Tummy Tuck Surgery

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck Surgery)

Abdominoplasty, also known as tummy tuck , is a surgical procedure in which excess fat and saggy skin are removed from the middle and lower abdomen, and the abdominal muscles are tightened by stretching. In tummy tuck surgery, the abdominal wall muscles are strengthened and the sagging excess skin is recovered. Thus, a much more formed abdominal image is created.

Who Can Have Tummy Tuck Surgery?

Tummy tuck surgery is not a weight loss method or weight loss treatment. With this surgery, the appearance of the lubricated belly and abdomen is corrected. Overweight people should lose the ideal amount of weight before this surgery. Abdominoplasty is a method that is frequently preferred by men and women who have completed the weight loss process and have skin sagging problems as a result. In addition, it is a method that can be used to recover muscle weakness that may occur due to frequent weight gain or loss or to recover serious skin sagging after pregnancy. In order for a tummy tuck to be applied to a person, it is necessary to have a certain amount of sagging and a large amount of fat.

Types of Abdominoplasty

It is a suitable surgical procedure for patients with irregular excess weight gain and loss and severe skin excess and muscle deformation in the abdomen after pregnancy. Abdominal stretching surgery can be applied to the abdomen or waist-back area at the same time with liposuction operation. In Full Abdominoplasty, excess skin is removed from both the upper abdomen and lower abdomen and the muscle tissue repair of the abdomen is performed so that a flat abdomen image is obtained. If there is sagging skin, this saggy skin should be removed from the belly button and stretched downwards. In this way, the patient’s having a new and more aesthetic looking belly button is also ensured in this surgery. The incision scar formed after the operation remains as a 10-15 cm thin line under the underwear. The operation is performed under general anesthesia and its average duration is between 2.5 and 3 hours.

Mini Tummy Tuck

It is a preferred surgical procedure for patients who do not have excessive skin sagging in the abdomen, the location of the navel is preserved and does not need any repair in their abdominal muscles. Excess skin in the lower abdomen is removed and the abdomen is made flatter. The scar that will form after the operation is approximately 3-4 cm, just like the cesarean section incision scar, which will remain under the underwear. The operation is performed between 1.5 and 2 hours under general anesthesia. After the operation, the loose and sagging skin is removed and the abdominal skin is restored to its former tightness. If the loose and saggy skin is only in the area below the navel, the skin here is removed so that no surgical procedure is applied to the patient’s navel.

Surgery Preparation

Before the operation, drawings and markings are made on the area or areas where the patient will be treated. Regardless of the importance of the operation time, nothing should be eaten or drunk at least 8 hours before the operation. One week before the operation, the patient’s blood thinning medication, if any, is discontinued. As in all stretching surgeries, if the patient smokes, the patient should quit smoking at least one week before.Embolism stockings are put on the patient to prevent the risk of embolism before the surgery. After the operation, the patient can be kept under observation in the hospital for one or two days. In the evening immediately after the operation, the patient is stood up and the patient is allowed to walk with a bent waist for the first two or three days. If drains are inserted  during the surgery, it may be necessary to keep the drains in the patient until the accumulated fluid decreases below a certain amount.

Recovery After Tummy Tuck Surgery

There may be swelling and pain in the abdomen for a few days after tummy tuck surgery, and painkillers can be used to reduce pain. The drains are removed from the patient 1 to 3 days on average, and the sutures 1 to 3 weeks later. It takes between 2 and 4 weeks for the patient to return to work in a healthy way. The scar is initially prominent; The flattening and fading of the scars can take 9 months to 1 year. Although not completely disappearing, scars can be easily hidden under an underwear . Full or mini tummy tuck surgeries provide excellent results for patients with weak abdominal muscles or excess skin, and enable patients to regain the self-confidence they lost because of their appearance. Most patients can maintain their excellent post-operative results for years thanks to regular exercise and diet after the operation. It is recommended to use a corset for 4 to 6 weeks after the operation. The patient can return to his normal daily life within a week and the post-operative process is not very painful.

In Üsküdar Private Hürrem Sultan Hospital, patients who are suitable for Abdominoplasty are determined after a free preliminary interview, and then surgery is planned.