The Tummy Tuck Procedure is a routine event for most surgeons. It is otherwise known as an Abdominoplasty. It is a surgery that aims to enhance the appearance and tone of the abdomen for women that have so much fatty bulges in the area. It can be done together with other procedures like breast augmentation and liposuction on the thighs. The surgery often lasts a maximum of 6-7 hours and most patients don't need to get to the hospital or the surgery clinic till the day of the procedure. Below, the procedural steps of the Tummy Tuck are explained.

Going Under

Abdominoplasty is a major surgical procedure that is why most patients are usually subjected to general anesthesia. With General Anesthesia, the patient is unconscious throughout the duration of the surgery. Abdominoplasty can also be performed on Local Anesthesia, but that decision depends on the surgeon. Patients are usually prescribed mild sedative prior to the surgery in order to minimize anxiety.

The Initial Incision

The incision on an Abdominoplasty is often a lengthy one. However, the length is determined by the extent of the repair that has to be done. Abdominoplasty incisions are often in the shape of shallow bike handles and extend from hip bone to hip bone and flatten out near the pubic area.

Tightening and Repair

After the initial incision has been made, the surgeon then separates the skin from the underlying muscles. During this procedure another incision may be made in order to separate the navel from the tissues that hold it in place. This is done so that the skin above the navel may be stretched.

Once the skin had been separated from the abdominal muscle, the surgeon then proceeds to tighten and repair the abdominal muscles. A narrower waist often results form this step. After all the necessary repair on the muscle has been done, the surgeon then stretches the skin over it and removes any excess, it is also during this point that the navel is reattached.

After this stage, any other additional procedures can be performed. If the patient opted for breast augmentation, the implants can be put into place using the same incision at the hip. This minimizes surgical scarring.

Closing Up

Once the procedure is over, the surgeon then proceeds to stitch together the initial incision. Often the surgeon uses removable sutures and surgical tape to hold the stitches together.

The patient needs to take at least 2 weeks off from work to accommodate the recovery time needed. The recovery from a Tummy Tuck Procedure usually takes 2 or 3 weeks only.