subject: Tummy Tucks(Abdominoplasty) and Liposuction [print this page] Everyone wants to feel their body looks healthy, sexy and toned. Many women and men are unhappy with their tummy or abdomen due to the presence of excess skin and tissue. Often these individuals have tried diet and exercise and found a pocket of skin and fat in the lower abdomen that just doesnt seem to go away. Typically women are concerned and self-conscious about the pocket of skin and tissue that remains following one or more pregnancies. Often these men and women are uncomfortable in clothes, self conscious about the skin and tissue that overhangs their pants, let alone wearing swimwear that leaves nothing to the imagination. Cosmetic Surgery can address these issues. An Abdominoplasty, more commonly referred to as a tummy tuck, is the surgery that removes excess skin and tissue, restoring the stomach to a flat, smooth and toned shape. A good Cosmetic Surgeon will aim to hide incisions in an area covered by underwear. The extent of an Abdominoplasty depends on the patient; for example, how much excess skin and tissue requires removal or whether the underlying muscle also needs tightening. These issues are discussed in a consultation with the Cosmetic Surgeon. A Tummy Tuck should not be perceived as an option to achieve weight loss. Liposuction is surgery that can literally suck fat away. This should never be seen as a way to lose weight. In actual fact, a good Cosmetic Surgeon will advise you to achieve your optimal weight prior to having surgery. Liposuction can address those stubborn areas of fat that arent resolved through diet and exercise. Again incision sites are usually hidden by the Cosmetic Surgeon. Following Abdominoplasty or Liposuction, the patient needs to wear a compression garment for a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks. This is really important to make sure you achieve the optimal results from your surgery, allowing the skin and underlying tissues to shrink to the new shape. Depending on the individual, the Cosmetic Surgeon may recommend continued use of the garment beyond 8 weeks, for example 4-6 hours a day for another couple of months. Men and women who have had a Tummy Tuck or Liposuction typically describe the area affected as feeling tight after surgery. A woman who had an Abdominoplasty described the feeling post surgery as if she had done 1000 sit ups, however did not require more than a simple pain relief tablet such as paracetamol or digesic. Often Liposuction is a part of Tummy Tuck surgery, giving the Cosmetic Surgeon the ability to refine and shape the abdomen and flanks to achieve a toned and shapely result.
