The tummy tuck, also referred to as abdominoplasty, is a major plastic surgery procedure to used to eliminate loose skin, excess fat, and stretch marks from the middle and lower part of the abdomen in order to reduce the appearance of bulges and pockets of extra fat and skin. A tummy tuck in Beverly Hills can also tighten loose muscles in the abdominal wall to create a smoother, flatter and firmer abdominal area.
The tummy tuck is often amongst the top 5 most popular plastic surgery procedures year after year, with over 149,000 tummy tucks performed in 2011, making it the third most popular cosmetic surgical procedure that year.
A tummy tuck procedure can take anywhere from two to five hours to complete, depending on the amount of tissue that needs to be removed and whether or not the patient requires liposuction during their tummy tuck procedures. In preparation for a tummy tuck, the abdominal area will be disinfected and incision area will be marked. In most cases, two incisions will be made, one horizontally and placed just above the pubic area to conceal it within the bathing suit area and the other created around the navel. The length of both incisions will depend on the extent of the treatment.
The plastic surgeron can perform the tummy tuck in his or her clinic or at a hospital, if available. Normally, a local aesthetic is given to make patient comfortable and pain-free when the tummy tuck can be performed as an outpatient procedure, but, for more complex tummy tucks, general anesthesia will likely be administered and may require some days of hospitalization after the procedure.
After the procedure, the patient will be required to stay for a bit of rest and observation in the recovery room. Small tubes are inserted at incision sites and left for two to three weeks to help drain fluids after the procedure. Wounds are covered with dressings and bandages to avoid infections. If there are no abnormal reactions after a few hours, the patient may be allowed to go home. However, patients will need to have secured a safe method of transportation home as they will not be able to drive after their procedures due to the effects of the anesthesia used.
Patients should expect some pain, swelling and bruising, but these effects will be able to be managed with pain medications, and most should subside within a week or two of the procedure. Work can typically be resumed in three weeks’ time and full recovery is expected in eight months. A permanent but minimal scar is to be expected from the procedure.
Genetics, pregnancies, and weight loss are often the causes of fat deposits and extra folds of skin in the abdominal region which stubbornly persist even if a proper exercise regimen and diet are religiously followed. A bulging abdomen is typically difficult to conceal, hence, people resort to the easiest and fastest choice. One point to remember, however, is that tummy tuck is not the solution to obesity problems nor should it be considered as an alternative to exercise and proper diet.