Abdominoplasty is a procedure that is also referred to as TT or tummy tuck. It is a surgery that involves removing of excess fat and skin on the abdominal region most probably post-pregnancy, or because of age or obesity. In a complete abdominoplasty procedure, the fascia or the connective tissue and the abs muscles that may be stretched or lax over time are tightened. But in a mini-tummy tuck, it is only the redundant skin or excess fat that is removed.

When you undergo a full-tummy tuck, you may get a new naval to match with the taut stomach. Essentially, although most patients state that there is reposition on the naval in a tummy tuck procedure, that is not usually the case. The navel is usually positioned where it usually is, but its the skin that is redraped and it is sutured where the original belly button is located. Once the redraping is done, your surgeon will adjust the naval size with some tucking and nipping.

TT is done on anybody, regardless of their gender, but it is a complex procedure. There are a lot of risks and a lot of care that goes in postoperative for a smooth recovery of the TT procedure. For a good recovery to take shape, you will need at least a month of rest after a full TT is done. It is a complex surgery that needs proper aftercare.

Indications for abdominoplasty

Anyone who has excess fat or skin or weak and muscles because of obesity, pregnancy or age can benefit from abdominoplasty. At times, after gaining weight or after pregnancy, the 2 rectus abdominis muscles usually located on both sides of the abdominal center can be stretched due to a condition that is known as diastasis. Correction can be made on the laxness of the fascia and the muscles by folding and suturing the excess tissue. You can get a flatter and slimmer waist after an abdominoplasty is done.

There are people who may go for liposuction for the removal of the fatty tissue in the abdomen instead of going for abdominoplasty that includes muscle repair. For those who want to go for liposuction and less of a full abdominoplasty, the better option may be the use of endoscopic abdominoplasty.

Who is a good candidate to undergo abdominoplasty?

The first indicator of a good candidate is that you have to be in good health. You should not have any serious medical condition or disease, you are also required to be realistic in your expectations of how the surgery might pan out. To do this, you need to be in constant communication with your surgeon to understand what is a realistic result.

You have to be emotionally and mentally stable because this operation requires a great sense of patient and stability, especially during the recovery period because it can become a tough period. In some cases, some patients can undergo depression after the surgery, and if you are emotionally unstable, you can dive into a state of complete chaos. Always consider this before committing to undergo a TT surgery.

For women who want to undergo a tummy tuck surgery after pregnancy, they need to wait to the point when they are completely done with getting children because your skin can be stretched after the tummy tuck surgery.

In the same context, if you want to lose weight, you should wait until you are in your ideal weight. If you become skinny, you will need an added surgery to remove the extra skin, which will mean that you will have wasted your resources.

Tummy tuck scars and incision placement

You should be aware that an abdominoplasty involves the presence of scars. The TT scars can be severe and long enough cutting across your abdomen. The size and length of the scares will be dependent on the skin you will have removed while undergoing TT surgery.

Most abdominoplasty surgeons try to get involved with tummy tuck procedures that are less invasive and that leave very small scars in ideal places that can be hidden. However, the position and size of the incision are usually out of the control of the surgeon. In patients who have moderate-to-severe redundant skin, it will be necessary to either move the existing naval or create a new one. There are times when the surgeon will perform the surgery by the use of endoscopic techniques involving several short incisions. Ensure that you discuss the techniques, incision types and placements during your abdominoplasty consultation.

Mini-tummy tuck, modified or partial abdominoplasty

If you only want to remove excess fat or excess skin and you are not up for muscle tightening, and you don’t necessarily want your navel to have a new position, you can go and do a mini-tummy tuck. This procedure does not have a long scar compared to a full one. A partial abdominoplasty is between dermolipectomy and endoscopic abdominoplasty.

Dermolipectomy

Dermolipectomy involves the removal of excess fat and skin and it also includes the repositioning of the naval. This process does not involve the tightening of muscles, it is only for patients who have skin laxity and less for those who have mini-tummy tuck candidates. It is ideal for individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery like stomach stapling.

Reverse Abdominoplasty

This is not a common procedure done by surgeons. It is used in some cases together with a mastopexy or breast reduction, or in people who tend to have a large portion of loose skin above the naval. A V incision is made below the breast. In this procedure, instead of the skin being pulled down, it is pulled up. All the same, this procedure is not common among surgeons.

Conclusion

For more information about plastic and reconstructive surgery on any area of the body, contact Dr. Joseph Rucker at 800.456.8222 or 725.833.2116. You can also visit his website to book an appointment, click here.



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