Tummy Tuck Surgery Facts

Are sit-ups failing to give you the tight tummy that you have been starving yourself to achieve? When you have a lot of fat or excess skin in your abdomen that does not act in response to your strict diet and exhausting workouts, you might consider a tummy tuck, or what your doctor often call as abdominoplasty. This type of surgery flattens your abdomen by getting rid of excess fat and skin and aligning muscles in your abdominal walls.

A tummy tuck differs with liposuction although you may opt to have these two surgeries together. It is a major surgical procedure, however, so if you are thinking about it, you should understand all the facts about the process before you decide to have the operation or not.

Eligible Candidates For Abdominoplasty

An abdominoplasty is suitable for men and women who are in good health conditions. Women may opt for the surgery especially if she has had a few pregnancies and may find the operation beneficial for the tightening of her abdominal muscles and reducing excess skin. The procedure is also an alternative for individuals who were once obese and loose skin or excess fat deposits still exist around the tummy.

If you plan to get pregnant, then any surgical procedure in your abdomen needs to be postponed. While in surgery, tightening of vertical muscles is performed so a future pregnancy can split those muscles.

Abdominoplasty should not be used as an option for your weight loss goals. It should be your last choice if you plan to shed a lot of weight.

Surgery Preparations for a Tummy Tuck

The first and most important step upon deciding to undergo surgery is to choose your surgeon and discuss with him or her all pertinent details about the operation. Your doctor will give you the following options with regards to the type and extent of the medical procedure:

- Complete abdominoplasty. Your surgeon will slice your abdomen from hipbone to hipbone and subsequently shape the skin, muscles, and tissue as required. The operation entails moving your belly button, and you may need drainage tubes underneath your skin for a few days.

- Mini or partial abdominoplasty. Partial abdominoplasties are usually performed on people whose excess fat deposits are found below the navel. Throughout the surgery, your belly button may not be transferred and as the case may be, may only take up to two hours.

Your surgeon will request that you stop smoking for at least two weeks before your operation and another two weeks post surgery. Smoking will make complications more inclined to happen and slows down your healing.

Refrain from attempting a drastic diet right before your surgery. Be sure to eat complete, well-balanced meals to enable full recovery after your operation.

Notify your doctor about all herbal medicines, prescription drugs, and any other supplements taken. He or she may recommend for you to stop taking some medications prior and post surgery time.

Abdominoplasty procedure may cost between $4000 and $12500, depending on your chosen surgeon, geographical location, whether complete or partial surgery and some other factors.