If your belly belies your age, it’s time to consider a tummy tuck. The problem of a protruding abdomen is not just cosmetic. Health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, back aches, and leg cramps are some of the other unpleasant consequences of a large belly.

The look of a flabby stomach can be partially the result of loose muscle tissue in the abdominal wall. A loose abdominal wall can be a result of:

• Pushing of the womb against the abdominal wall during pregnancy
• Hereditary conditions
• Improperly conducted exercises
• The aging process

Having sagging or separated abdominal muscles can create the look of a spare tire. Aside from aesthetic issues, it can also cause weakening of the lower back, lower back pain, constipation issues, and other problems.

The tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty surgery, is a procedure that can rejoin and tighten the loose muscles of the abdominal wall. It helps patients look and feel fitter while getting rid of the aches and pains that go with a separated and weakened abdominal wall.

This procedure is also able to trim away sagging abdominal skin, eliminate stretch marks, and remove excess fatty tissue, resulting in a thinner, flatter, and more contoured look for the stomach.

Preparation for a Tummy Tuck

Before scheduling the surgery, your surgeon will request certain labs and diagnostic procedures to assess your overall health. You will be asked to quit smoking before and after the procedure to help with faster healing and recovery. Medications that may affect the body’s blood-clotting mechanism during the surgery may have to be stopped.

Your surgeon will also discuss with you the type of anesthesia that is required for the procedure. Usually, abdominoplasty is performed under general anesthesia.

What to Expect

The tummy tuck can be performed at an outpatient facility, accredited doctor’s office, or at a hospital. After anesthesia is administered, a horizontal incision is made starting from one hipbone and ending at the other. A second incision separates the navel from the surrounding skin to enable the skin to be lifted.

The surgeon then lifts up the skin and carefully removes excess fat. Internal sutures are used to rejoin and tighten the abdominal wall. The navel is repositioned, and the extra skin on the abdomen is removed. Once the skin is repositioned, the incisions are closed with medical sutures.

The Recovery Period

You will be sent home the same day as your procedure after a period of observation in the recovery room. An abdominal binder or support garment is required to be worn to help shape the abdomen further and to help with the healing process.

Dressings are removed within a couple of days, and external sutures will be removed during a follow-up appointment.

As you heal, you will be able to get up and walk around at home and attend to your day-to-day light work. Complete recovery will take between two to four weeks. Heavy exercise has to be avoided until the recovery process is complete.

Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Ceydeli to Learn More

It’s time to do something about that spare tire – contact the office of double-board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Adil Ceydeli today for a tummy tuck consultation.