Tummy Tuck Surgery (Abdominoplasty)

The mini- tummy tuck, a less extensive procedure, may also be performed for patients whose fat deposits are limited to the area below the navel. Liposuction may be performed in conjunction with both the full and mini- tummy tuck, and in some patients liposuction alone may provide the best result.

Am I a Good Candidate for Tummy Tuck Surgery?

The ideal candidate for a tummy tuck should be of a normal healthy weight with localized fat deposits in the abdominal area that do not respond to diet and exercise.

Possible Tummy Tuck Risks and Complications

When performed by an experienced board certified plastic surgeon, tummy tuck complications are rare. Nevertheless, such complications should be taken into account when considering any plastic surgery procedure. Depending on the individual and his/her adherence to the surgeon’s instructions there may be risk of excessive bleeding, infection, and/or reaction to anesthesia.
Scarring will result, but the incisions are made where they will appear as inconspicuous as possible. Poor healing and wider scars are more common in smokers.

Preparing for Surgery

If you are a smoker, you are strongly encouraged to refrain from smoking for at least one week prior to the procedure and continue to refrain from smoking until your incisions have healed (about two weeks after the procedure). This will promote faster healing and reduce the risk of infection. At your preoperative visit, your surgeon will discuss your expectations and the tummy tuck cost as well as provide a homeopathic remedy such as Arnica, which is taken the day before surgery and a week to ten days after to help reduce the effects of bruising and swelling.

Tummy Tuck Procedure

The tummy tuck procedure takes between two and five hours depending on the extent of the procedure. Once anesthetized, you will be cleaned and draped. Next your plastic surgeon will make an incision from hipbone to hipbone and a second incision around the navel to free it from surrounding tissue. Working through the incisions, your surgeon will pull the muscles closer together and stitch them in their new position. Liposuction may be used to remove excess fat. Excess skin is removed. Sutures close the incisions.

After Tummy Tuck Surgery

During the tummy tuck recovery, you’ll be dressed in gauze and a support garment. A small tube may be placed in the abdomen to drain off blood and fluids for the first day. Any discomfort experienced after the procedure is controlled with oral pain medications. Bandages will be removed a day or two after surgery, though you’ll continue wearing the support garment for one month. Stitches are removed one week after surgery. Deeper sutures are removed after two or three weeks following surgery. Until the swelling and bruising subsides (usually one to two weeks). In most cases, stitches will be removed within one to three weeks.

Most are able to return to work, school or other social activities within two weeks but should continue to take it easy for three weeks. Physical activity should be limited (i.e. stretching, walking, and swimming) for one month.