Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

TUMMY TUCKS – ABDOMINOPLASTY – GENERAL INFORMATION

Tummy Tuck surgery (Abdominoplasty) is a cosmetic surgery procedure primarily for women who have been pregnant or women and men who lost a significant amount of weight. The Tummy Tuck surgery takes 2–3 hours and plastic surgeon removes excess skin and fat from the mid and lower abdomen. Our Prague plastic surgeons use classical stitches, which are removed in 10 days after the surgery.

TYPES OF TUMMY TUCKS:

• Standard Full Tummy Tuck (Full Abdominoplasty) – is an excellent operation for women or men who have loose skin above and below the belly button that does not go away with weight loss or exercise.
• Mini Tummy Tuck (Mini-Abdominoplasty) – is a smaller operation than a standard full tummy tucks, with a shorter scar, and the belly button is not released or moved. It is advised for clients whose skin laxity and muscle weakness problems are limited to the area below the belly button.
• Extended Tummy Tuck (Extended Abdominoplasty) – is similar to a standard full tummy tuck, but the incision is extended to include excision of skin and fat from the areas of hip and lower back. This longer incision enables the plastic surgeon to deal with bulging and excess skin of areas of your hips and back that aren’t addressed in a standard abdominoplasty technique.
• Tummy Tuck with Liposuction – tummy tuck removes only fat of the lower abdomen. If you have significant fat in the upper abdomen and also loose skin in the lower abdomen, the plastic surgeon can advise you tummy tuck with liposuction. For some clients he might also advise tummy tuck with liposuction of upper abdomen, waist and flanks (sides).

TUMMY TUCK AND STRETCH MARKS

• Stretch marks can not be corrected with a tummy tuck, although these may be removed or somewhat improved if they are primarily located on the areas where excess skin will be excised, generally those treated areas below the belly button.

OBESITY AND TUMMY TUCK

Obesity is the reason to avoid or postpone a Tummy Tuck (abdominoplasty)

• If you are obese, the circulation to your abdominal skin and fat may be too poor for proper healing following tummy tuck. You will be at high risk for infection and wound separation.
• How to find out whether your weight is healthy for a Tummy Tuck surgery? You can use BMI calculator from the NHS where you enter data about your age, height and weight. It will come with a result whether you have a healthy BMI. Healthy BMI is between 18-25. Clients with higher BMI than 29-30 are advised on further healthy diet and exercise to lose more weight. Having high BMI means you are overweight or obese, the operating areas would not heal well and the final outcome would not look beautiful. Please understand the higher BMI the higer risks involved during general anaesthesia or post-operative period.

Tummy Tuck after Gastric Band/Bypass or Gastric Sleeve surgery

• If you underwent one of the following gastric surgeries you probably lost lots of weight during short period of time. If you consider a Tummy Tuck surgery it is necessary to achieve your goal weight and to be stabilized on this weight for 6 months. If you plan to lose more weight it is necessary to postpone Tummy Tuck procedure as any further weight-loss or weight-gain will negatively impact the final outcome of the treatment.

Tummy Tuck after Pregnancy

• you are advised to start considering Tummy Tuck surgery at least one year after giving birth or one year after stopping breastfeeding. During this time is your body changing and if the surgery would be performed sooner the final results of your Tummy Tuck would be negatively affected by those changes.

IF YOU’RE CONSIDERING TUMMY TUCK SURGERY (ABDOMINOPLASTY)…

Tummy Tuck, technically known more as „abdominoplasty“ is a major surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall.

Tummy tuck surgery can dramatically reduce the appearance of a protruding abdomen. But please bear in mind, it does produce a permanent scar, which, depending on the extent of the original problem and the surgery required to correct it, can extend from hip to hip.

Tummy Tuck surgery (Abdominoplasty) flattens a protruding tummy caused by weak abdominal muscles, weight gain or pregnancy – areas that do not respond well to diet or exercise because the skin has been stretched. Prior to surgery, a complete medical history is taken in order to evaluate your general health. The plastic surgeon will discuss realistic expectations and will determine the extent of the surgery required. We will ask you to inform us and the plastic surgeon whether you smoke and if you are taking any medicines.

THE BEST CANDIDATES FOR TUMMY TUCK SURGERY (ABDOMINOPLASTY)

The best candidates for abdominoplasty are men or women who are in relatively good shape but are bothered by a large fat deposit or loose abdominal skin that won’t respond to diet or exercise.

The tummy tuck surgery is particularly helpful to women who, through multiple pregnancies, have stretched their abdominal muscles and skin beyond the point where they can return to normal. Loss of skin elasticity in older patients, which frequently occurs with slight obesity, can also be improved. Patients who intend to lose a lot of weight should postpone the surgery.

