Tummy
Tuck
Abdominoplasty or Dermolipectomy
When the waist recovers its shape, everything becomes easier: you move more gracefully, the clothes you try on fit nicely and you like yourself much better, like others do.
Tummy tuck surgery, also known as abdominoplasty or abdominal dermolipectomy, removes fat and flaccidity from your abdomen and, at the same time, tightens your abdominal muscles, turning them into a natural corset.
What results should I expect?
What a tummy tuck does
- Unlike liposuction, which only removes fat, tummy tuck surgery also tightens the lax tissues of the abdomen that hang due to overweight or aging. This procedure is indicated when all the abdominal area is involved. However, when the area affected is only that of the lower abdomen and does not extend beyond the navel, it's better to have a mini tummy tuck done.
- It enhances the waist, since it tightens the abdominal muscles like a corset by making a vertical fold.
- By reducing the waist's diameter, it makes the hips more pronounced; this helps the body acquire a more feminine outline.
- It eliminates scars and stretch marks on the area.
- It makes it easier to treat, at the same time, pre-existing conditions such as hernias or eventrations.
What a tummy tuck does not do
- It doesn't treat obesity. If you have obesity, you should visit the section about bariatric surgery.
The surgery
Anesthesia & duration
Peridural or general anesthesia is used.
Between 2 and 4 hours, according to the complexity of the case.
You will have to be hospitalized for a day.
How it is performed
The incision runs from hip to hip with a curvature that follows the upper outline of a bikini — made there to hide the resulting scar easily under the underwear. In most cases, a circular incision is made around the navel to tighten the skin of the abdomen as much as necessary without displacing the navel.
The surgeon separates the skin from the abdominal wall. If necessary, the abdominal muscles are tightened by making a vertical fold; this will make the abdominal wall firmer and the waist narrower. The skin is tightened towards the pubis and the excess is trimmed. Once the skin is tightened, a small round incision is made for the navel. Finally, the surgeon closes all the incisions with stitches, and applies a bandage and a drainage tube to drain the excess fluids.
Recovery period
Bandages
You will have to wear a special bandage on the treated area for about two or three weeks. Thin drainage tubes drain excess fluids — they reduce the incidence of bruises.
Stitches removed
Between 7 and 14 days after the surgery.
Week 2
If you have a sedentary job, you may be able to go back to it two weeks after the surgery. If it involves physical activities or lifting, wait two to four more weeks.
Month 1
You will be able to show up in public wearing a bathing suit after about a month.
Pain
From medium to severe. The surgeon will indicate you to take analgesics every 6 or 8 hours; this will make you feel quite relieved.
Scars
The scar will always be visible, but it will turn to a pale pink and become less visible over time. It follows the outline of a bikini, hidden by underwear or a bathing suit. The other possible scar is around the navel — it will be merged with it and will not be very visible.
The first weeks after the surgery tend to be long and unpleasant. During this period, some people may feel quite depressed. It's quite normal to feel this way after any kind of surgery, no matter how simple it may be. You may even come to think that you made a big mistake. But don't worry. Most of the people who are happy today and who are satisfied with the results obtained, have also felt somewhat depressed.
Risks and complications
It is very unlikely for tummy tuck surgery to present any complications when performed by a qualified surgeon. However, every surgery has certain risks, especially when it's a major procedure such as this one.
Adverse reactions to anesthesia.
Infections may develop but, if you take the right antibiotics, they will be less likely to develop.
Uneven scars that may need to be corrected by a simple surgical procedure.
Pulmonary thrombosis. If a blood clot travels through the bloodstream and reaches the lungs, it may cause a cardiopulmonary arrest. To prevent this, try to get up and to move your legs as soon as you can.
Large bruises that may need to be drained.
Seromas, or fluid accumulation beneath the skin, may develop. In some cases, they will have to be drained with a syringe.
Skin necrosis occurs in a very small percentage of cases, but it can be treated if dealt with in time.
Finally, the outcome…
Your waist will be narrower and your abdomen will be flatter and firmer for a long time. The results of a tummy tuck surgery are permanent and most of the patients are satisfied with the benefits obtained. All in all, they consider that their bodies look much better after the surgery, in spite of the scar.
Our patients are provided with:
- Bilingual Assistants & Land Transportation from and to the airport, medical appointments and surgery.
- Translators during hospitalization to better communicate with the nurses.
- Cell phone to call the staff 24/7 at no charge.