MD. Assoc. Professor
GAYE TOPLU

What is tummy tuck surgery?

The abdominal region is one of the regions that deteriorate most rapidly, especially in women after childbirth and weight gain. After birth, the skin of the abdomen loosens, cracks occur, relaxation occurs in the abdominal muscles. Abdominoplasty can be applied to solve such problems in the abdominal region. In the tummy tuck process, excess fat is removed from the entire abdomen and waist area, excess skin under the navel is removed, and the loosened abdominal muscles are repaired. Full tummy tuck and mini tummy tuck procedures can be performed depending on the patient's abdominal condition.

Am I a good candidate for a tummy tuck?

Full tummy tuck procedure is often applied to people who have given birth or gained and lost excessive weight. If the patient has excess skin above the navel and there is a fold under the navel that he can hold while sitting, he is a suitable candidate for a full tummy tuck. A mini tummy tuck is performed if the excess skin and fat are only collected under the belly button.

Deciding on surgery

Whether the surgical intervention to be performed is for functional or cosmetic purposes, the choice of your plastic surgeon is very important. The patient should also meticulously follow the warnings of the plastic surgeon before and after the operation.

In the pre-operative examination, the existing skin excess and the condition of the abdominal muscles will be examined and questions will be asked about your wishes. Your plastic surgeon will explain to you what he expects from abdomnioplasty and will question your medical history. Your age, skin texture, racial characteristics and habits (diet, smoking) will be important factors. Moreover, in this first examination, an honest exchange of information will be provided between you and your plastic surgeon for a successful outcome.

After the intervention to be applied to you is planned, your surgeon will inform you about the anesthesia, hospital and the budget of the surgery, and will explain the risks of the surgery.

before surgery

As in all surgeries, you should stop smoking three weeks before the surgery and stop using aspirin and similar drugs and herbal products that have blood thinning effects in the last 1 week.

Operation

Abdominoplasty operations are performed in the operating room environment and under general anesthesia. Although the duration of the operation varies according to the procedures to be performed, it takes 3-4 hours on average.
In the full tummy tuck procedure, liposuction is first applied to the entire abdomen and waist area. Then, a long incision is made on the lower abdomen, under the bikini. Afterwards, respectively;
The entire skin under the navel is removed and the problem of sagging skin is prevented.
By tightening the loosened abdominal muscles with stitches, the swelling created in the abdomen is corrected and the waist groove is made clear.
By creating a new belly button, the belly button takes on a vertical and youthful appearance.

At the end of the surgery, drains are placed in the groin areas, dressings are made on the belly button and lower abdomen, and a corset is worn. A urinary catheter is inserted in patients with prolonged surgery time.

Mini tummy tuck surgeries are performed only in patients with excess skin below the navel, no or very little agglomeration above the navel. A scar is left in the lower part of the abdomen, which is much shorter than a full tummy tuck, and the skin under the navel is lifted and the excess is removed.

Postoperative

Abdominoplasty operations are not very painful procedures. With the painkillers administered during and after the surgery, the post-operative period passes without great discomfort. Although some pain occurs the next day, the main complaint of the patients is the tension caused by the abdominal stretching rather than the pain.

The patient is fed and stands up 2-3 hours after the operation. In the first days, depending on the feeling of tension in the abdomen, they may need to walk forward bent. The next morning, if available, the patient's urinary catheter is taken and the patient is discharged with a prescription. If necessary, the drains are left in place for a few more days.

One week after the surgery, patients can return to their daily lives. After the surgery, brisk walking can be started in the 2nd week, and after three weeks, sports can be started except for abdominal movements. The time required after the operation to start sports without limitations is 6 weeks.

Pregnancy after surgery

Abdominoplasty does not pose any risk to pregnancy. Our patients who have undergone this surgery can become pregnant in a way that is no different from expectant mothers who have never had surgery. What should be kept in mind here is that the post-operative pregnancy process may cause repetition of the problems (such as excess skin, looseness in the abdominal muscles) that existed before the operation.