1. How long does the abdominoplasty surgery last?
The duration of the tummy tuck depends on each case, usually lasting between two and a half hours and five hours. It also depends if it is combined with other surgeries or a mini-tummy tuck is performed.
2. Can epidural be used?
General anaesthesia is applied to most patients. Depending on the case, epidural may be applied.
3. Are tummy tuck and liposuction the same?
Liposuction and tummy tuck are different surgeries although they complement each other. Abdominoplasty is a reconstruction surgery of the belly and not a fat removal surgery. It removes the flaccidity and repairs the muscles of the abdomen. On the contrary, liposuction eliminates localized fat. Both can be done in the same intervention.
4. How is the excess skin removed? Will the scar be visible?
Once in the operating room, the surgeon makes an incision horizontally above the pubic hair. This can be extended to the hip, depending on the amount of skin and fat that must be removed. After this step, the skin is lifted up to the ribs and proceeds to stretch down to remove the excess skin. In the mini-tummy tuck, the incision is made around the navel.
The scars of these incisions are hidden behind the pre-pubic line. If proper care is taken of the scars, they will become almost imperceptible.
5. If I have scars on the abdomen can I get this done?
Patients with scars on the abdomen come to our practice, either due to previous interventions or accidents. In the case that these are in the lower half of the belly there will be no problem, they may even be eliminated in the operation. However, abdominoplasty is contraindicated in those with scars in the upper half.
6. What risks are there?
Like all surgery that requires general anaesthesia, abdominoplasty has its risks during the intervention. Once it has finished, infections or venous thrombi may appear in the postoperative period, although they are very rare. In the case of thrombi, it is relieved by moving the legs, while the infection remits with antibiotics.
7. If I want to get pregnant again can I get a tummy tuck?
Abdominoplasty is contraindicated in those women who want to become pregnant because the intervention tenses the vertical muscles of the abdomen and during pregnancy, these should relax.
It is also contraindicated in patients with obesity. First, they must lose weight and then the operation is performed to remove the excess skin.
8. What requirements must the patient meet?
Before carrying out this or any other intervention, a previous study is carried out to check the suitability of the patient before surgery. In this case, abdominoplasty is recommended to all women and men who are concerned about the accumulation of fat or excess skin, which cannot be reduced with diet or physical exercise.
It is very useful after pregnancies when the skin and muscles of the abdomen have become loose or after a rapid thinning.
9. What effect does tobacco have on the result?
The tobacco delays healing, produces respiratory alterations, alters the tissues and damages the circulation. Therefore, smoking patients must stop smoking weeks before surgery.
10. Will I be able to do sit-ups again?
The month after the surgery, the patient can begin to perform a basic physical activity, so you can do abs exercises.
The postoperative period is not painful and after 15 days you will be able to start walking, especially to avoid the formation of venous thrombi. Even so, the times vary according to the patients and the evolution of the healing.
11. What happens if the skin on my abdomen is smooth and has good toning but there is excess fat?
In such cases, liposuction may be more convenient. Although it is common for us to perform liposuction in conjunction with a tummy tuck, it may or may not solve your problem entirely. This question can be satisfactorily answered only after an examination.
12. How many kilos can I lose with a tummy tuck?
One of the most common questions is how many kilos will be lost with this type of procedure. The reality is that this surgery is not a substitute for weight loss, but aims at removing excess fat and skin, so the results will be defined according to their characteristics. The proportions of the abdomen and the rest of the body should be maintained. The total loss of kilos will depend on the tissue and fat that is removed and regardless of how much, the idea is that the surgery will allow you to have a stylish body and a much flatter abdomen.
These are the most frequent questions that patients ask in our practice. If you want to recover a flat and firm stomach do not hesitate to contact us and ask for an appointment. Always remember that a tummy tuck surgery requires expertise and a lot of experience to ensure desired results. Dr. Prerna Mittal is an experienced tummy tuck surgeon and continues performing Abdominoplasty very frequently.