Tummy Tuck and Abdominoplasty Surgery
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty), surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the middle / lower abdomen, and tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. The surgery can dramatically reduce the appearance of protruding abdomen, stomach or belly. Results of this type of surgery, provides the patient with a firm, flatter abdomen and a narrow waist. Also, can enhance a persons self esteem or feel better. Beware, scarring will be seen after surgery, which may require additional surgery, can help to correct this situation. Patients that are best qualify for this surgery, previously tried exercise and diet, without any success. Also, patients are in good physical health. Women that had gone through multiple pregnancies, which caused their abdominal muscle skin to stretch, to the point, were surgery is the only option to correct his problem. Women that plan on having children,in the future should postpone this surgery. If a woman has tummy tuck surgery, and later gets pregnant, she may develop hernias, because the muscles in her abdominal area were tightened. Sometimes tummy tuck procedure is performed during gynecological surgeries, such as bladder or hysterectomy.
During the examination, plastic surgeon will evaluate the degree of loose skin, and access fat in the abdomen, when the patient is standing and lying down. Two areas of fat: Intra-abdominal and extrabdominal. Intra-abdominal fat surrounding the internal organs, and Omentum fat blanket or guardian, which found in abdomen, covers all the organs. This type of fat is not usually removed, because of the extent of aggressive surgery required. The intra-abdominal fat creates the large distended belly. Extrabdominal fat located between muscle and skin. This type of fat is removed by a tummy tuck or liposuction procedure. Thousands of abdominoplasties are performed each year. From 1997 to 2001, Tummy Tuck surgeries increased by 72 percent.
Abdominoplasty should be done by plastic surgeon with years of experience and training. A surgeon should provide prospect patients, before and after pictures, from previous tummy tuck surgeries performed. Understand this type of surgery, does have some risk to the patient. Infection and blood clots can happen postoperative, but are rare. Smokers are advised to stop smoking one to two weeks, prior to surgery, since they are more likely to have poor healing, and risk other complications. Patients that have been taking prescribed medications, vitamins, or other drugs, may be more likely to have complications, and should notify their surgeon before surgery.
Different types of tummy tuck surgeries. Patients requiring less evasive procedure to remove fat, suitable for partial abdominoplasty or min-tummy tuck. Muscle tissue, and naval area is not touched during the surgery. This procedure performed, in outpatient basis. Partial or complete abdominoplasty with liposuction, removes fat (from the hips), and create a better body contour. Sometimes only utilizing liposuction, would achieve best results. Endoscopic abdominopplasty technique minimizes scars, and useful for mild degree, excess fat, and muscle laxity. Local anesthetic, and / or intravenous sedation would be administered, depending on the extent of the surgery. Also, medication is provided to control minimal pain and discomfort.
Tummy Tuck surgery takes between two to five hours, depending on the extent of work. Partial abdominaplasty may take an hour or two. Just above the pubic area, the surgeon will make a long incision from hipbone to hipbone. Second incision maybe required, around the navel, from the surrounding tissue. Area of skin maybe tightened, and stitched. Vertical muscles underneath the ribs are stitched, into their new position, which provides a firm abdominal wall and narrows waistline. After the incision, separates the skin from the abdominal area, the skin flap is stretched, and excessive skin is removed. A temporary tube maybe inserted to drain excess fluid, from the surgical area, and a dressing is applied. Depending on the extent of the surgery, the patient maybe hospitalized for two or three days. Some surgeries, patients require only a few hours to recover, before being released. Stitches are removed five to seven days, after surgery. Deeper sutures that protrude through the skin will be removed, in two to three weeks. Full recovery may take several weeks or months. Initially swelling will appear, but will disappear during the healing. Patients can normally go back to work weeks or months after surgery, depending on the extent of surgery, and healing process. Moderate Exercise is recommended to help healing, which lower chance of blood clots and tone muscles.
Insurance companies usually don’t cover the cost for abdominoplasty, which is considered a cosmetic or aesthetic procedure. However, medical reasons such as a hernia, may justify insurance companies to pay for this surgery or a portion of the cost. Insurance companies may require a letter from a surgeon, as predetermination to justify the medical reason, for reimbursement. The average cost for adbominoplasty: $6,000 – $10,000 with anesthesia, according to American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Many surgeons will offer financing for this procedure.
Many people may need to diet, before undergoing tummy tuck surgery, and be at least eighteen years old. There is no necessity to reach a certain weight before surgery, but is desirable for patients to maintain a stable weight, at least six months before surgery. Ideally a patient should be within twenty pounds of their weight, before surgery. Also, ability for the patient, exercise or maintain the weight loss, after surgery.
Locate a plastic surgeon, which is accredited by American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Referral Service telephone: 1 – 888 – 4754 – 2784 or Contact: media@plasticsurgery.org. According to the New York Times – Life Style Magazine annual glossary of beauty experts (October 2005), Dr. David Stoker of Marine Plastic Surgery, as one of the top plastic surgeons in the United States for liposuction (Tummy Tuck). The practice located in Southern California (Website: http:// www. marinaplasticsurgery.com).
