Abdominoplasty, popularly known as 'Tummy Tuck' is a procedure to correct abdominal wall laxity or 'overhang' by tightening the abdominal wall muscles and removing the excess skin from the lower abdomen. Liposuction may also need to be done at the same time if there is also excessive fat on the abdominal wall. Liposuction alone will not correct abdominal wall laxity or 'overhang' - only an Abdominoplasty can achieve that.
There are three varieties of this procedure:
Radical (or Full) Abdominoplasty in which an incision is made across the lower abdomen from hip to hip, the excess and loose abdominal skin lifted off the underlying abdominal wall muscles up as far as the ribs, the muscles tightened, the excess skin removed and the navel relocated to its new position.
Mini-Abdominoplasty is basically the same procedure except for the fact that the lifting of the skin off the abdominal wall muscles is confined to the lower abdomen, the muscle tightening is also confined to the lower abdomen and the navel is
not moved. The length of the incision, however, is more or less the same as that of a Full Abdominoplasty.
'Crescenteric' Tuck is the simplest variety with the smallest scar. It is particularly useful when there is essentially loose skin only with minimal or no underlying muscle laxity. An ovoid section of the loose skin is removed from the lower abdomen leaving a scar approximately 25-30cm (10-12 inches) long.
WHO IS SUITABLE?
Men and women of 30-55 years of age with good general health and preferably no previous scars on the upper abdomen make the most suitable candidates. Women make up the great majority of 'tummy tuck' patients because of the stretching of the abdominal wall with successive pregnancies. The end result of this is laxity of the abdominal wall muscles, multiple stretch marks and loose, redundant lower abdominal skin.
HOW IS IT DONE?
Being a long and extensive procedure, a Full Abdominoplasty requires General Anaesthesia and a two or three day stay in hospital.
However, a Mini-Abdominoplasty or Crescenteric Tuck can be done as a 'Day Case' in a Day Surgery either under General Anaesthesia or Intravenous (Twilight) Sedation with Local Anaesthesia. After two hours in Recovery you can then go home in the company of a responsible person. You cannot go home alone.
WHAT IS THE TECHNIQUE?
In a Full Abdominoplasty, a long incision from hip to hip is made across the lower abdomen under your 'bikini line'. The skin and underlying fat is then progressively lifted off the abdominal wall muscles right up
to the lower ribs, detaching the navel in the process. The stretched abdominal wall muscles are then sutured together to tighten them. Next, the loose abdominal skin is pulled down, the excess removed and the skin edges sutured across the lower abdomen. During this final stage, the navel is also re-implanted in its new and correct position.
The procedure usually takes anywhere between 4 and 5 hours depending on the size of the abdomen. If there is also an excess of abdominal wall fat, liposuction is performed at the same procedure but understandably this would make the procedure even longer.
Stay in hospital for 2-3 days is mandatory. Usually one or two drains are inserted under the lower abdominal incision to drain away any collections of fluid and blood. The drains are usually removed the next day.
Mini-Abdominoplasty: This is basically the same procedure with a similar length of incision but the navel is not relocated and the muscle tightening is confined to the lower abdomen. Being less extensive, it can be done as a 'Day Case' which means that you do not have to stay in hospital provided that your home situation is conducive to rest and recuperation. If required, liposuction is performed at the same time.
'Crescenteric' Tuck: As with a Mini-Abdominoplasty there is no need to stay in hospital and you can go home two hours after your procedure.
