Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck involves the removal of excess skin from the middle and lower abdomen. If someone also has excess of fat, combination of liposuction is done along with the skin resection. During abdominoplasty, the abdominal wall muscles and fascia are also tightened to restore the tone. Tummy tuck surgery can produce dramatic changes in a patient's waistline and frontal abdominal contour. This type of surgery is usually sought by patients with loose or sagging tissues after pregnancy or major weight loss.

Abdominoplasty operations are frequently subdivided into categories. Depending on the extent of the surgery, a complete abdominoplasty can take from 3 to 5 hours. A partial abdominoplasty (mini-tuck abdominoplasty) can be completed between 1 and 2 hours.

Partial or Mini abdominoplasty

In partial (or mini) abdominoplasty a smaller incision is made and the skin and fat of the lower abdomen are detached in a more limited fashion from the muscle fascia. The skin is stretched down and excess skin removed. The navel replacement is not necessary as it is done when the amount of loose skin is minimal and the excess fat deposits are located below the navel.

Complete abdominoplasty

In complete (or full) abdominoplasty incision is made from hip to hip just above the pubic area. Naval is cut free from surrounding skin and repositioned after excess skin is removed and abdominal wall tightened. It addresses loose excess skin involving whole of anterior abdominal wall.

Extended abdominoplasty

An extended abdominoplasty is a complete abdominoplasty plus a lateral thigh lift. The resulting scar runs from the posterior axillary line (when placing your open hands on your hips, the thumbs lie along the posterior axillary line.) The operation does all of the abdominal contouring of a complete abdominoplasty and allows further improvement of the flank (waist), as well as smoothing the contour of the upper lateral thigh.

Circumferential abdominoplasty

A circumferential abdominoplasty is an extended abdominoplasty plus a buttock lift. The resulting scar runs all the way around the body, and the operation is also called a Belt Lipectomy or lower body lift. This operation is most appropriate for patients who have undergone massive weight loss.

Tummy Tuck FAQ's

Q- Are there any risks of undergoing a tummy tuck?

All types of surgery carry some degree of risk. The potential risks and complications that can occur with tummy tuck surgery include the following: bleeding beneath the skin flap, blood clots, conspicuous scarring, Keloid (heavy scar), Seroma, Fat Necrosis, infection, poor healing, skin necrosis, Nerve damage and the need for further surgery.

Q- Where the scars are located for tummy tuck surgery?

A traditional tummy tuck involves one long incision made just above the pubic area and running from hipbone to hipbone. In addition, a second incision is often made around the belly button. For a partial abdominoplasty, the incision around the belly button is usually not required and the one above the pubic areas is usually significantly shorter. The scars that result from these incisions will fade and flatten with time.

Q- Will weight gain after a tummy tuck affect the results?

The results of a tummy tuck procedure can be negatively impacted by any significant amount of weight gain afterwards.

Q- Are tummy tucks painful?

The procedure itself should not be painful as some type of anesthesia will be used. For the first few days during the recovery, patients may feel some discomfort or pain which can be controlled with medication prescribed by your surgeon.

Q- Who is the ideal candidate for a tummy tuck?

The best candidate for a tummy tuck is a patient who, though in relatively good shape, has loose abdominal skin or a large fat deposit in the abdomen that does not respond to exercise and diet. In addition, women after pregnancy or patients after significant weight loss can particularly benefit from the procedure.

Q- Will future pregnancy affect the results of a tummy tuck?

Future pregnancies can affect the results of a tummy tuck. The procedure often involves the tightening of the vertical muscles of the abdomen, and these can separate with future pregnancy. Because of this, it's best to postpone the procedure if you're anticipating future pregnancy.

Q- Can stretch marks be removed with a tummy tuck?

A tummy tuck will typically remove stretch marks that are located on the lower abdomen. Other stretch marks may not be removed. For instance, stretch marks on the upper abdomen may simply be moved downward, though they may appear somewhat tighter and smoothed out.

Q- How permanent are tummy tuck results?

The results of a tummy tuck can be very long lasting. You can also help to maintain your results by getting regular exercise and following a healthy diet.

Q- What are the contraindications for abdominoplasty?

• Contraindications for abdominoplasty include the following:
• Right, left, or bilateral upper quadrant scars (relative)
• Severe co-morbid conditions (e.g. heart disease, diabetes, morbid obesity, cigarette smoking)
• Future plans for pregnancy (relative)
• History of thromboembolic disease (relative)
• Morbid obesity (BMI >40)
• Unrealistic patient expectations
• Patients who tend to form keloids or hypertrophic scars, unless they are willing to accept the scarring associated with these conditions.