Tummy Tucks

Everyone would like to have a flat tummy but sometimes losing weight gets rid of the fat but leaves behind loose skin and hard to budge fat too. Normally, exercise such as sit-ups and other stomach tightening exercises will help to make the area taut but if all has failed for you then a tummy tuck might be an option you should consider.

A technical term for a tummy tuck is abdominoplasty. It is a surgical procedure that involves flattening the abdomen by eliminating surplus fat and skin and tightening up the muscles found in the abdominal wall. It is not a type of liposuction but you might opt for it after you have had liposuction treatment.

A Tummy Tuck Does Involve Surgery

It is important to realise that this is a surgical procedure that should not be taken lightly. It is not normally available on the NHS as it’s a cosmetic procedure and the costs are down to you. This means you will have to find a surgeon that you have confidence in to complete the tummy tuck.

Who should get a Tummy Tuck?

• A tummy tuck can be performed for both women and men
• Good health is essential before having this sort of surgery
• Women who have experienced several pregnancies might find a tummy tuck quite useful as it tightens up the muscles in the abdomen and reduces loose skin.
• A tummy tuck provides a chance for men and women who were obese but no longer are but still have surplus fat or some loose skin in the belly region they wish to have removed.

Tummy Tucks are not for those:

• who want an alternative to weight loss;
• who are planning to have children;
• who cannot cope with potential scarring.

On the question of weight loss, liposuction should be performed before a tummy tuck. If you are planning to have children, then such a procedure as a tummy tuck should be delayed until you have had your last child. Surgeons try to limit any cuts in the skin to areas that are difficult to see, but inevitably scarring does take place.

How to

get yourself ready for a Tummy Tuck

As this is generally a procedure that you have to pay for privately, it will be necessary for you to select a suitable surgeon that you feel you can trust to do a good job and that you can communicate with too. Your GP or family and friends who have experienced a tummy tuck may recommend one to you.

At your first consultation if your surgeon finds that you are a smoker you will be asked to stop two weeks or more before the operation takes place and you shouldn’t restart until a minimum of two weeks following the operation. This is because smoking can affect your ability to heal quickly.

What Happens when a Tummy is Tucked?

For a complete abdominoplasty your surgeon will make a cut in your abdomen, which will be from one side of your hip bone to the other. The surgeon will get rid of any surplus fat and skin and will then cut beneath the skin but above the umbilicus or belly button and pull it downwards and then tighten it. On occasions, it might be necessary to reconstruct your belly button and tighten the abdominal wall muscles too.

Endoscopic abdominoplasty is a tummy tuck that is suitable if the muscles of your abdominal wall need to be tightened. Your surgeon has specific surgical instruments for this job which involves making small cuts and then tightening the muscles.

There is another type of tummy tuck called mini or partial abdominoplasty. This procedure takes place on people where their fat deposits are found beneath the navel. This procedure will not necessarily mean your belly button has to be moved by your surgeon and the process might only take no more than two hours. Each case is different.

This operation is normally performed using a general anaesthetic and normally takes from two to five hours.

Returning Home after a Tummy Tuck

The length of time in hospital will depend on the procedure which has been performed. A full abdominoplasty will require a stay in hospital of between two and three days. There may be dressings and plastic tubes situated on each side of your abdomen. These drains are usually taken off before leaving hospital. It may take up to 6 weeks to return to normal daily activities.

An abdominoplasty will improve slowly throughout the first 6 months. Keeping a healthy weight and exercising regularly will ensure maximum outcomes from a tummy tuck.

Are there any likely complications with a tummy tuck?

The only possible complications are those that could happen after any operation and may include bleeding, pain, surgical wound infection, scarring and blood clots.

If you think a tummy tuck is right for you, www.anyclinics.co.uk has a list of highly qualified and experienced tummy tuck surgeons in the UK.