Abdominoplasty General Overview

An abdominoplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure that is aimed at a person’s abdomen with the goal of having a flat lean tummy. The procedure is also known as a tummy tuck. Both men and women can have this process done on themselves. It is one of the most popular plastic surgeries around since many people have problems with the appearance of their abdomen. Some of the more common reasons why a person might want to undergo this are post pregnancy flab, post-surgical effects, ageing, yo-yoing weight and heredity. Underlying conditions such as diabetes can also cause the bulging effect of the stomach region. Ideally, the patient should have lost some weight and then have managed to keep it off for some time, thus having some excess tissue and skin which will need the tummy tuck. There are several techniques for the abdominoplasty and the choice is dependent on the amount of tissue to be removed from the individual. There is a full procedure that entails making an incision from one hip to another. The partial ones have incisions at concentrated areas of the body instead of spanning the entire waist, left to right. The full procedure usually involves relocating the belly button after the excess skin has been satisfactorily moved and trimmed.

Overview

Once the incision or incisions have been made, the surgeon will need to trim the excess skin and tissue in order to create a leaner and firmer profile for the abdomen. There is a limit as to how lean a stomach can be because taking away too much can lead to an emaciated appearance and can restrict any correction or improvements that need to be made on the abdominoplasty operation. After the trimming has been done, the doctor will need to suture the incision made in order to facilitate healing. There are two kinds of sutures; one is absorbable while the other will be removed manually by the doctor. Absorbable sutures will be absorbed by the skin after several days while the other kind will be removed manually by the doctor after about five days or more.

In general, the abdomen of the patient should look the way that he or she desires it to be in just a few days. Initially, there should be some bruising and swelling around the area which will make it appear to bulge and be somewhat awkward looking. The swelling will go down after just a few days and so will the bruising. Most, if not all, surgeons will prescribe a pain reliever, an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory for the patient. The duration as well as the dosage will be included in the prescription. It is advisable for the patients who have just undergone an abdominoplasty to follow the doctor’s recommendations and prescription in order to avoid complications.
One of the benefits of this plastic surgery procedure is the satisfaction of immediately having the results in just a short period of time compared to the gruelling task of dieting and exercising for several months. Another benefit is the development of self-confidence and having a stable self-esteem knowing that one’s appearance is great.