Abdominoplasty or Tummy Tuck is an operation designed to improve the look of abdomen which has loose skin together with excess fat.

The Procedure:

§ Prior to surgery a photograph is taken. It provides an accurate record of the problem, and will demonstrate the improvement the accomplished with surgery.

§ A small incision is made in this new skin cover for the belly button.

Will there be swelling and bruising?
Swelling and bruising are invertible and will subside in 10 to 14 days.

Will a scar be visible?
A scar is unavoidable. It extends from hipbone to hipbone is a flattened W-shaped within the bikini line. At first it is quite red and itchy, but eventually turns pink, then fades to a white line. This may take anywhere from 1 to 2 years.

When can normal activities be resumed?
Normal activities should not be resumed for at least two weeks. Assistance at home with young children and normal household duties should be arranged prior to the surgery. Heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, or any activity which causes discomfort should be avoided until 6 weeks after surgery. As the discomfort subsides, the level of activity may gradually be increased.

Will stretch marks disappear?
No procedure can remove stretch marks over the entire abdomen. A tummy tuck will remove skin on the lower abdomen thus eliminating stretch marks in this area. The stretch marks on the skin of the upper abdomen which is pulled down to cover the lower abdomen will remain, but will look better because the skin has been stretched.

Regular applications of breams containing tretinoin or the use of laser therapy may help to soften the look of unsightly stretch marks.

Complications:

Sensory Loss : Sensory loss over the lower part of the abdomen is common. Generally, 3 to 4 months are required before feeling in this area returns to normal, but the problem may persist for up tp a year or two after surgery. Occasionally, a loss of sensation may be felt over the front of the thighs, but this eventually returns.

Poorly Positioned Belly Button: Occasionally, the belly button may be placed too high, too low, or off to the side. This is usually due to an error in surgical judgement. Fortunately, it can easily be relocated with a minor procedure under local anesthetic.

Hematoma: Blood may collect under the skin of the abdomen, and is characterized by a sudden increase in swelling, pain, and tightness of the area. The drainage tubes which are put in place after surgery are used primarily to relieve small collections of blood of fluid. Large hematomas must be surgically drained.

Seroma: A persistent accumulation of fluid underneath the lower abdomen called a seroma may develop. In most instances, the seroma gradually subsides on its own, although in some cases surgical drainage may be required.

Contour Irregularities: Small puckers of bulging skin may occur on the hip side of the incisions. The obese are more prone to this problem because excess skin and fat have been removed from the abdomen, but nothing has been done to the hips. This is easily remedied with liposuction to feather, sculpt, and contour the area, eliminating these irregularities.

Skin Slough: The skin which was stretched over the low abdomen may, in rare cases die due to an inadequate blood supply. This occurs most frequently in smokers and in people who are older, obese, or have other medical problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. An untreated hematoma or an infection can also cause skin sloughing. When this happens, the dead tissue is removed and the area is allowed to heal, although the healing process often takes up to 3 months and leaves an unsightly scar. A scar revision procedure is often necessary once healing is complete.