Abdominoplasty Surgery

Abdominoplasty Surgery involves tightening loose or weakened abdominal muscles and removing excess skin, often addressing concerns such as sagging or stretch marks within the areas of skin being removed.

Abdominoplasty can provide transformative results for:

1. Women with stretched abdominal muscles and skin due to pregnancy.
2. Individuals with excess skin or sagging following major weight loss.
3. Patients with diastasis recti (separated abdominal muscles).

Our hospital offers three different Abdominoplasty techniques:

Mini, Traditional and 360° Tummy Tucks.

1. Mini Tummy Tuck: Involves a shorter incision and is suitable for individuals with less extensive sagging, often leaving the navel unchanged.
2. Traditional (Full) Tummy Tuck: Focuses on the upper and lower abdomen. A horizontal incision is made above the pubic bone, discreetly hidden within the bikini line, to remove excess skin and fat and repair separated abdominal muscles.
3. 360° Tummy Tuck: Provides a more comprehensive contour by addressing excess skin and fat around the entire torso.

For enhanced results, abdominoplasty can be combined with liposuction to refine body contours further.

Abdominoplasty Procedures: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1. Preoperative Assessment

The first step is a consultation with one of our surgeons to discuss your goals, health history, and realistic outcomes. Our surgeon will evaluate your abdomen to determine the type of abdominoplasty that will achieve the best results, whether it’s a full, mini, or 360°.

We will provide instructions on how to prepare for surgery, which may include guidelines on smoking, medications, and adjustments to your diet.

1. 2. Anaesthesia

On the day of surgery, the patient is taken to the operating room, where anaesthesia is administered. A Tummy Tuck is typically performed under general anaesthesia, ensuring the patient is asleep and pain-free throughout the procedure.

1. 3. Incision Planning

A horizontal incision is made just above the pubic hairline. The shape and length of the incision will be determined by the amount of excess skin. In full abdominoplasty, another incision around the navel may be necessary to remove excess skin in the upper abdomen.

1. 4. Removing access fat

The skin is lifted, and excess fat may be trimmed or suctioned out. Underlying weakened abdominal muscles are repaired and sutured.

1. 5. Tightening the skin

After the muscles are tightened, the skin is stretched down, and any excess skin is removed. A new hole is cut for the navel if the original navel is relocated due to skin repositioning. The incisions are closed with sutures, skin adhesives, tapes, or clips. Drains may be placed under the skin to collect any excess blood or fluid.

1. 6. Tummy Tuck Postoperative Care and Recovery

While abdominoplasty is a highly effective procedure, it requires proper care for optimal results. Full recovery typically takes about three months, although most patients can resume non-strenuous work within two to three weeks. A supportive corset is worn for up to six weeks to aid healing and help maintain the new body shape. The results are technically permanent, but factors like significant weight fluctuations or pregnancy may impact long-term outcomes.

Important Considerations

It is important to note that a tummy tuck is not a substitute for weight loss or a structured exercise routine. Patients planning to lose a significant amount of weight or considering future pregnancies are advised to postpone the procedure to ensure lasting results. Additionally, while abdominoplasty can improve stretch marks located within the areas of excess skin removed, it does not eliminate all stretch marks.