Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck is an aesthetic surgical procedure that tightens sagging abdominal skin and loosened abdominal muscles to give a flatter, firmer abdomen. It is performed above all to correct the changes that develop after childbirth or weight loss. Planned individually for each patient, the procedure produces a tighter abdominal profile.A tummy tuck is an aesthetic surgical procedure that tightens sagging abdominal skin and loosened abdominal muscles to give a flatter, firmer abdomen. It is performed above all to correct the changes that develop after childbirth or weight loss. Planned individually for each patient, the procedure produces a tighter abdominal profile.
What Is Tummy Tuck Surgery?
Tummy tuck surgery is known in medicine as “abdominoplasty” and is an aesthetic surgical procedure carried out to remove excess skin and fat tissue from the abdomen and to tighten loosened muscles. It corrects the sagging and stretch marks that typically develop in the abdominal skin as a result of childbirth, major weight loss or ageing. The aim is a flatter, firmer and more aesthetic abdomen.
Why Is Tummy Tuck Surgery Performed?
Over time, the skin laxity, muscle separation (diastasis recti) and fat accumulation that develop in the abdominal area can become troubling both aesthetically and functionally. Factors such as pregnancy, rapid weight gain and loss, and the ageing process in particular disrupt the structural integrity of the abdominal wall. Tummy tuck surgery is performed to eliminate these problems and achieve a firmer abdominal profile. The procedure has a positive effect not only on appearance but also on the patient’s self-confidence and quality of life. The main reasons for having it are:
- To remove abdominal skin that is sagging and has lost its elasticity
- To repair abdominal muscles separated by childbirth and restore normal internal pressure
- To reduce the appearance of stretch marks on the abdomen (particularly the lower abdomen)
- To reshape the waistline for a more proportionate figure
- To correct an abdominal shape that will not improve despite diet and exercise
OPERATION TIME
2-5 Hours
RECOVERY TIME
5-7 Days
ACCOMMODATION
8 Days
What Are the Types of Tummy Tuck Surgery?
Tummy tuck surgery can be performed with different techniques depending on the degree of skin sagging, muscle laxity and fat accumulation in the abdominal area. The surgeon determines the most suitable method for each patient’s needs. In this way both an aesthetic appearance and functional improvement can be achieved.
Full tummy tuck (full abdominoplasty)
Excess skin and fat is removed from both the lower and the upper abdomen. The navel is repositioned and the separated abdominal muscles are tightened. This is the most common type of procedure.
Mini tummy tuck (mini abdominoplasty)
Suitable for patients whose sagging is limited to the area below the navel. Excess skin is removed without moving the navel. Muscle repair is generally not required. Recovery is shorter.
Fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty
Used in patients who have excess skin both horizontally and vertically. It is preferred where there is a larger volume of sagging on the anterior abdominal wall. It is ideal in particular for people who have lost a great deal of weight after bariatric surgery.
Who Is Tummy Tuck Surgery Suitable For?
Tummy tuck surgery is suitable above all for people with laxity, sagging and loss of shape in the abdominal area. This is usually seen in women who have given birth, in people who have lost a great deal of weight and with it their skin elasticity, or in those whose abdominal tissue has slackened with age. The procedure offers both aesthetic and functional benefits, but it may not be suitable for everyone.
The following people are ideal candidates for tummy tuck surgery:
- Those who have lost weight and are left with laxity and sagging of the abdominal skin
- Women with abdominal muscle separation and excess skin after childbirth
- People whose body mass index is within normal limits and who are not severely obese
- Patients who can follow the post-operative care instructions and attend regular check-ups
- Individuals in good general health who do not smoke, or who are able to stop before surgery
For those planning a pregnancy, surgery is generally postponed until after childbirth. The procedure may not be suitable for people with serious systemic disease or any condition that would impair healing, and a medical assessment is required.
How Long Does Tummy Tuck Surgery Take?
Depending on the procedure performed, surgery takes between 2 and 4 hours. A full tummy tuck usually takes longer, while a mini abdominoplasty is completed more quickly. Patients normally stay in hospital for 1 night after surgery.