Description

Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty – Tummy Tuck

Overview

Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure that aims to
have abdomen look better.

Sequential weight gain and loss and genetic features
lead to various deformities in the abdominal region. Apart from these,
especially pregnancy can also cause a deformity due to relaxation of abdominal
muscles and loss of skin tone.

If your abdominal skin has lost its flexibility and
sags, abdominoplasty is performed to remove excess skin and fats.

Abdominoplasty is the most popular surgical procedure
in body shaping and it is performed to correct and eliminate sagging abdominal
skin, stretch marks, and deformities. With this surgery, the loose and sagging
skin of the lower abdomen is removed and the abdominal muscles are
concomitantly stretched.

Why is the abdominoplasty procedure done?

The abdominal region is the pioneering body part,
where excess fat is stored. Excess fat collection in this area over time causes
loss of elasticity in the skin and therefore leads to excess skin formation.
The muscles and connective tissue that support the abdominal region weaken and
lengthen due to this abnormal load.

In addition to the negative influences of weight gain
and loss cycles, pregnancy also has adverse effects on the skin, muscles and
supportive tissues of the abdominal area.

As a result of all these processes, abdominal skin
sags under influence of the gravity force.

Abdominoplasty is done to remove excess belly skin and
accumulated fat. Thus, appearance is improved and your belly looks smooth and
firm.

At the same time, the stretch marks, which result from
pregnancy and weight loss and gain, are removed.

Although incisions made for the cesarean sections are
hidden in the bikini area, incision scars can also be removed during abdominoplasty.

Abdominoplasty can be combined with other cosmetic
procedures that target another body part, such as breast augmentation, breast
lift (mastopexy), or liposuction. The procedure is called “Mommy
Makeover” and performed to restore and improve the appearance of a mother
after childbirth, weight gain and breastfeeding.

You should discuss the aim of abdominoplasty with our
plastic surgeon in order to get the most realistic and satisfactory outcomes.

Risks

As the case for all surgeries, there are some risks
involved in abdominoplasty.

Although all possible measures that modern medicine
allows are taken to prevent occurrence of risks, it is no means possible to
warrant that the risks will be completely eliminated.

Patient selection is also important in tummy tuck.
Abdominoplasty may not be performed if a future pregnancy is planned, the
volume of fat accumulation in the abdomen is extremely high and overall health
does not allow a surgical procedure. Such contraindications will be considered
carefully by your doctor.

Potential complications of abdominoplasty are listed
below:

• Bleeding and blood accumulation beneath the
  incision line (hematoma)
• Infection
• Abnormal scar tissue formation
• Loss or change of sensation (numbness) in the
  abdominal skin
• Fluid accumulation in the incision area (seroma)
• Unsatisfactory outcome
• Anesthesia-related complications

Our expert surgery team will employ all practices to
minimize the risk of complications and our plastic surgeons will preoperatively
inform you about risks listed above and all other potential complications and
will address all your concerns.

Preparation

The first phase of preoperative preparation is same in
all Medicana Hospitals. After you decide to have a tummy tuck and discuss with
our plastic surgeons, following examinations are performed to decide whether
you can undergo this surgery:

• Review of health history
• A detailed physical examination
• Necessary laboratory tests and radiology studies
• Assessment by anesthesiologist and other
  laboratory tests and radiology studies to minimize anesthesia-related
  complications

After it is verified that the surgery does not pose
risk, you will be asked to quit smoking, if you are a smoker, and to stop
taking certain medications that increase risk of bleeding. All other prescribed
and over-the-counter medications, herbal products and supplements will also be
questioned and you will be informed to continue or stop taking them.

A preoperative discussion with your plastic surgeon
about abdominoplasty is very important. You are asked to think about a series
of issues and you are also informed in detail about the procedure. All details
of the procedure, potential risks and healing period are explained.

You will also be instructed to stop eating and
drinking at a particular time before the surgery and you should strictly follow
this instruction in order to undergo the surgery at the scheduled date.

Moreover, it is reasonable to plan discharge,
post-discharge accommodation and travel at this phase in order to manage
postoperative period better.

Surgery and early postoperative period

Abdominoplasty is performed by an expert plastic
surgery team under general anesthesia. Therefore, you will be unconscious
during the surgery and you will feel nothing, including pain. The procedure
takes approximately 3 hours.

As various surgical techniques are available, your
plastic surgeon will determine the best abdominoplasty technique and you will
preoperatively be informed about details.

Excess skin and accumulated fats in the belly are
removed. Then, abdominal muscles, supportive tissues and the fascia – a
membrane that covers abdominal muscles – are stretched and tightened.

As a result of excess skin and fat removal, the
position of your belly button may change and accordingly, the belly button is transferred
to or near the original position.

The incisions made for this surgery are hidden through
the natural crease of the skin.

When the surgery is completed, small drains are placed
as a precaution against bleeding risk. The suture line will be covered with
wound dressing. You will be notified about the time the drains will be removed,
the dressing is done and the stitches are removed. If absorbable stitches are
used, it is not necessary to remove the suture.

After you recover from anesthesia and you are ready to
walk, you will be mobilized by or under supervision of our healthcare
professionals.

You will be given pain killer(s) after the surgery in
order to manage the postoperative pain. The swelling in and around the incision
line will regress over time. You may also need to use antibiotics to prevent a
possible infection.

The scar tissue that forms along the incision line
will fade over time, but its color will never be identical to your skin tone.

If your plastic surgeon used non-absorbable stitches
and placed a drain to prevent the accumulation of excess fluid and/or blood
beneath the incision line, your doctor will instruct you the date they will be
removed (usually the first postoperative follow-up visit).

What you need to do to protect your surgical area will
be explained in detail. In addition, you will need to avoid heavy lifting and
quick movements for a time interval that your plastic surgeon determines to
prevent the occurrence of wound dehiscence.

After abdominoplasty, you will wear a corset for a
particular period that your doctor has indicated. It is very important that you
follow all the instructions of your doctor after the surgery to protect and
support the outcome of the surgery.

You should visit your plastic surgeon for follow-up
visits that are scheduled before you are discharged.

If you experience warmth and redness in your incision
line or breast, or if you have a fever or any symptoms that you think are due
to surgery after you are discharged, contact your plastic surgeon immediately.

Results

Your belly will appear firm and well-shaped after
excess skin and fat are removed.

If you follow your doctor’s instructions carefully and
avoid weight gain, this improved appearance of the belly will last for a long
time.