For both men and women, the physical ideal includes a taut, toned stomach. However, the effects of aging, fluctuations in weight, and pregnancy mean that for many this ideal is unobtainable.

A less-than-desirable tummy is not a problem faced only by those heading towards middle age or engaged in their busy scheduled lives. Some people who have managed to lose large amounts of weight through diet and exercise or bariatric surgery, as well as younger women who have had multiple pregnancies, may find that even after the excess weight has been lost, their stomach still protrudes with excess sagging skin and lacks tone. This is due to the fact that the skin of the stomach and the underlying diastases recti muscles (the muscles that hold the stomach in place) stretch as weight is gained but do not easily return to their former condition. Once the skin has stretched and the muscles separated, even the healthiest diet and the fiercest of exercise regimes won’t be able to fix the issue.

If diet and exercise just aren’t working, however hard you try, there is no need to despair; you don’t have to resign yourself to a lifetime of too-tight waistbands, low self-esteem, and dressing to disappear instead of dressing to impress. Modern surgical innovation and the skill of experienced plastic surgeons can restore slenderness, tightness and toned contours to the abdominal area with Tummy Tuck surgery, which is usually combined with Liposuction and non-surgical skin tightening procedures to get the best and most natural-looking results.

Procedure

Several factors are responsible for causing a shapeless, fatty tummy/ belly, including massive weight loss, massive weight gain, hereditary factors, pregnancy, aging, and lifestyle. Thus, tummy tuck surgery is recommended to offer you a contoured tummy/ abdomen. In addition, it is one of the most sought-after cosmetic procedures among women after childbirth, as abdominal skin sagging and stubborn fat deposits are common problems after pregnancy. The procedure can also be opted for by males and females post Bariatric surgery and massive weight loss.

Tummy tuck/Lipoabdominoplasty is a plastic surgery procedure done to achieve a flatter, toned-looking and sculpted mid-torso region. A tummy tuck removes the excess skin and fat between the umbilicus and the pubic area. Tummy tuck surgery tightens the muscle and fascia of the abdominal wall and gives you a sculpted abdomen.

Lipoabdominoplasty is not the same as liposuction. Although, you may choose liposuction along with a tummy tuck to achieve the best-contoured outcomes in the best way possible. It is major surgery, so you are always advised to select a board-certified plastic surgeon to undergo the procedure.

The pre-procedure preparation for tummy tuck includes extensive medical evaluation, blood investigations, avoiding smoking, adjusting current medications. Persons consuming blood thinners/aspirin, herbal supplements, oral contraceptives and certain medications that can increase bleeding, will be asked to titrate or stop the medication days or weeks before the surgery. Discuss all medications and vitamins that you regularly use with your consultant to see if you should stop taking them before surgery and, if so, for how long.

You should be in the best possible health, be at a stable weight, and in optimal physical condition to help promote the best outcome.

The type of incision you receive will depend on the excess skin present. Once the abdominal skin is lifted, the underlying weakened abdominal muscles are repaired. A second incision around the navel may be necessary to remove excess skin in the upper abdomen. The excess skin is trimmed, and the remaining skin is sutured together. A new opening for the belly button is created. Sutures, skin adhesives, tapes, or clips are used to close the incisions.

Once you have awakened fully from the anesthesia, you will be shifted to the recovery room.

Pain, swelling, soreness or tenderness in surrounding areas, fluid accumulation, and numbness are the most common side effects in the first week of tummy tuck surgery that require a careful post-operative follow-up. However, the chances of side effects/ complications are minimal to rare with an expert plastic surgeon doing the procedure in a licensed /accredited hospital/ cosmetic surgery centre.

The most significant benefit of a tummy tuck is that it takes away all the stretch marks on the skin in the lower part of the belly.