Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty: How Does It Work?
A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a specific type of cosmetic surgery designed to remove excess fat and skin from the abdomen.
The abdominal wall may also be tightened to compensate for stretching caused during pregnancy.
Other types of fat reduction may also be performed simultaneously in order to achieve balanced-looking results.
The surgeon usually creates a new belly button, as the skin on the abdomen needs to be stretched and tightened.
Abdominoplasty is one of the most frequently-performed cosmetic surgeries in America, with more than 100,000 procedures per year.
A smaller abdominoplasty may be completed in one to two hours, while a more complex tummy tuck may require up to five hours.
Recovery time for the typical procedure ranges from one to three weeks.
In a complete abdominoplasty, the surgeon begins with an incision across the abdomen, slightly above the pubic area.
A second incision disconnects the navel or belly button.
Subsequently, the skin is lifted up and several procedures can be performed.
When fat loss is a goal, the surgeon conducts liposuction to remove excess fat.
For restructuring of the abdominal wall, the doctor sutures the muscles to the tissues that connect them, increasing tension.
Once the excess fat has been removed from the abdomen and the wall structure has been reshaped, the surgeon stretches out the skin and removes any excess.
A new hole is created for the belly button, and the stalk is connected to that hole.
Finally, touch-up liposuction is employed to create symmetry between the abdomen and surrounding tissues, and any excess fluids are drained from the site.
Less extensive abdominoplasty procedures may omit some of these steps.
If only a small amount of fat is being removed, the belly button may not need to be detached, and the initial incision may be smaller.
More extensive abdominoplasty surgeries may approach from the posterior auxiliary line, the area of the back slightly above the hip bones.
This allows the surgeon to contour the thighs at the same time.
Following abdominoplasty, recovering patients can expect to feel sore and swollen for a few days.
They are encouraged to walk as soon as possible following the surgery, as this promotes proper healing.
Patients with strong abdominal muscles begin to recover more quickly than those with weaker ones, but the convalescence generally does not extend beyond a few weeks.
The abdominal wall may also be tightened to compensate for stretching caused during pregnancy.
Other types of fat reduction may also be performed simultaneously in order to achieve balanced-looking results.
The surgeon usually creates a new belly button, as the skin on the abdomen needs to be stretched and tightened.
Abdominoplasty is one of the most frequently-performed cosmetic surgeries in America, with more than 100,000 procedures per year.
A smaller abdominoplasty may be completed in one to two hours, while a more complex tummy tuck may require up to five hours.
Recovery time for the typical procedure ranges from one to three weeks.
In a complete abdominoplasty, the surgeon begins with an incision across the abdomen, slightly above the pubic area.
A second incision disconnects the navel or belly button.
Subsequently, the skin is lifted up and several procedures can be performed.
When fat loss is a goal, the surgeon conducts liposuction to remove excess fat.
For restructuring of the abdominal wall, the doctor sutures the muscles to the tissues that connect them, increasing tension.
Once the excess fat has been removed from the abdomen and the wall structure has been reshaped, the surgeon stretches out the skin and removes any excess.
A new hole is created for the belly button, and the stalk is connected to that hole.
Finally, touch-up liposuction is employed to create symmetry between the abdomen and surrounding tissues, and any excess fluids are drained from the site.
Less extensive abdominoplasty procedures may omit some of these steps.
If only a small amount of fat is being removed, the belly button may not need to be detached, and the initial incision may be smaller.
More extensive abdominoplasty surgeries may approach from the posterior auxiliary line, the area of the back slightly above the hip bones.
This allows the surgeon to contour the thighs at the same time.
Following abdominoplasty, recovering patients can expect to feel sore and swollen for a few days.
They are encouraged to walk as soon as possible following the surgery, as this promotes proper healing.
Patients with strong abdominal muscles begin to recover more quickly than those with weaker ones, but the convalescence generally does not extend beyond a few weeks.
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