities concern the patient, doctor and patient should have a frank discussion about the patient's fears and concerns.
One complication of every surgery is the development of scar tissue. Every surgery creates permanent scar tissue, and a patient who expects to wear a bikini after surgery and look perfect might have to be careful to keep her scar covered when she puts that bikini on.
Where To Get A Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck procedure can be performed in a hospital or, in some circumstances, in an outpatient surgical center. A full blown tummy tuck will usually take about two to five hours to complete, while a mini tuck will take between one and two hours for the surgeon to perform.
