By Dr Venkata Ramana, Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery
For those of you who want a superbly toned midriff but cannot seem to achieve it through dieting and exercise, a tummy tuck surgery is something to consider. Also known as an abdominoplasty, this procedure helps flatten your tummy by removing all the excess fat and skin from the area and making the muscles taut. It renders your midriff with an absolutely lean and firm appearance.
Many people opt for liposuction along with a tummy tuck surgery, although it is not mandatory to do so. This is a major surgical procedure and it is necessary to know whether or not you are a suitable candidate before you opt for it.
Who Is Suitable For Liposuction?
A tummy tuck surgery is fitting for those who are in good health, men and women included. Women who have undergone one or more pregnancies will find this procedure useful in getting rid of loose skin and excess fat. The same goes for former patients of obesity who also have large deposits of extra fat and skin that can be hard to do away with.
Who Is Not Suitable For Liposuction?
This surgery is absolutely not recommended for women who plan on getting pregnant in the future. A tummy tuck surgery will make the muscles of the abdomen extremely tight which will lead to pregnancy complications. It is best to keep the surgery for post-pregnancy and childbirth.
People who plan to or are in the process of losing weight should also avoid this procedure. Opting for it should only be done after the extra weight has been lost through non-surgical methods.
Types Of Tummy Tuck Surgery-
There are two types of this procedure, depending on the amount of fat and skin that needs to be removed.
- Complete Abdominoplasty: A cut is made on your abdomen from one hipbone to another and then the skin, tissue, and muscle are contoured as needed. Moving your belly button will be necessary and you might require drainage tubes under your skin for a couple of days afterwards.
- Partial Abdominoplasty: Partial abdominoplasty procedures are often done on those whose extra skin layers and fat deposits are located below the navel. During this procedure, your belly button will most likely not be moved and the entire duration of the surgery may be up to about two hours.
What are the precautions that need to be taken?
You need to spend some time preparing for a tummy tuck surgery by incorporating certain lifestyle changes such as the following:
- If you have a smoking habit, you need to quit completely at least two weeks prior to the surgery. Failing to do so will lead to severe complications after the surgery and that is best avoided.
- You need to stick to a healthy and well-balanced diet and not make any drastic changes to it right before or after the surgery.
- You might be asked by your surgeon to stop taking certain medicines and supplements which might interfere with the procedure.