Whenever you search the internet, and you will see so many sexy models flaunting their toned and flat abs, you wish you have them as well. You are fit and healthy, but no matter how hard you try to lose those love handles, they simply won’t come off! This scenario sucks, especially if that is the only part of your body that makes you look fat. So what do you do? People like you often turn to cosmetic surgery, an abdominoplasty, to be exact. Let us discover what this amazing plastic surgery option is all about, how it can help you, and how the abdominoplasty procedure is done.
What is abdominoplasty for?
Love handles, muffin top, bulging waistline, spare tire, middle-age spread – whatever you call it, excess belly fat and skin can be extremely unattractive, especially when this is the only flaw you have in your body. Plastic surgeons recommend getting an abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck so that the excess skin and fat on your belly can be removed. The surgery also allows your surgeon to tighten your abdominal muscles to complement the tone and flatness of your abs after surgery.
How is an abdominoplasty performed?
Generally, a tummy tuck surgery makes incisions to the abdomen so that excess fat and skin can be easily removed. The abdominoplasty procedure steps differ depending on the type of tummy tuck you want to have. Here are some of the common types of tummy tuck with their corresponding steps.
Full tummy tuck
The other terms for this type are complete or classic abdominoplasty. This procedure targets to eliminate the roundness and excess fat and skin above and below the navel to prepare it from repositioning. During this abdominoplasty procedure, the patient is placed under general anesthesia. Two incisions will be made: one along the waistline, from the hip bone on one side to the hipbone on the other, and another incision around the navel. The skin layer will be separated from the abdominal muscles. These muscles are then pulled together and stitched into place for a more narrowed waist and firmer abdomen. The separated flap of skin is then stretched over the newly-tightened muscles, and excess skin is removed. The belly button is reattached to a new position where it would look natural. The incisions are closed, and a sterile gauze dressing and abdominal bandages are applied over the area. This abdominoplasty procedure can take from two to five hours to perform.
Mini-tummy tuck
Also known as a partial abdominoplasty, this surgery is used to deal with a pouch of loose skin, fats, and stretch marks below the belly button. It is a less-invasive procedure with quicker recovery time. During this procedure, a smaller horizontal incision is made along the waistline. Your navel will not be repositioned as the target area of this surgery is below it. Your skin will be separated between the line of incision and your belly button. If necessary, this type of surgery may also be carried out using an endoscope, or a long tube with a small camera on the end, for optimal visualization of the area to be reduced. This procedure may take less than or up to two hours, and it all depends on your situation and needs. As with the complete abdominoplasty, you may have drainage tubes after surgery.
Extended tummy tuck
Otherwise known as circumferential abdominoplasty, this procedure is designed for people who have lost a lot of weight and are just dealing with excess skin. It is also a good cosmetic surgery alternative for people experiencing looseness in their abdominal muscles due to previous obesity or multiple pregnancies. During the operation, the hanging skin from the front and sides of the abdomen is removed, and the abdominal wall is tightened. If the patient has more stubborn fats at the back area, the surgeon can either apply liposuction on that area or extend the incision to the back; thus, the name circumferential abdominoplasty. Because the target areas are wider than the classic type, you can expect that the scarring from this procedure is more extensive than other procedures.
If you think you have the necessary requirements to be considered as a good candidate for this procedure, do not hesitate to consult our expert plastic surgeon so they can help you further understand and discover what abdominoplasty can do for you.
Recent Comments