Tummy Tuck Surgery: Abdominoplasty

Many people long for a flatter, tighter abdominal area. There are “ab blasting” exercises, tummy crunches, high protein diets, low carb diets—a thousand different ways for people to try to lose belly fat. Our bodies are designed to hold onto the fat in case we are not able to find food. Fat is the way our bodies store fuel for energy and probably a big reason why belly fat is so hard to lose. For a number of reasons people may not be satisfied with their waistline and abdomen and might find a "tummy tuck" to be an appropriate option for achieving a slimmer and aesthetic abdomen. According to a report by American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery's 2004 Cosmetic Surgery National Data Bank, the total number of abdominoplasty procedures performed has increased by 344 %, over the previous seven years.

 

Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty involves removing excess fat and skin from the lower belly and pulling the area tight. The result is a flat stomach without the unwanted bulges of subcutaneous fat. Keep in mind, however, that only so much fat can be removed. Also a scar will likely form at the site of the incision. Plastic surgeons are skilled in closing the skin as to minimize the scar, but they can only do so much. A person’s individual genetics play a role in wound healing and should be anticipated prior to the procedure.

There are a number of things to be taken into consideration before going for tummy tuck procedure.  First, a good candidate for this procedure would be someone who has been unable to tone his or her abdominal region, even with the help of a healthy diet and routine exercise. Also, selecting a surgeon that is right for you is important. You want to find one who is skilled at the procedure and not so busy that they cannot be available to you in case you need something after the surgery. The ideal surgeon is one who is skilled and has a reasonable amount of experience but has not yet developed a client base to 1) divert their attention from you and 2) increase the fees for the surgery. It is important to find out about the surgeon’s credentials, including education, number of cases performed and complication rate both for tummy tuck as well as all surgeries in general.

Tummy tuck is considered elective and cosmetic and is not covered by US and UK insurance companies under normal circumstances. The cost of a tummy tuck varies from country to country and even between different localities within the same country. Remember that the cost of tummy tuck is more than just the surgeon’s fees and includes pre-operative and post-operative care, facility fees, anesthesia, and medications.

This procedure usually takes between two to six hours to complete, depending on the type of tummy tuck procedure being performed. As with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved. The tummy tuck procedure may result in swelling, bruising, and discomfort as well as infections and blood clots, which could slow or impair the healing process.

While some people believe that a tummy tuck is a way to permanently tone their abdomen, keep in mind that a tummy tuck is a quick route to weight loss, it is far from permanent and can be undone through bad habits. Maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise helps to ensure a lasting benefit to the tummy tuck surgery.