TUMMY TUCK FAQs (ABDOMINOPLASTY)

What is Abdominoplasty? Also known as a Tummy Tuck, an Abdominoplasty involves the removal of excess skin and fat from the abdomen. A full Abdominoplasty also involves tightening the muscles of the area, which may have become stretched with pregnancy, age or obesity. The surgery is fairly complex.

Who is a good candidate for Abdominoplasty? The ideal candidate is in good physical, mental and emotional health and must have realistic expectations of the outcome of the procedure. If you have good skin elasticity generally this will be in your favour. If you are a woman who wishes to have more children it is best to wait until after the birth of your final child. If you wish to lose weight in conjunction it is better to do this prior to surgery or you may need additional surgery to remove the excess skin after you have lost the desired weight. This would mean a waste of money, as well as, possibly, less satisfactory results the second time.

When is Abdominoplasty usually performed? When a person is unhappy with the appearance of their abdomen region. After a woman has given birth and does not plan to have more children.

How will I be assessed by my surgeon for the suitability of my abdomen for a tummy tuck? Dr. Wilkinson will, during your initial consultation, examine your abdominal area for fat deposits, skin excess/laxity and asses the tightness of the underlying abdominal muscles. Be frank discussing your expectations. Dr Wilkinson will describe the different options available and the risks and limitations of each. If, for example, your fat deposits are limited to the area below the navel, you may require a less complex procedure called a mini abdominoplasty, which can often be performed on an outpatient basis. You may, on the other hand, benefit more from partial or complete abdominoplasty done in conjunction with liposuction to remove fat deposits from the hips, for a better body contour. Or maybe liposuction alone would create the best result.

In any case, Dr Wilkinson will work with you to recommend the procedure that is right for you and will come closest to producing the desired body contour.

What can I do to prepare myself for surgery? A. Dr Wilkinson will advise you stop smoking well in advance of surgery if you are a smoker. You will also be advised to avoid certain medications which can increase bleeding prior to surgery.. Clinic staff will provide you with any additional pre-op instructions specific for your case. Enjoying a healthy eating and exercise regime before and after surgery will result in optimum results!

How is the abdominoplasty performed? Your surgery will be performed at the Renaissance Surgical Clinic. Most patients are admitted as Day cases and then transferred to postoperative care facilities for 1-4 nights. Occasionally in patients with a medical history, the surgery may be done as an inpatient in a larger hospital, in which case you can plan on staying for a day or two.

Abdominoplasty is performed under a conscious sedation, which will make you feel drowsy and relaxed, however you'll sleep through the entire operation and not be aware of the procedure. The advantage is however that you will wake up feeling refreshed without the side effects of a general anaesthesia. Occasionally Dr. Wilkinson may use a general anaesthesia, In all cases a certified anaesthetist will be responsible for your wellbeing

While there are a variety of techniques, the following describes a general tummy tuck procedure:. An incision is made in the lower abdomen just above the pubis. It is placed in the bikini line so that the scar will be well hidden. The skin and fat is dissected off of the abdominal muscles all the way up to the bottom of the rib cage. The belly button is separated from the skin. The skin and fat below the belly button is removed. In most cases sutures are placed on the muscles of the abdominal wall to tighten one side of the abdomen to the other. This can flatten the abdomen remarkably well. The skin above the belly button is drawn down to the pubis and sutured into position. A new hole is placed in the skin and the belly button is positioned in about the same spot as before surgery. The new tummy is then sutured into position. Drains are placed under the skin exiting below the incision on the pubis.

What about pain? Different patients experience varying degrees of pain with a tummy tuck, but you can certainly expect some discomfort. This may be felt in the back as well as at the surgery site. Pain medication and possibly sleep medication will be prescribed by your surgeon.

And scarring? In some patients, scars may be quite severe depending upon the amount of skin removed. The individual body's ability to heal and general response to scar tissue play a role, as does the skill of the surgeon and the technique used. Dr. Wilkinson will attempt to keep scarring below the bikini line. Your scars may actually appear to worsen during the first three to six months as they heal, but this is normal. Expect it to take nine months to a year before your scars flatten out and lighten in colour. While they'll never disappear completely, abdominal scars will not show under most clothing, even under bathing suits

When can I return to work? Abdominoplasty is a slow-healing procedure. While the drains are still in bed rest, with a very small amount of walking is necessary. Staff will give you instructions for showering and changing your dressings. And though you may not be able to stand straight at first, you should start walking as soon as possible.

Within 3-5 days the dressings and drainage pipes are removed and you will wear a soft support garment. You’ll need to wear this garment around the clock for 4 to 6 weeks, over a layer of surgical tape. The stitches will be removed after 10 days.

It may take you weeks or months to feel like your old self again. If you start out in top physical condition with strong abdominal muscles, recovery from abdominoplasty will be much faster. Some people return to work after two weeks, while others take three or four weeks to rest and recuperate.

Exercise will help you heal better. Even people who have never exercised before should begin an exercise program to reduce swelling, lower the chance of blood clots, and tone muscles. Vigorous exercise, however, should be avoided until you can do it comfortably.

How soon will the results be visible? You can expect to start seeing a difference once the swelling subsides and the drains are removed. However, keep in mind that an Abdominoplasty is a very invasive procedure and your body will need time to heal completely.

How long do the results of an Abdominoplasty last? They can last for many years providing there are no large weight gains or pregnancies afterwards. However some relaxation of the tissues can reoccur but never to pre-surgery levels

What are the risks? Thousands of abdominoplasties are performed successfully each year. When done by a qualified plastic surgeon, trained in body contouring, the results are generally quite positive. Nevertheless, there are always risks associated with surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure.

Post-operative complications such as infection and bleeding are rare, but can occur.

Infection can be treated with drainage and antibiotics, but will prolong your hospital stay. Fluid (seroma) may accumulate beneath the abdominal skin. This may require drainage or aspiration. It may be necessary to repeat this procedure a number of times. There will be a scar around the umbilicus, and its appearance may be altered. Loss of the navel is very rare but is more frequent if a hernia repair is done at the same time.

There will be swelling and discolouration around the abdominal area for a number of weeks.

Poor healing, which results in conspicuous scars is common in people who form keloid type scars and smokers. This may necessitate a second operation. Smokers should be advised to stop, as smoking may increase the risk of complications and delay healing and cause loss of the navel and abdominal skin due to poor circulation.This may require skin grafting or another surgical procedure.

Areas of the abdomen may have altered sensation after the operation. This is often temporary but may be permanent. In association with abdominoplasty, complications such as deep vein thrombosis in the legs and pelvis, pulmonary embolism, and even death, have been reported. You can minimize the risk of blood clots by moving around as soon as possible after surgery.

You can reduce your risk of complications by closely following Dr. Wilkinson's instructions before and after the surgery, especially with regard to when and how you should resume physical activity.

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