Are you on a strict diet and exercising hard, but your belly remains saggy? If you have excess skin and fat in your abdomen that won't go away after changing your diet and exercising, an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) may help. This procedure not only allows you to get rid of unnecessary volumes of fat and skin, but also helps to strengthen the muscles of the abdominal wall.
However, it should be remembered that abdominoplasty is a surgical operation and before deciding to take such a crucial step, you should learn more about the procedure, carefully analyze your own situation and in no case rush to make a final decision. Tummy tuck is an extreme measure, which is decided only after trying all other ways and methods to bring the body in order. This operation should not be considered as an alternative to losing weight.
Indications
Abdominoplasty is suitable for both men and women who are in good he alth and have a stable body weight. It is desirable that the patient benon-smokers. Liposuction should not be confused with liposuction (a cosmetic procedure whose purpose is to remove body fat), although a surgeon may perform liposuction at the same time as an abdominoplasty. As a consequence of several pregnancies, sagging skin and excessive stretching of the abdominal muscles are common in women. The operation will help them strengthen these muscles and get rid of excess skin. It is worth thinking about plastic surgery for those who once suffered from overweight, and now have lost weight, but retained part of the fat in the abdominal cavity and acquired a sagging belly.
Who is not suitable for a tummy tuck?
If you are a woman and are planning a pregnancy, it is worth postponing the operation until the baby is born. During the procedure, the vertical abdominal muscles are pulled, and future pregnancies may lead to separation of these muscles and the formation of a hernia.
Are you still planning to lose weight? You should not have an abdominoplasty until your weight has stabilized.
It is important to know that this operation results in a scar in the abdomen. The scar is usually characterized by a large extent and in some cases is very noticeable. If you are not satisfied with this fact, perhaps you should not decide on the procedure. The doctor will discuss all these issues with you at the consultation.
Although surgery is a last resort in the fight for a beautiful body, many people believe that the ideal way out of their situation is tummy tuck. Reviews on thematic forums indicate not only that the majority of women who have given birth are seriously consideringthe prospect of going under the knife, but also that those who managed to get through this test are happy.
Progress of operation
Depending on the desired results, this surgical operation can last either an hour or five hours. The complexity of the procedure is determined individually for each patient. You will most likely need to stay in a hospital, although in some cases the operation is performed on an outpatient basis. The patient is given general anesthesia and falls asleep for the duration of the tummy tuck. If the doctor decides that hospital observation after surgery is not necessary, you need to invite a person to the medical facility who can drive you home. You also need to have someone stay with you for at least one night after the procedure (unless you have relatives living with you).
Full Abdominoplasty
This type of procedure is suitable for patients requiring particularly complex correction. The incision is made in the lower abdomen, approximately at the level of the pubic hair, and usually runs from thigh to thigh. The surgeon then tidies up the skin and muscles. The second incision is made around the navel, as it is necessary to free this area from surrounding tissues. Drainage tubes are usually placed under the skin, which are removed after a few days as directed by the surgeon. If you are concerned about the complexity of this type of operation, before consulting with a specialist, you can read articles and reviews about "tummy tuck". A third-party opinion will help you finally orient yourself in your own desires, fears and expectations.
Partial Abdominoplasty
During the consultation, it is recommended to discuss in detail with the doctor the desired results. Based on the information received from the patient, the surgeon will choose one or another type of operation. The so-called "mini-abdominoplasty" is performed in cases where the fat deposits are located below the navel and require smaller incisions. During this procedure, the navel usually does not change its location. The skin is pulled back from the incision line to the navel. Partial tummy tuck can also be performed using an endoscope. Depending on the wishes of the patient and the complexity of the situation, the procedure can last from one to two hours. As with a full abdominoplasty, drainage tubes will be placed under the skin at the end of the operation.
Circular Abdominoplasty
This type of operation involves surgery not only in the abdomen, but also in the back. If excess fat has accumulated around the lower back, either liposuction of this area or a circular abdominoplasty can be performed. The latter option allows you to immediately get rid of fat and skin from the back and hips - and thereby improve the contours of the body from all sides. The abdomen after abdominoplasty is firm, toned and attractive.
After surgery
Regardless of the type of operation indicated (full or partial tummy tuck), the incision site will be sutured and bandaged in the same way. The surgeon may advise wearing an elastic bandage or compression garment.after the procedure. It is very important to follow all the recommendations of a specialist - the final appearance of your abdomen may depend on them. The surgeon will also detail how to sit and lie down to reduce pain.
