Abdominoplasty or Tummy Tuck

Certain precautions are necessary before undergoing an Abdominoplasty, and a patient should strictly adhere to them:

• Complete and relevant blood tests to be conducted before the surgery, as prescribed by the treating doctor.
• Blood thinning medications should be clearly identified and stopped as per the doctor’s instructions.
• 8 hours fasting before the surgery.
• The healthy and nutritious diet should be made a part of the patient’s routine
• Intake of nicotine should be completely stopped before the surgery.

• Complete Abdominoplasty: Is done under general anaesthesia and may last up to 5 hours. An incision is made from one hipbone to the other. The opening is just above the pubic area. Another incision is made, which aids in releasing the navel. The surgery includes the removal of excess fat and skin and the stitching together of muscles to tighten them. As the last step, the navel is correctly positioned, and the incisions are stapled/ sutured. In some cases, a drain may also be placed to help in the removal of extra fluids.
• Partial Abdominoplasty: Is done under general anaesthesia and lasts up to 1-2 hours. The incision made is smaller than the one made for a complete abdominoplasty. The surgery only includes the removal of excess skin and fat. The patient does not undergo muscle tightening or navel repositioning.

• The patient should be prepared for post procedure pain and swelling for a few weeks.
• Simple physical activity like walking should be undertaken by the patient to ensure that there is no clot formation in the legs.
• Strenuous and heavy physical activity should be avoided for six weeks or more based on the patient’s recovery post the procedure.
• The patient will have some scars post the surgery.

Specialized healthcare provisions and experienced doctors, minimize the risks and complications associated with the procedure. However, a patient should be aware of all plausible risks and complications, before undergoing the procedure:

• Adverse reaction to anaesthesia during the procedure.
• Post procedure infections.
• The fluid collection, due to improper drainage.
• Damage to nerves.
• Distorted appearance post the surgery.
• Blood clots, clotting in the deep vein, lung clots.
• Women wanting to get pregnant in the future should not undergo this procedure.