Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) is an aesthetic surgical procedure.
Individuals with one or more of the following conditions may benefit from abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck).
- excess or sagging abdominal skin
- an abdomen that protrudes and is out of proportion to the rest of your body
- abdominal muscles that have been separated and weakened
- excess fat that is concentrated in your abdomen
Generally, a horizontal incision is placed just above the pubic area that extends towards pelvic bones. The length of the incision depends on the amount of skin to be removed. The incision may vary according to the structure of your abdomen and the style of your bathing suit or undergarments. Plastic surgeons try to keep the incision within your bathing suit lines but this may not always be possible.
There are many variations to the technique itself. Some patients have loose skin above the navel. In such cases, the surgeon may make a second incision around the navel so that the redundant skin above it can be pulled down. The excess abdominal skin is then removed. The position of the navel remains unchanged. When the amount of loose skin is minimal and the excess fat deposits are located below the navel, only a short horizontal incision is all that is necessary and an incision around the navel can be avoided. This procedure is called a partial, or "mini," abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck).
Sometimes liposuction may be used in conjunction with abdominoplasty, to remove abdominal fat.
The procedure may include tightening of the underlying abdominal muscles using sutures.
The incision lines though permanent but will fade over time. In some instances, they will eventually be only faint lines but certain individuals may have incision lines that are more noticeable. Fortunately, the scars of abdominoplasty are usually concealed by most bathing suits and undergarments.
Some of the potential complications may include, bleeding, infection and reactions to anesthesia. Revision surgery is sometimes helpful in certain instances where incisions may have healed poorly.
| 
