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Good candidates for abdominoplasty:
If you intend to lose a lot of weight, wait until after your weight loss to schedule surgery. If you plan on future pregnancies, you should wait until you are done having children to have abdominoplasty surgery as pregnancy will stretch the abdomen again. The average cost of tummy tuck surgery Tummy Tucks Cost Range: $5,000-$9,000 Average Total Cost: $6,400 Surgeons fee: $4,200 Anesthesiologist: $500 Facility fee: $700 Initial consultation At your initial consultation, your plastic surgeon will evaluate your health, determine the extent of fat deposits in your abdomen, and assess your skin tone. Be specific about what you would like done. If your plastic surgeon fully understands your expectations, they'll be able to determine whether your goals are realistic. If your fat deposits are limited to the area below the navel, you may require a less complex procedure called a partial abdominoplasty, also know as a mini-tummy tuck, which can often be performed on an outpatient basis. You may, on the other hand, benefit more from partial or complete abdominoplasty done in conjunction with liposuction to remove fat deposits from the hips, for a better body contour. Liposuction alone may also create the best result. You are at increased risk for complications if you have diabetes, poor circulation, heart, lung or liver disease, smoke, have a family history of blood clots, take certain medications, etc. You'll want to discuss your medical history thoroughly with your physician before you choose to undergo surgery. Mini vs. full tummy tucks A mini tummy tuck, or partial abdominoplasty, may be recommended for patients that are within 10% of their ideal body weight. This procedure is less invasive and can be done on an outpatient basis. While a full tummy tuck involves an incision around the navel and across the lower abdomen, a mini tummy tuck leaves the navel intact and requires a smaller incision. Liposuction is sometimes employed and the fat is removed from below the navel, tightening muscles from the navel to the pubis. If your abdominal muscles require more extensive tightening and your body weight is more than 20% above your ideal weight, your plastic surgeon is more likely to recommend a full abdominoplasty. This frequently is performed with liposuction to obtain the best results.
The illustration on the left shows the incisions used for a partial
abdominoplasty, or mini tummy tuck. The illustration on the right
shows the incisions used for a full abdominoplasty, or full tummy
tuck. An incision is made across the lower abdomen from hipbone to hipbone. A second incision is made around the belly button. The skin and fat are separated from the abdominal wall. Excess skin and fat are then excised. The abdominal muscles are tightened by shortening them and suturing them together. A small incision creates a new opening for the belly button. It is brought out through the opening sutured to the new skin. Stretch marks and scars may be removed during surgery. Drains may be placed in the skin and removed a few days later. The drains reduce swelling by collecting excess blood and fluid. All incisions are closed. Recovery Pain Level: Moderate to severe discomfort. 1-2 weeks of pain medication Swelling: 2-6 weeks Bruising: No bruising Numbness: 6 months or more Bandages: Changed in 2-5 days (sutures removed first 7-10 days) Work: Return to desk job after 1 week, other jobs 10-14 days Exercise: Wait 4-8 weeks Final result: After scars heal, approximately 6 months-1 year For the first few days after surgery, the abdomen will probably be swollen and some pain and discomfort may occur which can be controlled by medication. Depending on the extent of the surgery, you may be released within a few hours or remain hospitalized for two to three days. The incisions will be covered with surgical tape for 2 weeks to insure proper healing. For faster recovery:
 Source: www.plasticsurgery.org Risks and complications Serious complications after an abdominoplasty are uncommon. However, there are risks with any surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure. Complications such as infection and blood clots are rare, but can occur. Infection can be treated with drainage and antibiotics, but will prolong your recovery. You can minimize the risk of blood clots by moving around as soon after the surgery as possible (immobility allows blood to pool and create a clot which can travel to the lungs, heart or brain causing a pulmonary embolism, heart attack or stroke). If wound problems develop, it may delay healing for several weeks or even months. Areas of skin may die and slough off (this complication is more common among smokers). This will result in delayed healing and may require a skin graft. Although rare, it is possible for fat to liquefy and drain through the incision. Additional surgery may also be necessary. One of the more common problems after an abdominoplasty is collection of fluid under the skin after the drains have been removed. Your surgeon can aspirate the fluid with a needle. The drainage stops within a month and will not affect the final results. Scars Surgical scars are permanent. There will be a long scar extending from hip to hip. However, the incisions are usually placed below the swimsuit line so they will not normally be in view . Your scars may actually worsen during the first three to six months as it heals, but this is normal. It normally takes 9 months to a year before scars flatten out and lighten in color. For more information, see tummy tuck before and after photos.
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