Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty:
Abdominoplasty also has another name “tummy tuck”. It is a cosmetic
surgery procedure to reshape and firm the abdomen. It involves the
removal of excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen in
order to tighten the muscle of the abdominal wall. This surgery is
performed mostly on or usually asked for by women. Most women are
finished with having children when considering this surgery. This
procedure is also used following a large volume weight loss, either
from diet, exercise or gastric bypass, in which the remaining excess
skin is removed.

There are two types of abdominoplasty:

• One which requires two to five hours called
complete.

• One which requires one to two hours called partial.

Procedure on how the complete abdominoplasty is done
can be discussed in the form of simple steps.

1. An incision is made from hip to hip just above the
pubic area.

2. Another incision is made to free the navel from
the surrounding skin.

3. The skin is detached from the abdominal wall to
reveal the muscles to be tightened. These muscles are tightened with
sutures.

4. The skin flap is reattached with an extra skin
being removed. A new hole for the navel is created and stitched into
place.

5. All stitches are dressed and any excess fluid from
the site is drained.

Partial abdominoplasty involves three steps:

1. A shorter incision is made.

2. The skin is removed between the incision and the
navel. The skin stretched down and excess skin is removed.

3. The flap is stitched back into place.

An abdominoplasty can be combined with a liposuction treatment.
Recovery from a complete abdominoplasty can take four to six weeks and
patients are advised to take a least three weeks rest. Heavy weights
must be avoided during this time. For the first ten days, a patient may
experience bruising and discomfort. A supportive abdominal binder is
normally worn to control swelling and support the muscular repair.
Patients are advised not to smoke for several months before the surgery
is scheduled and after when they are recovering.

Cost:
The cost of an abdominoplasty varies from country to country.
In the United States on an average, this procedure can cost from US $ 6,000 to as much as $12000.
Thus in the state and the city in which you choose a surgeon to perform the
procedure will play a role in determining a final cost. Surgeons in
urban areas such as Los Angeles, Boston, or Beverly Hills tend to have
a higher cost than their colleagues in rural and suburban areas where
these cosmetic procedures are not as common.

No surgeries guarantee success and therefore a second procedure or
touch-up may be required to achieve the desired appearance. These costs
are typically not included in the original cost paid by the consumer.

Author Profile:
The author Tasha Haskell is with Sadrian Cosmetic Surgery and is an expert on cosmetic surgery procedures.

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