The ideal candidates to undergo Tummy Tuck are those women or men who have a relatively good shape but are concerned about the accumulation of fat or excess skin in the abdomen and is not improving despite diet or exercise. This surgery is especially helpful for women who have had multiple pregnancies, after which the skin and abdominal muscles are relaxed and have not recovered their initial tone. Can also better loss of elasticity of the skin in older people, a situation often associated with moderate obesity. Those patients who must lose much weight should postpone the surgery, as patients who intend to have future pregnancies, as during surgery vertical abdominal muscles tighten and can return to relax during it. If there are previous scars on the abdomen, this surgery may be contraindicated or scars can change position. In other cases, this surgery gets eliminated.

In the initial consultation, your plastic surgeon will evaluate your health, determine the extent of the accumulation of fat in the abdomen and skin tone. Be sure to mention if you smoke, are taking medication or vitamins. You should state your expectations sincere and straightforward manner, so that the plastic surgeon is also frank and show the alternatives available to your problem, with the risks and limitations of each. If for example you only have fat accumulation in the area below the navel, may be sufficient conducting a less complex procedure called mini-abdominoplasty, which requires a shorter stay in the clinic and takes less time. In other cases, whether it is to perform a full tummy tuck or mini-tummy tuck, liposuction may be associated hips to improve body shape more harmoniously.

LThe tummy tuck and mini-tummy tuck is always performed in the operating room, within a clinic or hospital. They are procedures that consultation should not be done. Liposuction should also be performed in the operating room under strict aseptic conditions.

The type of anesthesia used to perform a tummy tuck is general anesthesia, during which you will be asleep pending surgery. In some cases, especially in the mini-abdominoplasty and abdominal liposuction can be used local anesthesia and sedation, so that during surgery you will be awake but relaxed, and the abdomen is insensitive to pain (sometimes can feel discomfort).

Complete abdominoplasty usually takes between 2 and 4 hours, depending on the amount of correction needed. A mini-abdominoplasty usually takes between 1 and 2 hours. Abdominoplasty is performed through a long incision from hipbone to hipbone, just above the pubis. A second incision is made around the navel, to separate it from the surrounding tissues.

In the mini-abdominoplasty a much smaller incision is used, also above the pubis, no incision around the navel, which in some cases can be lowered to stretch the skin still necessary.

Then the skin of the abdominal wall up to the ribs, exposing the abdominal muscles is separated. These muscles are tightened and united in the midline, thus providing a firmer abdominal wall and a narrower waist. The separated skin is stretched towards the pubis and the extra skin removed da; the navel is placed in its new position. Finally the sutures are made and a bandage and a temporary drainage tube placed to remove excess fluid that may accumulate in the operated area. In the mini-abdominoplasty, the skin is separated only between the incision and the navel, excess skin is removed and the sutures are made.

During the first days the abdomen is usually somewhat swollen and may notice some discomfort or pain that is controlled with medication. Depending on the extent of surgery, you can go home after a few hours or stay 2 or 3 days in the clinic. Your plastic surgeon will give you instructions for showering and changing bandages. Although the principle should not stretch at all, you should start walking as soon as possible. The points of the external skin will be removed between 5 and 7 days; internal points, the ends go through the ends of the incision, in 2 or 3 weeks. The dressing is replaced by an abdominal binder.

It may take a few weeks to a few months returning to feel as before. If your pre-surgery physical condition is good, including strong abdominal muscles, recovery from abdominoplasty will be faster. Some people return to work in about two weeks, while others require 3 or 4 weeks of rest and recovery. Exercise helps to recover before. Even people who do not practice sport before surgery should perform an exercise program to reduce swelling, decrease the possibility of venous thrombus formation and tone muscles. However, heavy exercise should be avoided until you feel comfortable. Scars can give the appearance worsens during the first 3-6 months while they are healing period; this is normal. Wait between 9 months and 1 year for the scar to flatten and rinse. Although never disappear scars, these will not be visible, even when bikini or bathing is carried out.

Every year hundreds of tucks are performed successfully. When performed by a qualified plastic surgeon the results are usually very good. However, there are always risks that surgery is performed, as complications related to this particular procedure. The complications after surgery, such as infection or venous thrombi may occur, but are rare. The infection resolved with antibiotics and drainage, but will prolong the stay in the clinic. Moving the legs and getting up as soon as permitted by surgery prevent venous thrombi. Bad scarring can cause scarring of poor quality that sometimes require a second surgery. Smokers should quit smoking a few weeks before surgery and should be warned that the snuff increases the chance of complications and delays healing. You can reduce the risk of complications by carefully following the instructions given by your plastic surgeon before and after surgery, especially those that relate to when to resume physical activity.

Abdominoplasty, whether full or mini-abdominoplasty, provides excellent results in patients whose abdominal muscles are weak and have excess skin and fat. In most cases the results are definitive, provided they are accompanied by a balanced diet and regular exercise. If you are realistic about your expectations and is able to tolerate the presence of a final abdominal scar, but concealable, and long recovery period, abdominoplasty may be suitable for you.

Sometimes, there are unsightly scars in the abdominal region, mostly due to previous surgery on the abdominal cavity. Although there are no means to completely remove a scar, if you can improve your appearance through a new procedure in which the scar is removed and sutured back in top condition. These interventions are usually performed under local anesthesia with or without sedation; not usually require hospitalization. The duration of the procedure is usually 1 hour. Recovery is rapid.

The information contained on this website in no case, nor intended, to replace the information provided individually by your plastic surgeon. If in doubt, your plastic surgeon will provide appropriate clarifications.