Do you follow a strict diet and exercise hard, but your stomach remains saggy? If excess skin and fat has formed in the abdominal cavity that does not go away after a change in nutrition and exercise, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) may help. This procedure not only allows you to get rid of unnecessary amounts 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 on 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 that can only be resolved by trying all other ways and methods to put the body in order. This operation cannot be considered as an alternative to losing weight.
Indications
Abdominoplasty of the abdomen is suitable for both men and women with good health and stable body weight. It is advisable that the patient is non-smokers. Plastic surgery should not be confused with liposuction (a cosmetic procedure that aims to remove body fat), although the surgeon can perform liposuction simultaneously with abdominoplasty. As a result of several pregnancies, sagging skin and excessive stretching of the abdominal muscles are often found in women. The operation will help them strengthen these muscles and get rid of excess skin. It is worth thinking about conducting plastic surgery and those who once suffered from overweight, and now have lost weight, but retained some of the fat in the abdominal cavity and got a sagging stomach.
Who doesn’t have tummy tuck?
If you are a woman and are planning a pregnancy, you should postpone the operation until the birth of the baby. During the procedure, the vertical muscles of the abdomen are tensioned, and future pregnancies may result in the divergence of these muscles and the formation of a hernia.
Are you still planning to lose weight? You should not prescribe abdominoplasty until your weight has stabilized.
It is important to know that this operation leads to a scar in the abdominal cavity. The scar is usually characterized by a large extent and in some cases is very noticeable. If you are not comfortable with this fact, you probably should not decide on the procedure. The doctor will discuss all these issues with you at the consultation.
Although surgical operations are extreme measures in the struggle for a beautiful body, many people believe that the ideal way out in their situation is abdominoplasty of the abdomen. The reviews on the thematic forums indicate not only that the majority of women giving birth seriously consider the prospect of lying under the knife, but also that those who managed to pass through this test are happy.
Operation progress
Depending on the desired results, this surgery can last either an hour or five hours. The complexity of the procedure is determined individually for each patient. Most likely, you will need to go to hospital, although in some cases the operation is performed on an outpatient basis. The patient is given general anesthesia, and he falls asleep for the entire time of abdominoplasty. If the doctor decides that in-patient monitoring after surgery is not necessary, you need to invite a person to the medical facility who can take you home. In addition, it is necessary that someone stay with you at least one night after the procedure (if relatives do not live with you).
Complete abdominoplasty
This type of procedure is suitable for patients in need of a particularly complex correction. The incision is made at the bottom of the abdominal cavity, approximately at the level of the pubic hair, and usually stretches from hip to hip. The surgeon then tidies the skin and muscles. A second incision is made around the navel, since 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 "abdominoplasty of the abdomen." A third-party opinion will help to finally navigate 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 this or that type of operation. The so-called "mini-abdominoplasty" is performed in cases where 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, starting from the cut line and ending with the navel. Partial abdominoplasty of the abdomen 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 in the case of complete abdominoplasty, drainage tubes will be installed 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 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 body contours from all sides. The abdomen after abdominoplasty is firm, toned and attractive.
After operation
Regardless of the type of operation prescribed (full or partial abdominoplasty), the incision site will be sutured and bandaged equally. The surgeon may advise wearing an elastic bandage or compression underwear 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 describe in detail how best to sit down and go to bed to reduce pain.
If you are used to leading an active lifestyle, remember that you need to limit physical activity to 4-6 weeks after surgery. A doctor who monitors the recovery process may give additional recommendations. You may need to take a vacation of up to one month at work. These circumstances are determined jointly by the doctor and the patient individually, since in each individual case a unique abdominoplasty of the abdomen is actually performed. Reviews about surgeons may help determine the choice of clinic.
Training
If you smoke, you will need to abandon this habit for a period determined by the surgeon. It is not enough to simply reduce the amount of cigarettes consumed; quit smoking completely, at least two weeks before surgery and two weeks after it. Smoking increases the risk of complications and slows the recovery process.
