What does a tummy tuck do
Tummy tuck is a correction of the anterior abdominal wall by surgical debridement of stretched, sagging skin and underlying muscle, excessive subcutaneous fat.
The first mention of such procedure dates back to 1899, when the United States were carried out surgical removal procedures of excess fat in the abdominal wall. Shortly thereafter (in 1905) French doctors have perfected surgery, aligning it with the correction of an umbilical hernia.
Further development of the tummy tuck took place in the direction of its aesthetic improvement. Was developed surgical technique, which allows to keep the size and shape of the navel, developed a special technique cuts, which helped give stomach aesthetically beautiful form.
In the middle of the XX century there have been many successful lipectomy surgeries (then this surgery called so). Technique surgery was improved and included holding of very low cut and the subsequent mobilization of skin and fatty tissue. By the end of last century, aspects of tummy tuck were described down to the smallest detail.
Indications and contraindications
Most of the complaints about the correction of the form of the abdomen associated with excessive deposition of adipose tissue in the abdomen, stretching of skin as a result of pregnancy or after a sudden loss of a large fat mass. The need for surgery arises in the case of discrepancies recti for correction of gross post-surgical scars.
Contraindications are some chronic diseases of internal organs, diabetes, blood diseases (especially of the coagulation system). Although childbearing possible after abdominoplasty, surgery is not recommended, if the pregnancy is planned in the coming year. Planning of tummy tuck surgery, it should be understood that it is not a means of weight reduction or treatment of obesity.
Types of tummy tuck and surgical technique. What does a tummy tuck do ?
Depending on the volume of surgery, in abdominoplasty used different surgical techniques.
Full tummy tuck involves the removal of excess folds of skin and fat from the navel to the pubic area. This is the most common type of this operation. The incision is carried out from the hairy part of the pubis to the pelvic bones, depending on the amount of skin removed. Then the surgeon separates the skin and muscles of the navel, removes excess skin and reshapes the skin and muscles. During this surgery can eliminated muscle tension of the abdominal wall or suturing of an umbilical hernia or hernia of the white line of the abdomen. Surgery can also be accompanied by liposuction. As a result, after surgery remains horizontal, slightly curved seam within the pubic area. Also a small seam is near the navel.
Extensive abdominoplasty complemented by removing excess fat in the back and hips with side location of seam.
Partial tummy tuck is performed in cases of resection of the small area of the skin. A smaller incision is made under it, and the area of surgery is below the belly button without touching it.
Endoscopic tummy tuck is the least traumatic type of surgery. During this surgery performed puncture inside umbilical ring, through which the surgeon sutured ligaments of the anterior abdominal wall with the help of an endoscope. Surgery helps to form the correct waist and eliminate the bulge below the navel, without leaving scars. After the intervention incision is located only within the umbilical ring, making it completely invisible.
Before tummy tuck is performed mandatory testing of patients for potential contraindications, in some cases, need psychological counseling.
Surgical intervention is performed under general anesthesia in a hospital. Average duration is 2-5 hours. After surgery, patients remain in the hospital within a week.
Consequences of surgery and postoperative aftertreatment
The early effects of surgery include postoperative pain in the first days after the procedure. You may also need the appointment of painkillers. It is also possible numbness in the stretched skin, which wears off. In the early days from the surgical wound will flow blood and tissue fluid, which requires drainage. The first month after surgery preserved tissue swelling of the abdomen with possible bleeding.
After a tummy tuck is necessary to observe the following recommendations:
- wearing compression underwear for a month;
- refusal to attend swimming pools, gyms for 1.5-2 months;
- conducting physical therapy;
- conduct dermatological procedures (hardware drainage microcurrents).
After surgery needs gentle treatment. Prohibited lifting weights, flights should be delayed for at least 3 weeks.
Complications of abdominoplasty
Complications of surgery include:
- formation of gross scarring of the skin, which may be due to specific features of processes of scarring;
- formation of skin thickening above the suture line;
- reshaping the navel;
- numbness of the skin at the surgical site.
Also there is a possibility of complications specific to any surgery – wound infection, reaction to anesthesia.