Abdominoplasty - tummy tuck

• The surgeon will first make an assessment of your general health and then proceed with an examination of the abdomen, considering the quality of tissue and problem areas needing treatment.

• Even though five or six thousand tummy tuck procedures are successfully performed in Colombia every year, patients should still consider the risks that go along with surgery.
•  Conditions such as diabetes, hypertension or blood clotting problems require pre-treatment to assure a more ideal health condition before a Tummy Tuck can be performed.
• Weight reduction needs to be considered when a patient is considered overweight for age and height. It is also advisable to start a moderate exercise program at home or in a gym prior to surgery to strengthen your cardiovascular system. This will also help with recovery and the ability to return to work or your regular routine as soon as possible.

Surgical Procedures Abdominoplasty - Tummy Tuck

• Abdominoplasty as the name implies, involves removing excess skin from the lower abdomen and to unite and tighten the abdominal muscles.
• There are several ways to perform an Abdominoplasty. The most common technique is through a transverse incision along the lower abdomen above the pubic region. A second incision is made to release the navel of the skin but it is attached to the deeper tissues. The skin is raised by separating the muscles to the lower ribs.
• The surgeon then tightens the muscles and carries the loose tissue of the flanks to the center and attaches them with sutures. This stresses the muscles and produces a firmer abdominal wall, which in turn reduces and narrows the waistline.
• Next, detached skin is stretched down and the excess is removed.
• Finally, the surgeon opens a small incision in the stretched skin to make the navel. The incisions are sutured and bandaged to heal the wounds.
• There are cases where a temporary drainage tube is left in to drain excess fluid from the incision site helping to reduce inflammation.
• For a partial abdominoplasty or "mini tuck", the incision will be smaller and the skin is raised only to the belly button without touching it, suturing in the same manner as described above.

Post-Operative Care Abdominoplasty - Tummy tuck

• Abdominal surgery requires a full day at the hospital. Patients in the recovery room are placed on their backs with knees elevated to reduce tension in the abdomen. Then the patient needs to rest for five days.
• Generally the discomfort lasts a couple of days but is easily controlled with pain medication. During this time, patients are advised to rest and the use the compression garments and girdles to firmly hold the tissues in the abdomen and waist. If the person has exercised regularly prior to surgery, they will have a better recovery with less discomfort.
• On the fifth day, patients can begin to walk normally and six or seven days post-op, the surgeon will look at the incisions and remove any drainage tubes.
• It is estimated that within fifteen to twenty days, patients can return to their normal life and work, leaving two more weeks to start work in the gym. It is not necessary to remove the stitches from incision wound on the belly because they will be absorbed by the body, but it is necessary to dress the wound periodically with medical bandage.
• The removal of loose tissue and excess fat leads to a flatter abdomen and smaller waist but scars will be permanent. The scars will flatten and fade between six and twelve months with the use of topical bandages and other skin treatments recommended by the surgeon.

FAQs Abdominoplasty - Tummy Tuck