The abdominal area changes due to excess weight and subsequent weight loss, births and pregnancy. The formation of stretch marks on the abdominal skin, deterioration of skin quality and sagging, the appearance of fat deposits and especially the loosening of the abdominal wall muscles require various corrections.
Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck surgery) is an operation in which excess fat and sagging skin in the abdominal area are removed and the abdominal muscles are stretched and strengthened on the midline. It is not a weight loss procedure, so it is important for people who are very overweight to lose as much weight as they can before surgery. With the surgery, the appearance improves clearly and the loosened abdominal wall becomes close to its former strength. The surgical technique is not the same in every abdominoplasty technique, the surgical technique that is suitable for you is evaluated during the pre-operative examination and decided together with you.
Surgery Techniques
In the first evaluation we will determine the surgical technique together after the interview.
- Liposuction (vacuum fat suction): If there is an increase in regional fat without excess or sagging skin, liposuction alone is often sufficient.
- Mini Abdominoplasty: It is a suitable technique for people with little skin sagging, it does not require changing the location of the belly button.
- Abdominoplasty: It is suitable for people with more sagging skin. The belly button is preserved, often the abdominal wall muscles are also repaired in the surgery due to abdominal wall laxity.
- Abdominoplasty and liposuction : Suitable for people with sagging skin and increased fat in the upper abdomen. Most of the time, this technique is applied because abdominoplasty alone is not sufficient.
Surgery
The operation is performed under general anesthesia and takes approximately 2-2.5 hours. In patients with a caesarean section incision, this scar is usually extended to the sides. In patients who do not have a caesarean section, surgery is performed through an incision between both hip bones. This incision is in the form of a line that can be hidden in a swimsuit or bikini. For the navel, a second round incision is made just around the navel, which is usually hidden in the inner line of the navel.
Two drains (small vacuum-operated tubes) are placed under the removed area to prevent fluid and serum accumulation. The drains are removed between 1-3 days after the operation, depending on the absence of any fluid inside.
Before the operation is over and the awakening process begins, the patient is dressed in the abdominoplasty corset that should be worn between 4-6 weeks and the patient is awakened and taken to bed with wearing the corset.
The hospitalization period varies between 1-3 days.
After Surgery
The hospitalization period is usually between 1-3 days. Postoperative pain is different in each patient, but it is less. This problem disappears with the administration of painkillers during your hospitalization and discharge.
The return to work period varies between 7-10 days. A corset, which is specially used for abdominoplasty and extends from below the chest to above the knee, is used for 4-6 weeks after the operation.
The scar usually appears slightly red-pink around 3 months and fades after 6 months. Although there is a loss of sensation in the scar, this is temporary and usually disappears after 6 months.
