Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty (Plastic and aesthetic surgery to the abdominal wall)
Cosmetic Surgery - Plastic Surgery - Aesthetic Medicine - Reconstructive Surgery
The tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is aesthetic plastic surgery to the
middle or lower abdominal wall. Abdominoplasty involves removing excess
skin and fat, removing "soft" skin which might also be damaged,
especially where there are a lot of stretch marks or scars that are too
prominent. Abdominoplasty can tighten the abdominal muscles and give
the abdomen a better appearance and profile. This surgery is performed
under general anaesthesia, and can reduce deformities such as skin
folds, scars and stretch marks.
The tummy tuck has not been routinely used since the advent of
liposuction and mini-abdominoplasty. These prevent any residual
scarring.
The technique used for abdominoplasty varies depending on the patient
and takes into account a number of factors: the condition of the skin,
excess fat, tone of the abdominal muscles and of course, general
morphology. Each patient, whether male or female, will have a tummy
tuck suited to his/her particular case.
The simplest case requires only a single abdominal liposuction. The
tummy tuck will be used in the case of distension or large skin lesions
and a lot of stretch marks or scars.
In certain cases a combination of both techniques can be considered in
order to treat any excess fat or adiposity that is also present.
Abdominoplasty, removing loose and deteriorated skin, allows the
retightening of peripheral skin and restores the peripheral abdominal
wall to good condition. The belly button is preserved and restored to
its normal position. This procedure leaves a shorter or longer scar
depending on the size of the area of damaged skin to be removed. The
length of the scar is determined before surgery.
A post-operative or post-pregnancy tummy tuck is funded by Social
Security in the very specific cases of "major deterioration of the
anterior abdominal wall with the abdominal apron partially covering the
pubic area, to be supported by a preoperative photograph and; weight
loss for morbid obesity after bariatric surgery (specialist surgery for
cases of obesity) ". Otherwise it is purely aesthetic surgery.
The hospital stay following a tummy tuck varies from 2 to 5 days.
Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure the duration of which depends
on the surgical work to be done by the plastic surgeon. Each surgeon
uses his/her own technique that is adjusted to each patient to get the
best result.
The postoperative consequences of a tummy tuck can vary in duration
and magnitude depending on the patient. A period of 3 months is needed
to allow time for healing (scars are inevitable, permanent, indelible
and unpredictable) and recovery of flexibility in the tissues, but
within 1 to 3 years is needed for full recovery. The tummy tuck is a
delicate surgical operation, requiring a lot of rigour and with all the
risks associated with any medical procedure (anaesthesia and surgery)
even when carried out under the most favourable conditions, that is to
say by a dedicated and competent plastic surgeon. Without overstating
the risk, a proportion of risks exist. Turning to a qualified plastic
surgeon can prevent complications or help to treat them effectively.