If you are used to leading an active lifestyle, remember to limit physical activity as much as possible for 4-6 weeks after surgery. The doctor supervising the recovery process can give additional recommendations. You may need to take a vacation of up to one month from work. These circumstances are determined jointly by the doctor and the patient on an individual basis, since in each individual case a unique tummy tuck is actually performed. Reviews about surgeons may help you choose a clinic.
Preparation
If you smoke, you will need to give up this habit for a period determined by the surgeon. It is not enough to simply reduce the number of cigarettes consumed; you need to quit smoking completely, at least two weeks before the operation and two weeks after it. Smoking increases the risk of complications and slows down the recovery process.
Make sure your menu is balanced. Never go on a diet before the procedure: proper nutrition plays a key role in postoperative recovery.
You may need to stop using certain medications or dietary supplements for a certain period before and after surgery. The surgeon will discuss this issue with youprior consultation. Reviews about "tummy tuck" may be interesting.
Ensuring comfort
Your personal home recovery space should include:
- Stock wide, comfortable clothing that is easy to put on and take off;
- phone as close as possible so that you can call without changing your lying position;
- bathing chair and handheld showerhead so you can bathe while seated and freely manipulate the flow of water.
Rely on your individual needs and needs to ensure that you have the most comfortable and safe home space for post-op recovery after a complex procedure like tummy tuck. Patient reviews on medical forums can contain a lot of useful information about improving life after plastic surgery.
Complications and side effects
It is expected that within a few days after the procedure, the patient will experience pain and discomfort caused by inflammation. Your doctor may prescribe pain medication and give you advice on assuming pain-free positions and gentle movements.
Pain continues for weeks or even months. In the same period, numbness, bruising, or a general state of fatigue may appear. The abdomen after abdominoplasty does not acquire its final contours immediately, so you need to be patient.
Like any other surgical operation, abdominoplastycharacterized by certain risks. Those who have diabetes, poor circulation, heart, liver, or lung disease are at increased risk of developing complications. Smokers are also at risk. Complications include the following:
- scars (scars);
- bleeding (hematoma);
- infection;
- fluid accumulation;
- slow healing of the surgical wound;
- clot formation;
- numbness or other changes in touch;
- risks associated with general anesthesia;
- skin color changes;
- prolonged inflammatory process;
- fat necrosis (necrosis of fatty tissue located deep under the skin);
- divergence of sutures on the surgical wound;
- asymmetry.
Return to life
Most people fall in love with their new tummy tuck look. However, for many months, one's own body may feel like someone else's as a result of surgery. Remember that you went through a lot to get the body of your dreams, made an invaluable contribution - emotionally, physically, and financially. The main thing now is to follow the right diet and go in for sports in order to maintain a beautiful and toned belly for many years, which was given to you by abdominoplasty of the abdomen. Reviews about the operation, the surgeon, the result should be posted on the thematic forum - your example can inspire thousands of women to rethink their appearance.
Diet
The main mistake that people (especially women) undergoing abdominoplasty make is starting a strict weight loss diet within a couple of months after the operation. Having gained beautiful forms, women are afraid to lose them again and therefore strive to prevent weight gain and re-sagging of the skin or accumulation of fat deposits. Doctors, however, categorically do not recommend going on a diet for targeted weight loss: in this way you will not only not add he alth to yourself, but also jeopardize your newly acquired forms.
What should be the diet after tummy tuck? There is only one option here: you need to follow the principles of a balanced diet and the basic postulates of a he althy lifestyle. This means regularly consuming plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits and greens, as well as focusing on getting the maximum level of proteins (proteins). Proteins are found in meat, fish, some vegetables, dairy products, nuts. You should not get carried away with complex carbohydrates: baked goods, all kinds of sweet delicacies, pure sugar and sweeteners. Strive to consume fresh farm products that have not been subjected to unnecessary processing and retain all the substances the human body needs.
Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck): reviews
It is enough to look at the "before" and "after" photos and read the reports of the results of surgical intervention to come to the obvious conclusion: tummy tuck truly works wonders. Where neither diet, nor proper nutrition, nor regular physical activity, including those aimed at comprehensive strengthening of the abdominal muscles, can cope, plastic surgery comes to the rescue for men and women. Patient feedback sections are full of enthusiastic responses from those who have decided to take a responsible and, I must say, rather desperate step. Abdominoplasty of the abdomen (the photo of the procedure is given above) is a serious burden on he alth, but the price for patience and faith in the result is an attractive tightened belly, which is not ashamed to boast even on the beach.
Are there negative reviews? Of course, but note that all possible complaints are listed under the heading "Complications and Side Effects" in this article.
