Doesn’t your tummy respond to exercise or diet? Are you tired of doing 100 sit-ups per day and see no results? Maybe you are thinking about having a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). But before making a decision take into account the information below. Also, know how to speed up and have better results after the surgery.
What is an abdominoplasty (Tummy tuck)?
It is a procedure that flattens your abdomen. It removes the extra fat and skin from your tummy. In addition, it restores weakened or separated muscles, and also, tightens the muscles in your abdominal wall. As a result your tummy will look smoother and firmer.
Keep in mind that a tummy tuck is not a liposuction (surgery that removes fat deposits); although in some cases, your surgeon may choose to perform a liposuction treatment first as part of your abdominoplasty.
When is a tummy tuck recommended?
- Loose abdominal muscle: Some women after having one or more pregnancies often experience loose abdominal muscles. This is known as diastasis recti, and commonly causes medical problems like stress incontinence. Tummy tucks tight and restore the underlying muscles.
- Hernia: Pregnancy and childbirth sometimes lead to hernias, causing the intestines to push through the weak spots in the walls of the muscles. A tummy tuck could repair these weak areas and prevent further medical complications.
- Excessive weight lost: For patients who recently lost a lot of weight, heavy abdominal skin causes bad posture and significant back pain. If you are no longer able to support sagging or hanging skin around the waist, a tummy tuck can restore your mobility and make you feel happy with your body.
How is the surgery performed?
First of all, you will receive anesthesia. There are two types: intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Your surgeon will recommend the best option for you.
According to your needs, your surgeon will perform one of these two types of abdominoplasties.
1.Complete or full abdominoplasty.
- Your surgeon will perform a horizontally-oriented incision in the area between your pubic hairline and belly button. The size of this incision is determined by the amount of excess skin.
- Then, the abdominal skin is lifted and the underlying weakened abdominal muscles are repaired.
- If the surgeon needs to remove excess skin in the upper abdomen, he/she will make a second incision around the navel.
- Your surgeon will place drainage tubes under your skin (to drain excess fluids). After a few days your surgeon will remove them.
- Next, your surgeon will pull down the upper abdominal skin. The excess skin is trimmed and the remaining skin is sutured together.
- Then, she/he will create a new opening for your navel. It is popped through to the surface and sutured into position.
- Finally, your surgeon stitches the incision and bandages your tummy.
2.Partial or mini abdominoplasty.
They are often done on people whose fat deposits are located below the navel. During this procedure, the surgeon most likely will not move your belly button, and the procedure may only take up to two hours, depending on your case.
Tummy tuck post surgery aftercare
- Follow all the instructions given by your surgeon, specially on how to take care of the bandage in the days following surgery.
- The bandage must be a firm, elastic band that promotes proper healing.
- You may wear a compression garment after surgery. It is very important that you wear the correct one (we can advise you on the best option taking into account your surgeon´s recommendations and your needs).
- Wear a board under your garment to help you to stay upright and heal better
- Your surgeon will advise you on how to sit or lie down to help ease pain.
- You have to limit strenuous exercise for four to six weeks, but you need to move regularly to eliminate fluids and prevent seromas.
- Generally, one week up to one month off work after the surgery is enough for most people to recover properly. Again, your doctor will help you determine this according to your job type.
- Many doctors prescribe Manual Lymph Drainage Therapy (MLD) after abdominoplasty to make sure their patients get the best possible results from their procedure.
How to heal faster and have better and long-lasting results?
It is normal after Tummy Tuck procedure to notice hardness, water retention, swelling, hematoma or lumpiness on treated areas. In addition to the aftercare you do at home, book your post-surgery aftercare treatment as soon as possible to get better, faster and long lasting results.
You can start your MLD the second week after your surgery to allow the wound to heal a bit.
Our Post surgery treatment (MLD, different massage styles, garment advice and aesthetic appliances) helps you to:
- Reduce swelling, bruisers, lumps.
- Ease pain.
- Reduce stress and anxiety.
- Drain excess fluids or avoid fluid retention.
- It will give you a sensation of calm and comfort.
- Shape your body.
- Speed up the recovery process.
- Increase wound healing.
- Have better and long lasting results.
The post- op massage, helps your body contouring, reduces fibrosis and helps you have better and faster outcomes.
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) helps to move the fluid by gently pumping it back into the lymph vessels, reducing the swelling, retention of fluids and pain after the surgery.
Without Lymph Massage (MLD) the inflammation can evolve into fibrosis (a permanent hardening of the tissue) or a seroma (pocket of serum).
Aesthetic appliances are used to improve the results of your surgery but also to treat fibrosis, edema, seroma and bruisers.
Garment advice. Having the correct garment is key to get the best results. An incorrect or badly fitted garment can lead to seroma and fibrosis.
What you should look for…
Take into account that your body is different from others, so what works for other people may not work on you. Also, each person is different and responds in a different way to each treatment. For this reason, our treatment is tailor made session by session. All what we do is based on your needs, the way your body responds and the evolution you have.
What we do to tailor your treatment:
- First, the professional should observe what your body needs.
- Then, evaluate the condition of your recovery process on each session.
- Finally, evaluate how you respond to any appliance used on the treated area.
According to this evaluation, the professional will decide what works best on you and how to continue with your treatment. If you are far away from our Clinic and can’t visit us, seek a clinic near that creates your treatment based on your needs not on what they want to sell. Last but not least, the place you choose must treat you as you deserve! Always look for what treats you better!
A final word
You may love how your tummy looks after this procedure, but it can take time and you may not feel like your normal self for months after the surgery. On the other hand, Exercise, diet and MLD will help you speed up your healing process and to maintain the results.
We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. We are always happy to help. If you like this blog, please share!
References
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/tummy-tuck
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/11017-abdominoplasty-tummy-tuck
https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-tummy-tuck#3
