Do You Want To Get A Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a cosmetic surgical procedure performed to tighten the abdominal wall muscles.

In tummy tuck surgery, the excess skin and fat is removed from the lower and middle abdomen to make it firmer. In most cases, the surgery restores separated or weakened muscle thus creating a smoother abdominal profile. This surgery is usually sought by women with loose stomach tissue as a result from pregnancy and by individuals that are experiencing sagging of the abdomen due to aging or weight loss.

Qualifications For Abdominoplasty

If you are considering abdominoplasty, you have to first make sure that you meet the qualifications and that you are a good candidate for this surgery. Initially, you should understand the risks of surgery and you should be ready to handle all these risks. Undergoing surgery is not easy and it needs careful preparation. Next, you should be in good health with a stable weight for at least 6 months or more. You should also be approximately close to 30% of the way near your ideal or desired weight. Furthermore, you must have good skin elasticity. On a side note, the skin of older people is usually less elastic. Another important qualification is that you should not be a smoker. And lastly, your expectations should be realistic. Even if you do not meet all of the qualifications needed, you may still be a good candidate. It is important that you consult your surgeon about this matter.

Postponing The Surgery

If you are planning a future pregnancy or intending to lose a lot of weight, it is advisable to take the surgery after the pregnancy or the weight loss. This is because the result of the surgery may be negatively affected by significant fluctuations in weight and by the expected stretching of the abdomen during pregnancy.

Risks And Complications

Generally, tummy tuck surgery is considered safe. However, serious complications may arise, although they are uncommon. Because of this, you need to weigh the benefits and risks first before you give your final decision. One of the common problems that the patient may encounter is the collection of fluid between the muscle and the skin after removing the drains of fat. Nonetheless, your surgeon can remedy this problem by using a needle to aspirate the fluid. Another complication that may arise after the surgery is blood cots. You can reduce this risk by moving around as soon as the surgery is finished so that blood will not pool and create a clot. Blood clots can cause a heart attack, stroke or pulmonary embolism.

Several other possible risks and complications include bleeding, nerve damage, swelling, skin loss, skin discoloration, negative reactions to anesthesia, and heavy scars. Complications may prolong the healing process and they may even call for an additional surgery. But you can reduce the risk of complications if you follow the instructions from your surgeon carefully.

Different Procedures

The tummy tuck procedure that will be performed on you will depend on your ideal weight or desired result. If you are only within 10% of your ideal weight, you can opt for a partial or mini abdominoplasty. If your current weight is above 20% of your ideal weight, you can have a complete abdominoplasty or an extended abdominoplasty, the latter is composed of a complete abdominoplasty and a lateral thigh lift.