Also, women who plan future pregnancies should wait, as vertical muscles in the abdomen that are tightened during surgery can separate again during pregnancy. If you have scarring from previous abdominal surgery, your doctor may recommend against tummy tuck or may caution you that scars could be unusually prominent.

Tummy tuck surgery can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won’t necessarily change your looks to match your ideal, or cause other people to treat you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with plastic surgeon.

BEFORE TUMMY TUCK SURGERY (ABDOMINOPLASTY)

Pharmaceuticals containing acetylsalicylic acid (Acylpirin, Aspirin, and Anopyrin etc.) should not be used for 3 weeks before the Tummy Tuck surgery, as they decrease clotting time of blood. In case you are a smoker you are advised to stop smoking or at least to cut down on cigarettes. Smoking slows down recovery process and it can also increase a risk or complications. Patients should relieve themselves thoroughly in the evening and in the morning before the tummy tuck operation.

TUMMY TUCK SURGERY (ABDOMINOPLASTY) – OPERATION

A tummy tuck surgery will flatten a protruding tummy by removing excess skin and fat, achieving a firmer and flatter tummy and a slimmer waist.

Prior to tummy tuck surgery, the plastic surgeon marks your incisions with a kin-marking pen. Before the tummy tuck surgeon marks you, be sure to tell him about any special clothing goals you have. If you want your scars to be hidden beneath a bikini or a favourite style of panties, then you need to let the plastic surgeon know that. If this is important to you, you can bring the garments with you at marking time.

Tummy Tuck Surgery takes 2–3 hours and is performed in an operating theatre under general anaesthesia. The incision is usually made at the bikini line so that any scarring can be hidden beneath the underwear. The skin is then separated from the abdominal wall and lifted up, exposing the loose tissue that covers the abdominal muscles. The excess skin and fat are then removed and the remaining skin pulled down over the tummy.

Finally, the tummy tuck surgeon sutures the incision, and drains are usually inserted to eliminate fluid build-up. Bandages are then applied to the area. In some cases it is advised to combine the tummy tuck with liposuction in order to eliminate localized fat accumulation. The hospitalisation period, depending on the extent of the surgery, is for 3 nights at the cosmetic surgery clinic.

AFTER TUMMY TUCK SURGERY (ABDOMINOPLASTY) – POST-OPERATIONAL COURSE

You will remain for 2–4 nights at the cosmetic surgery clinic. On the first day after the operation only a tea diet is allowed. You should rise slowly out of bed without making any quick movements, and you should get up „over side“. This means to lie on their side at first and only after this has been accomplished, should you get into a sitting position.

The drain, which is introduced during the operation into the operating incision, is usually removed within 48 hours. The stitches are removed in 10 days after the surgery.

Tight underwear specially designed for this kind of operation, must be worn for a period of 1–2 months after the operation. With Beauty in Prague this underwear is already included in the price of the cosmetic surgery.

Building up one’s muscles and any greater physical strain is not recommended for a period of 2 months if, during the operation, the gap between direct abdominal muscles has been removed. The cicatrices should be covered with a strip of hypoallergenic plaster for a period of 1–3 months after the operation. Bruising and swelling around the treated area will disappear within a few weeks. Scars from the surgery will remain, but fade significantly over time.

HOW WILL I FEEL AFTER THE TUMMY TUCK SURGERY (ABDOMINOPLASTY)?

You will probably feel tired, sleepy and suffer from pain especially in 1–3 days after the surgery. You will be given some painkillers and tablets for reducing the swelling. Our Prague plastic surgeons will usually also prescribe antibiotics as a prevention of any potential infection.

You might also feel unhappy after a few days. This is normal and is caused due to the stress, general anaesthetic, lack of patience with the healing problems, more pain than you expected or the fact that because you underwent tummy tuck abroad you miss your home and family.

Some clients suffer of constipation. We advise you to bring some gentle medication or you can buy it in Prague.

IS THE RECOVERY AFTER TUMMY TUCK SURGERY (ABDOMINOPLASTY) PAINFUL?

According to our client’s experience they did suffer from a pain. However, when you will be leaving the clinic you will be prescribe painkillers by the surgeon. You will probably feel discomfort, swelling, heaviness, and numbness in the areas where surgery was performed.

POSSIBLE RISKS AND COMPLICATIONS AFTER TUMMY TUCK SURGERY (ABDOMINOPLASTY)

The specific risks and the suitability of tummy tuck for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are rare.

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU TO PRAGUE?

• Comfortable clothes

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Page last reviewed by Tamara Ždiňáková on March 20, 2019.