Skincare Treated

Abdominoplasty and Body Contouring Surgery

The abdomen, or stomach as commonly referred to, is perceived as being critical to the figure and most women agonise about “excess baggage” around the midriff. Many elect for abdominoplasty and body contouring surgery to get the middle region of their anatomy in shape.

What Is A Tummy Tuck?

Abdominoplasty and body contouring, which is also called a tummy tuck, is performed on both men and women anxious to get rid of excess skin and fat from the abdominal region. The skin and muscles here sag due to various factors.

People who have had multiple pregnancies, people who are obese, those whose muscles have detached them from the rest, individuals who have suddenly lost an unusual amount of weight, and those who are simply prone to weight gain.

These are usually candidates for abdominoplasty and body contouring surgery, which has become a common cosmetic procedure across the world.

Body sculpting is major surgery and a patient needs to be prepared for it both medically clinically.  The most important condition is that candidates should maintain a constant weight for at least a year before surgery.

Painkillers and Blood Loss

Also, painkillers that inhibit clotting must be avoided. This is because patients often lose a lot of blood during abdominoplasty and body contouring surgery and clotting is therefore important.

Some patients need to take analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs regularly for conditions such as migraine. It is important to disclose every detail of your medical history to your doctor so that he can switch drugs if necessary or make any changes that are required.

High blood pressures patients too are at a slightly higher risk those others. Blood pressure needs to be monitored and controlled well before abdominoplasty and body contouring surgery because this could lead to undue loss of blood.

Most smokers don’t realise it when they light up but smoking constricts the blood vessels. After major surgery, those areas that are sensitive need normal and a healthy blood supply for the growth and regrowth of tissue.

Risk of Tissue Death

Vasoconstriction could lead to the death of tissue as such tissue does not get sufficient oxygen, nutrients and fluids. It’s called necrosis and abdominoplasty patients simply cannot run this risk.

Hence smokers are advised to stub out the habit at least four months before surgery.

The actual surgery is a lengthy procedure and requires extreme skill. Make sure your surgeon is experienced and comes with a good reputation as well as credentials.

Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and body contouring is different from liposuction in one significant way. While the former removes both skin and fat, the latter sucks out excess fat alone.

Most of the skin removed in abdominoplasty lies below the navel. After the skin that remains is redraped, the abdominal region gets a new and much more contoured appearance.

Since body contouring involves major incisions in the skin, scars are bound to remain. A skilled surgeon will know exactly how to minimize this and conceal some of the scars.

Firm and Flat Look!

There’s another thing patients must be prepared for and that is the relocation of the naval. This does not mean that it will be positioned in a different place! All it means is that it is usually detached from the earlier flabby tissue and embedded in the tissue and skin that remains.

Post-surgery, the abdomen looks firm and relatively flat and often gives patients a confident feeling.

Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and body contouring is a common procedure but is does carry some risks. Surgeons need to educate patients about these so that they can take an informed decision before electing for the operation.

Patients may run the risk of bleeding or haematoma, infections, tissue and fat loss or death, or even a pulmonary embolism.

This is a condition where a blood clot occurs and lodges itself in the pulmonary artery to the major artery of the heart. In extreme cases, patients of abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and body contouring have thus suffered paralysis or a heart attack.