What Can I Expect After Abdominoplasty?

Are numerous sit-ups at the gym not giving you a flat stomach? If you’ve got a little too much flab or excess skin in your abdomen that is responding to diet and exercise you may want to consider an abdominoplasty also known as a tummy tuck surgery.

This procedure provides a flat stomach and helps remove the extra fat and skin tightening muscles in the abdominal wall. If you are thinking of going for a tummy tuck surgery take time out to come to a decision post analyzing your current situation. It is not a weight-loss tool and one should explore the possibility only after considering the other options.

Who Are the Best Candidates For Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck is suitable for men and women who are in good health. Many people confuse it with liposuction, but it is quite different from liposuction surgery, although the two procedures can be combined to produce optimum results.

It is particularly suitable for women who have gone through several pregnancies and their muscles and skin are stretched. A tummy tuck can tighten those muscles and helps reduce the appearance of loose skin. Tummy tuck surgery is an option for men and women who have excess fat deposits or loose skin in the abdomen.

Is Tummy Tuck Surgery for Everyone? Who Should Not Consider it?

If you’re a woman and still thinking of having more children, then you should not consider tummy tuck as this surgery tightens your vertical muscles and future pregnancies can separate these muscle. If you have a lot of weight to lose, you should not consider this surgery. A tummy tuck surgery can cause permanent scarring. Discuss it with your doctor and find out whether you want to give it a stab or the idea of a large scar puts the idea off.

The Tummy Tuck Procedure

Whatever may be your goal, this surgery can take a minimum of five hours. Your individualistic requirement will help determine the type of surgery you require whether it will be an in-patient or outpatient procedure.

The operation is performed under general anesthesia, which will put you to sleep during the entire procedure. Get someone to drive you to the hospital on the first night after the surgery.

There are two options for a tummy tuck and your surgeon will help determine which one is suitable for you.

Total abdominoplasty

The surgeon will make an incision along the hipbone to hipbone in this procedure. This technique is suitable for people who need the most correction. The incision will be made low, at the same level of the pubic bone.

Your surgeon will then work on the skin, tissue, and muscle as per the need. Your position of the belly button will change as the belly button is freed from the surrounding tissue. Drainage tubes are used under your skin as per your doctor’s instructions.

Partial abdominoplasty

This type of Mini-abdominoplasties is for patients whose fat deposits are mostly below the navel and require shorter incisions. Sometimes this type of surgery is performed with an endoscope, the procedure usually takes two hours.

How to Aid Recovery at Home after a Tummy Tuck?

Your surgeon or nurse will provide you with the right instructions to initiate quick recovery at home.

Some of the instructions to follow are,

• Taking care of incisions and drain tubes
• How to be mindful of infection or overall health
• How to regulate physical activity that helps with the incision line for six weeks.
• When to go for check-ups?
• How long you should wear the compression garment?
• How much to rest and recuperate?
• What are the foods you can eat?

In the initial few days, after the surgery, you will require help. You can shower 48 hours after the drainage tubes are removed. Consider taking a sponge before you can take a shower. Use a chair to help you with the shower. You may have to take certain medications such as an antibiotic or anticoagulant. Use only the medications prescribed by your doctor. Abstain from taking alcohol and avoid smoking in the initial few days, at least 6 weeks. Smoking and drinking may stall the healing process.

It’ll be several weeks before you can resume your daily life. Driving will be off-limits for a few weeks. You’ll also have to limit hardcore exercise and demanding physical activity for the next four to six weeks. Your doctor will help you decide the activities you can perform and how long would you have to abstain from strenuous workouts.

Your doctor will advise you on how to go about the process of healing. You may need to take up at least one month off of work after the surgery to accelerate the healing process. You will have to make the right lifestyle changes, read diet and exercise to make the most of the surgery.