Abdominoplasty or "tummy tuck surgery" is a procedure carried out by qualified cosmetic surgeons to make the abdomen and tummy areas of the patient more firm. The surgery generally involves the removal of excess skin and fat from the central and lower abdomen areas in order to tighten the stomach muscles and fascia of the abdominal wall. These types of surgical procedure are usually sought out by patients with loose tissues and skin following pregnancy or on individuals with stomach sagging following major weight loss.

Abdominoplasty operations vary much in scope and are frequently subdivided into categories dependant on the extent of the surgical procedure to be conducted.

A partial Abdominoplasty (Mini-Tuck) can be carried out in approximately 1 to 2 hours.

A complete Abdominoplasty can take between 1 to 5 hours.

Complete Abdominoplasty

IA complete (or full) Abdominoplasty generally follows these basic steps:

•The First incision is made from hip to hip just above the pubic area of the patient.
•A second incision is then made to free the navel from the surrounding skin.
•The skin is then detached from the abdominal wall to reveal the muscles and fascia which is to be tightened.
•The muscle fascia wall is then tightened with sutures.
•The remaining skin is then tightened by removing the excess fat from the area and closing the area.
•The old belly button stalk is then brought out through a new hole in the remaining skin and sutured into place.
•Liposuction is quite often used to refine the transition areas of the abdominal sculpture
•A surgical dressing, and in most cases a compression garment are applied. Any excess fluid from the site is then drained away.

Partial Abdominoplasty

A partial (or mini tummy tuck) Abdominoplasty proceeds as follows:

•A smaller incision is made.
•The skin and fat of the lower abdomen are detached from the Muscle fascia in a more limited fashion in similar to the full tummy tuck.
•The skin is then stretched down and the excess skin is removed.
•Depending upon the amount of skin to be removed the belly button stalk is sometimes divided from the muscle below and the belly button slid down lower on the abdominal wall.
•depending on the patients requirements sometimes a portion of the abdominal muscle fascia wall is tightened.
•Liposuction is quite often used to contour the transitional zone.
•The flap is then stitched back into place to complete the procedure.

Extended Abdominoplasty

An extended Abdominoplasty is a complete Abdominoplasty which extends into the thighs (front) and/or flanks (sides).

An Abdominoplasty is a component of a lower body lift and can be combined with liposuction contouring, breast reduction, breast lift, or occasionally hysterectomy, depending on the reason for the hysterectomy and other medical reasons which have been determined by a qualified cosmetic surgeon.

Recovery following tummy tuck or Abdominoplasty surgery

The recover times Depend on many factors and on the areas which have been treated, the surgical techniques applied during the surgery, and other health and medical factors which may effect the patients own situation for recovery. In most cases the general rule for recovery can take anywhere between one to four weeks. All patients are advised to take as much time as possible for the recovery, and also to take as much time off from work as is reasonably possible. Heavy activity is best avoided during this convalescence time. Initially there could also be some bruising and discomfort so the patient themselves will generally not wish to partake in much activity in any case. Tummy Tucks or Abdominoplasty are after all major surgical procedures.

A supportive abdominal support or compression garment can minimize any potential swelling or bruising, and support the repaired tissues. Patients are further advised to avoid all forms of smoking or nicotine for at least a month or longer prior to surgery. They are further advised that smoking must be avoided following surgery because coughing fits can cause damage to the areas where the surgery procedure has been applied and also during the recovery period. It is also wise to completely stop smoking if at all possible following any tummy tuck or Abdominoplasty surgery.

Full recovery generally can take 3 to 6 months, with further fading of scars thereafter follow up visits to the Cosmetic Surgeon will be required to enable the supervision of the recovery process. In most cases tummy tucks and Abdominoplasty have a very high success rate with a high satisfaction rate from the patients.