Make sure your menu is balanced. In no case do not go on a diet before the procedure: good 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 solve this issue with you at a preliminary consultation. Reviews about “abdominoplasty of the abdomen” may be interesting.
Comfort
Your personal postoperative recovery home space should include:
- a stock of wide comfortable clothing that is easy to take off and put on;
- telephone as close as possible so that you can make a call without changing the lying position;
- a bathing chair and a hand shower, so you can swim while sitting and freely manipulate the flow of water.
Rely on your individual needs and requirements to provide yourself with the most convenient and safe home space for postoperative recovery after such a complicated procedure as abdominoplasty of the abdomen. Reviews of patients on medical forums can contain a lot of useful information about building 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. The doctor may prescribe an anesthetic drug and give recommendations regarding the adoption of painless positions and the implementation of gentle movements.
Pain lasts for several weeks, or even months. In the same period, numbness, bruising, or a general state of fatigue may occur. The abdomen after abdominoplasty does not acquire its final contours immediately, so you need to be patient.
Like any other surgical operation, abdominoplasty is characterized by the presence of certain risks. An increased risk of complications threatens those diagnosed with diabetes, poor circulation, heart, liver, or lung diseases. Smokers are also at risk. Complications include the following:
- scars (scars);
- bleeding (hematoma);
- infection
- accumulation of fluid;
- slow healing of the wound;
- blood clots;
- numbness or other changes in touch;
- risks associated with general anesthesia;
- skin color changes;
- prolonged inflammatory process;
- fat necrosis (necrosis of adipose tissue located deep under the skin);
- divergence of sutures on the surgical wound;
- asymmetry.
Back to life
Most people fall in love with their new image acquired as a result of abdominoplasty. However, for many months, your own body may seem alien as a result of surgery. Remember that you went through a lot to get the body of your dreams, made an invaluable contribution - both emotionally, physically, and financially. The main thing now is to observe the correct diet and exercise, in order to preserve for a long time a beautiful and toned stomach, which abdominoplasty of the stomach gave you. Reviews about the operation, the surgeon, the result should be posted on a thematic forum - your example can inspire thousands of women to rethink their appearance.
Diet
The main mistake inherent in people (especially women) who have undergone abdominoplasty is the beginning of a strict diet for weight loss within a couple of months after surgery. Having acquired beautiful forms, women are afraid to lose them again and therefore seek to prevent weight gain and repeated sagging of the skin or accumulation of body fat. Doctors, however, categorically do not recommend going on a diet for targeted weight loss: so you will not only not gain your health, but also compromise your newly acquired form.
What should be the diet after abdominoplasty of the abdomen? There is only one option: you need to follow the principles of a balanced diet and the basic tenets of a healthy lifestyle. This means regular consumption of a large amount of fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs, as well as an emphasis on obtaining the maximum level of proteins (proteins). Proteins are found in meat, fish, some vegetables, dairy products, nuts. You should not get involved in complex carbohydrates: bakery products, all kinds of sweet delicacies, pure sugar and sweeteners. Strive to consume fresh farm products that have not undergone excessive processing and retained all the substances necessary for the human body.
Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck): reviews
It is enough to look at the photographs “before” and “after” and get acquainted with the messages of the results of surgical intervention to come to the quite obvious conclusion: plastic surgery of the abdomen truly works wonders. Where diets, proper nutrition, or regular physical activity, including those aimed at comprehensively strengthening the muscles of the press, can not cope, plastic surgery comes to the rescue of men and women. The patient feedback sections are full of enthusiastic responses from those who decided to take a responsible and, it must be said, rather desperate step. Abdominoplasty of the abdomen (the photo of the procedure is given above) is a serious burden on health, but the payment for patience and faith in the result is an attractive toned stomach, which is not ashamed to boast even on the beach.
Are there negative reviews? Of course, but note: all possible complaints are listed under the heading “Complications and side effects” in this article.