A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries for the body. As the name suggests, a tummy tuck flattens your stomach and makes it look better contoured. The procedure removes excess fat tissues, tightens or trims the excess skin, and restores the weakened muscles, giving you a smooth and contoured abdomen.
This article highlights everything you can expect from the tummy tuck preparation and procedure.
Preparation
- Medical Tests: You’ll have thorough lab testing done before the surgery to ensure you don’t have underlying conditions that interfere with the procedure. Your surgeon will most likely recommend a medical examination during your consultation.
- Recovery Plan: Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure involving downtime and a recovery period of 2 to 3 weeks. As such, you must plan for the recovery beforehand to ensure a smooth and comfortable recovery process, such as taking time off work and social events.
- Childcare: You should arrange for someone to look after your children during your recovery period. This includes picking them up from school, dropping them off, and other major events.
- Medications: You should disclose your entire list of medications, supplements, and drugs to your surgeon. According to their recommendations, you should stop taking medications that increase your risk of bleeding, such as aspirin and other anti-inflammatory medications. Your surgeon may also ask you to take other medications.
- Smoking: Cease smoking at least one month before your procedure. Smoking increases the risk of bleeding and prevents proper healing and recovery.
- Hydration: You must drink at least eight ounces of water every day leading up to the surgery. This strengthens your immune system, flushes out the toxins, and improves your recovery.
- Body Weight: Maintain a healthy body weight to ensure optimal success. A tummy tuck isn’t the same as a weight-loss procedure—it tightens your stomach, but only if you’re close to the ideal weight.
Procedure
A tummy tuck is performed as an in-office and outpatient procedure in the surgeon’s facility. You’ll be under general anesthesia, so you won’t feel or even be aware of the procedure. The entire procedure takes 2 to 3 hours, following which you can have someone drive you home. The specific details of your tummy tuck will depend on your specific condition—the best surgeons personalize each treatment according to the patient. Schedule a consultation.
However, the following are some of the steps involved in a typical tummy tuck:
- Horizontal or elliptical incision between the belly button and pubic region
- Removal of excess fat tissues to flatten your stomach
- Removal of excess skin tissues to prevent sagging skin
- Tightening of the connective tissues over the abdominal muscles
- Repositioning the skin around the belly button
- Suturing the bellybutton in the normal position
- Suturing the incision to leave a scar along the bikini line
- Antibiotic prescription to prevent infections
