After couple of pregnancies, especially if your babies are big, the skin, muscles and fat in your abdomen region will be stretched and sag. Or maybe you have always wanted flat, six-pack abs, and no matter how many sit-ups you do, it’s just not happening. Dieting and exercise can tone the abdominal muscles, but they don’t do much for that loose, sagging skin.
A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) flattens your abdomen by removing extra fat and skin, and tightening muscles in your abdominal wall. If you have a small roll of loose skin and some muscle bulge from having children, you can have a smaller incision along your bikini line, have the muscle tightened, let your belly button down slightly, and remove the extra skin. If the problem is excess fat alone, liposuction can be used.
How is it done?
Full Abdominoplasty or radical abdominoplasty is performed with general anaesthesia at hospital . You will need to stay at hospital for a few days.Mini-abdominoplasty can also be done using a local anesthetic with a sedation. There may be some discomfort with local anaesthesia.
A tummy tuck usually begins with a relatively long incision across the abdomen, from hip bone to hip bone. The shape of the incision is like a smile, with a flat bottom. The flat part of the smile occurs at the bottom point of the abdomen immediately above the pubic area. The sides of the smile form a gentle curve along the pelvis up to the top of the hip bone. A second incision is made around the belly button to free it from the abdominal tissue.
The skin is separated from the abdominal wall, up to the ribs, exposing the vertical abdominal muscles. The rectus muscles are then stitched into a new position, tightening the muscles and reducing the waistline. After the muscles have been repositioned and tightened, the excess skin is stretched and removed.
The remaining skin is redraped over the abdominal area and sutured in place. The belly button is then brought out through the overlying skin in its new location.( insert a picture here )
How long does the surgery take?
The tummy tuck surgery takes about two to five hours depending on the complexity of the procedure.
What should I expect during recovery?
Tummy tuck is a major surgical procedure and you can expect a considerable recovery time compared with other surgeries. Most people require one to three weeks before returning to work and a normal schedule. Some patients may not need an overnight hospital stay. Others may spend one or two days in the hospital, depending on the extent of the procedure.
Your abdomen will be swollen and sore for the first few days. Pain medication will be prescribed as needed. This typically entails strong narcotics for the first few days after surgery, and then non-narcotic pain relievers after that.
It is a good idea to exercise after surgery, but only after enough healing time has passed. As a general guideline, tummy tuck patients can start light to moderate activity after four weeks. After six to eight weeks, most people can resume all exercise and activity.
The abdominal scars will appear to worsen during the first three to six months. They may take nine months before they flatten and lighten in color. The scars never disappear completely, but clothing can hide them easily.
People who have had tummy tucks should maintain their result, but they can have a second tummy tuck if they have children again.
What are the costs involved?
Surgeon fees start from $4,400*including GST.Hospital and anaesthetic fees are extra.
*The cost of cosmetic surgery can vary (higher or lower), depending on the complexity of the procedure, the required results, cost of implants, aftercare treatment and the area of the body where the surgery is being performed. Further costs may be incurred for anaesthetist and hospital fees if applicable. For specific pricing information, please arrange a consultation with Dr. Tiong.