Things you need to know

The tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure to remove excess fat and skin from the abdominal area. This surgery also restores weakened or separated muscles of the abdomen to attain a thinner, firmer and flatter look. 

Tummy tuck surgery is a cosmetic procedure that tightens loose or sagging skin on the abdomen and repositions it to create a tighter abdominal wall.

Your plastic surgeon may indicate tummy tuck surgery for the following conditions:

• If you have a stomach flab that does not go away with exercise or diet
• If you are experiencing a changed appearance of the stomach as a result of extreme weight loss or pregnancy 
• If you have a poor self-image or low self-esteem due to excess stomach fat

You may be a good candidate for abdominal tightening surgery if:

• You are physically healthy 
• You have a stable body weight 
• You do not smoke 
• You are affected by the appearance of your stomach

Your plastic surgeon will establish and discuss realistic expectations of the surgery with you in initial consultations. They will discuss your surgical goals and medical history in detail. 

A tummy tuck procedure can:

• make your stomach more toned
• remove excess fat and skin 
• correct the proportion of your body 

A tummy tuck procedure cannot:

• completely change the shape of your body 
• remove more than 5L of fat 
• turn your stomach back into the pre-pregnancy shape

Your plastic surgeon will properly evaluate your health. He/she will perform a physical examination and certain blood tests as well as guide you on how to prepare for an abdominoplasty. You will be expected to inform your surgeon about any medication you may be taking. Your surgeon will help you quit smoking, in order to prepare you for the surgery. 

There are two types of tummy tuck procedures-

• Full tummy tuck – focuses on the removal of all the excess fat and skin. 
• Mini tummy tuck – focuses on the area below the belly button 

For tummy tuck surgery, your surgeon will offer you anaesthesia and make a horizontal incision between the pubic hairline and belly button. The length of the incision is determined by the amount of excess skin to be removed. Your surgeon begins by removing the skin and proceeds with repairing the weakened abdominal muscles. The surgeon then closes the incisions and guides you towards recovery.

A tummy tuck is done via various techniques, including:

Suction-assisted liposuction (SAL) – It is a more common method of abdominoplasty. In this technique, your surgeon performs liposuction by utilising a vacuum to suction out unwanted fatty deposits. 

Power-assisted liposuction (PAL) – PAL is a novel technique in which your surgeon performs liposuction with the help of the advanced MicroAire facility. This method offers a greater precision as well as undamaged tissues which can be used for autologous grafting of other areas if required.

Tummy tuck surgery can be performed as an outpatient procedure. Your recovery will depend on your overall health and the amount of fat removed. However, it takes nearly 6-8 weeks for a patient to fully recover from abdominoplasty. 

You can expect to experience some swelling, bruising and discomfort right after the surgery. You will be instructed to avoid performing any strenuous physical activity for at least 2 weeks. After a tummy tuck surgery, you should use a compression garment for nearly 4 weeks.

A tummy tuck is a safe surgical procedure. However, there are certain risks and complications associated with it. These include:

• Reaction to anesthesia 
• Bleeding 
• Pulmonary complications 
• Fluid accumulation 
• Infection 
• Pain 
• Prolonged swelling