Tummy tucks are major surgical procedures that require a surgeon's artistry and exceptional precision to produce aesthetically satisfying results. Tummy tucks are a big operation, and in my mind, one of the most dangerous cosmetic procedures -- and the patients who have them tend to be a high-risk group.

Tummy tucks are best suited to people who are in good shape (aside from the abdominal area) and who are at an ideal weight. Although every procedure is unique, there are several basic variations on tummy tuck surgery that can be used to address different cosmetic goals. Traditional tummy tucks are the most commonly performed type of tummy tuck surgery.

Abdominoplasty, or as it is often referred to, a tummy tuck, is a procedure for people who have excess skin and fat around the abdomen and want to have it removed. Abdominoplasty may involve liposuction, either alone or in combination with removal of skin. Abdominoplasty does not instantly change the way the world perceives the post-surgical patient, but it can greatly improve self esteem and body image, changing the way patients present themselves to the world.

Possible risks of abdominoplasty include: Unfavorable scarring, bleeding (hematoma), infection, fluid, accumulation, poor wound healing, skin loss, blood clots, numbness or other changes in skin sensation, anesthesia risks, skin discoloration and/or prolonged swelling, fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis), major wound separation asymmetry, recurrent looseness of skin, pain which may persist, deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications, persistent swelling in the legs, nerve damage, possibility of revisional surgery, and suboptimal aesthetic results.

Liposuction can be ideal for patients who have reached physical maturity, are at or near their ideal body weight, and have stubborn, localized deposits of fat they want removed. The best candidates for a tummy tuck are those bothered by a large fat deposit or a loss of skin elasticity resulting in loose abdominal skin that won't respond to diet or exercise. This procedure can especially help individuals who have just experienced pregnancy or lost a significant amount of weight, but still possess excess skin and fat in their abdomen.

Tummy tucks are in fact medical procedures, and while many people are quite happy with the results, patients who understand the mechanics and expectations after the procedure are more likely to fair much better afterward. Mini-tummy tucks are used to correct problems from the naval down to the pubic bone, such as: bulging abdomen muscle weakness, sagging skin, and excess fat. Mini tummy tucks are generally directed at situations where the muscle elasticity is lost in the lower abdomen wall only.