Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty

An abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, is an operation that is performed to improve the shape of the abdomen.

There are a variety of abdominoplasty procedures available, and operations can be tailored to suit a patient’s wishes and needs. Generally speaking, however, tummy tucks are most commonly carried out to remove excess skin, unwanted scars, stretch marks and fat, and to tighten the stomach muscles.

What Surgery is available, what technique are involved?

What should I Expect?

What Complications may occur?

The ideal patient is someone whose weight is normal, particularly those who have been overweight and have lost the excess weight. Abdominoplasty is not an operation for people who are overweight, or as an attempt at losing weight. In appropriate patients abdominoplasty can have a very marked effect and is associated with high patient satisfaction.

What Surgery is available, what technique are involved?

Full Abdominoplasty

For patients who have significant skin laxity, excess fat and separation of the muscles, a classic tummy tuck is the most common procedure.  Performed under general anesthetic, this operation can require patients to be in hospital for two or three days.
During the operation, an incision is made from hip to hip and around the umbilicus. The excess skin and fat is excised from the umbilicus to just above the pubic hair. The muscles above and below the umbilicus are tightened. The skin is then sewn up to give a circular scar around the umbilicus and a long scar across the lower abdomen. Although this operation leaves a large scar, it does provide the greatest improvement in abdominal shape. Patients who are thinking about becoming pregnant should not undergo this procedure, and should wait until they are sure they are not having any more children.

  

Mini Abdominoplasty

For patients with only a small amount of excess skin a lesser abdominoplasty might be appropriate. A general anaesthetic is still needed.
During the operating, a wedge of skin and fat is excised from the lower tummy leaving a horizontal scar above the pubic hair.  Sometimes the muscles will also be tightened.  No scar is left around the umbilicus, which may be stretched slightly to become a different shape.  A mini abdominoplasty will give a smaller effect than a full abdominoplasty.

Liposuction

Liposuction can sometimes be done at the same time as the abdominoplasty. However, liposuction can be recommended instead of an abdominoplasty for younger patients who have good quality, elastic skin and whose main problem is a localized excess of fat.
A general anesthetic is most commonly used, but treatment can often be as a day case. During the procedure, small incisions are made, excess fat is removed and the wounds are then closed. Some degree of skin tightening or shrinkage can be expected as well, but the results of liposuction can sometimes be unpredictable. Liposuction alone will have less effect than abdominoplasty.

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What should I expect? (Treatment/ Procedures & Outcomes)

The surgical procedures described on this page are all best performed when a patient is fit and healthy. No special diet or exercise programme is required prior to an abdominoplasty, but you should be close to your ideal weight. You will be admitted on the day of surgery, and your length of stay depends on which procedure is done. With a full abdominoplasty you will have some dressings on your tummy and usually some drains (plastic tubes attached to suction bottles). The drains will usually be removed before you go home. You will be given instructions about your dressings and stitches when you go home. Most surgeons will use mostly dissolving stitches, but some stitches might need to be removed. Post-operative pain in these procedures is easily controlled. Patients will be mobile from day one and should be back to full exercise within six weeks. Patients are recommended to take at least four weeks off work immediately after the operation in order to ensure they recuperate fully. These timings are approximate and depend on what exactly is done; also some people recover quicker than others.

All abdominoplasties result in some scarring although the nature of the scars will depend on the technique that has been used.  Scars tend to be quite red and raised in the first six weeks, changing over next six months or so and then fading to white. Most patients will form good quality scars over time, but occasionally and unpredictably some patients will get red lumpy scars that do not improve.

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What complications may occur?

Whilst these operations are generally regarded to be highly successful, there are various negatives and complications that patients need to consider. A full abdominoplasty is a major operation and you must be prepared for the process and recovery period. Most patients are delighted with the physical and cosmetic improvements that abdominoplasty brings.  However, it is impossible to guarantee that every patient will be completely satisfied with the result. There will be minor asymmetries in respect of the scars, and possibly residual bulges. Occasionally patients will bleed immediately after the operation and need to go back to the operating room for this to be dealt with. Wound healing problems can occur.  Most wound problems are minor and can be managed with simple dressings; however more major wound problems can arise such as infections, skin loss, wound separation and delayed healing. Wound problems, if they occur, can delay your recovery and result in worse scarring. In some patients fluid will collect in the abdomen in the region of the operation. If this occurs it needs to be removed using a needle, this is done in the outpatient clinic. All patients can expect alteration in the feeling of the lower abdomen which is usually permanent. This operation carries a risk of blood clots in the legs and possibly the lungs. Various precautions are taken to limit this risk but if a blood clot occurs, treatment with blood thinning medication will be needed for several months. Blood clots in the lungs can be serious.

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True Experts in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Our Surgeons usually sub-specialized in the treatment of surgical condition in one or two of the subspecialties dictated by the various Plastic & Reconstructive divisions. This ensure that they are truly expert surgeon in the particular field of expertise in such areas as Facial cosmetic surgery: Face-lift, Brow’s lift and Neck-lift, Craniofacial Surgery (FFS), Rhinoplasty, Otoplasty. Body contouring procedures: Body Reshaping (Arm-lift, Thigh-lift, Buttock-lift), Breast Augmentation, Breast Reduction, Abdominoplasty, Liposuction and Reconstructive procedures for M-t-F girls (BGender Clinic).

The Doctors are supported by a dedicated team of house staff, anesthetists, nurses, pharmacist, case managers and other allied staff who work as a team to ensure the best care for our patients.

Page Title:

Bangkok Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Clinic: Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Experts

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Abdominoplasty  (Tummy Tuck) with Abdominoplasty  Experts: Bangkok Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Clinic.

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