subject: Abdominoplasty: Tummy Tuck surgery [print this page] Abdominoplasty: Tummy Tuck surgery Abdominoplasty: Tummy Tuck surgery
Tummy tuck - It is all about beauty and showing as fit.
After my delivery, though I shed my excess weight all over the body, my tummy still looks as if I'm 3 or 4 months pregnant. Few days before, one of my friend told that I can go for "Tummy Tuck", to get perfect look. I wondered what it was. My friend couldn't able to give me much technical details. So, I just did a small research to understand the concept. Now I got an idea.
Most of the women, during their post pregnancy find it difficult to reduce their tummy, even after getting rid of their excess weight, as it is actually a flabby skin hanging in the tummy area, than stiff muscles. Stiff muscles will go slowly, if one do abdominal exercises properly. But the flabby skin which can be termed as excess skin was due to the stretching of skin during pregnancy term. Since the elasticity of the skin in that area is lost, the possibility of the skin to get back to pre pregnancy shape is very less.
Tummy tuck, the term used by common people is actually known as "Abdominoplasty" in medical field. By this surgical method, one can make their abdominal wall (tummy) flat. By this procedure, the excess hanging skin is removed and the abdominal muscles are stretched, giving a flat and toned look to the abdomen area. For people having excess fat, Liposuction has to be done before doing tummy tuck. Liposuction is the method by which excess fat is sucked out in the tummy area. Also the stretch marks caused due to pregnancy can be removed in this method.
Abdominoplasty can be differentiated into three types namely standard, extended and partial. Standard Abdominoplasty is a method in which all the abdominal wall area (skin and muscles) is tightened. In the extended abdominoploasty method, along with the procedures of standard abdominoplasty, the sides of the tummy is also tightened. In the partial abdominoplasty, just the muscle wall or skin is repaired.
Some people often confuse Abdominoplasty with Panniculectomy. Panniculectomy is the surgical method usually done for obese people, who have excess fat and hanging skin, due to recent weight lose.
To my happiness, this surgery will need only 2 or 3 days of rest in hospital. Later, within 2 weeks, one can start their normal routines like going to office or school. But hard exercises, especially abdominal exercises should be avoided for one or two months depending on the individual's health and recovering phase. As per doctors who are performing this surgery, there are no high risks or complications associated with this surgery. But in general, it is said as the risks of other surgeries like anesthesia issues, bleeding, scarring, nerve injury, infection, allergies could be associated with this too. For people with smoking habit, it may take time to heal, as it involves skin loss.
Tummy tuck should be avoided, if you are planning for pregnancy in near future. Also people who have health issues and slow healing power should have a thorough check up and advice from their doctor, before going for this surgery.
The most, very important point, one should remember before going for this surgery is, "No insurance company covers this surgery", as it is a cosmetic surgery done for beauty and fitness. It could cost around USD 2500 to USD 3500. So, be ready with cash before going to the surgeon.
