With weight gain, the body usually stores a large portion of the fat tissue in the abdomen and waist areas. For this reason, the most important complaints, especially in women, are related to sagging and fatty abdominal areas. People who have lost too much weight due to diets or obesity surgery can often experience looseness, sagging and cracks in the abdomen. Tears occur in the tissues between the abdominal muscles in the fatty abdominal area. Due to these tears, the muscles that keep the abdomen flat begin to separate from each other. The abdominal area takes on a curved shape with the pressure applied by the internal organs, and looseness, sagging and cracks occur in the abdomen due to the weight of the fatty tissue itself. It is also mostly impossible to eliminate the tears in the abdominal muscles and abdominal skin deformations with exercise and diet.

How is Abdominoplasty Performed?

Mini Abdominoplasty: It is performed on patients who have excess skin in the abdominal area and muscle laxity that appears dense in the lower part of the belly. In this surgery, the incision is made from the lower part of the abdomen, not around the belly button. The incisions are shorter.

Full Abdominoplasty: This surgery is performed on people who have had several pregnancies, lost excessive weight, and whose anterior abdominal wall has become excessively loose. In these people, the waist area and abdominal wall have become excessively fat and the abdomen has sagged to a great extent. In this case, the doctor first recommends liposuction to the waist and abdomen before the abdominoplasty.

In abdominoplasty, an incision is usually made transversely at the lowest part of the abdomen (this incision is low enough to be hidden under a swimsuit) and another incision is made around the belly button.

In mini abdominoplasty, these incisions are a little shorter. Sometimes, the incision around the belly button may not even be made.

After these incisions are made, the skin is separated from the muscles from the groin to under the breast. The resulting abdominal muscles are strengthened with a stretching method, and any weakness is repaired. The skin is then tightened and stitched back into place. Excess skin is cut and removed. The stitches are closed with a dressing.

Who Can Have an Abdominoplasty?

Full abdominoplasty is usually performed on people who have given birth or have gained and lost excessive weight. If the patient has excess skin above the belly button and a layer is formed under the belly button that can be held with the hand when sitting, then the patient is a suitable candidate for a full tummy tuck. If the excess skin and fat are only collected under the belly button, a mini tummy tuck is performed.

Things to Consider Before Surgery

Before the surgery, the patient must inform the surgeon and anesthesiologist who will perform the aesthetic surgery about all the details about the medications they are using and their general health status. Blood thinners, herbal teas, fish oils should be stopped 1 week before the surgery, and special herbal cure applications should not be applied. As in all surgeries, it is recommended to stop smoking and alcohol consumption at least one week before the tummy tuck surgery. This is very important for the recovery process to go faster.

Things to Consider After Surgery and Recovery Process

The patient is put on an abdominal corset after the surgery. This corset should be used for at least 3 weeks. The patient can return to their daily life one week after the surgery. It is recommended not to lift heavy objects for the first 4-6 weeks. Sports can be started after 3 weeks, except for abdominal movements. After 6 weeks, all sports activities are allowed.

Is Abdominoplasty a Painful Surgery?

Abdominoplasty operations are generally not very painful procedures. Thanks to the anesthesia used during the operation, the patient does not feel pain after the operation. There is a slight feeling of pain the next day, but this pain can be relieved with mild painkillers.

How Long Does Abdominoplasty Surgery Take?

A full abdominoplasty surgery takes approximately 2-5 hours, and a partial abdominoplasty surgery takes approximately 1-3 hours.