A tummy tuck, also known as an abdominoplasty, is a type of major cosmetic surgery that serves to flatten the abdominal region. This is achieved by the removal of excessive fat and skin. During the tummy tuck procedure the muscles of the abdominal wall are also tightened.

The Surgical Procedure

The tummy tuck procedure is most often done by way of general anesthesia. In some instances it may be performed under local anesthesia with a sedative being given to the patient. However the latter can often lead to a fair amount of discomfort during the procedure. The surgery can take anywhere from two to five hours to perform from start to finish.

The surgeon begins by making a long incision across the abdomen that runs from the bone of one hip to the other. The incision has a shape that resembles a smile that is more flat on the bottom than curved. The flat part of the “smile” incision is to be found slightly above the pubic area. The side portions of the smile are gently curving and extend along the pelvis, continuing up to the top portion of the hip bone.

The surgeon will then make another incision around the area where the belly button is located. This incision is made in order to free it from all of the abdominal tissue.

The next part of the tummy tuck procedure involves the skin being carefully separated from the walls of the abdomen. The surgeon will continue to separate it up to the ribs and to the point where the vertical abdominal muscles (or rectus muscles) are exposed. It is very common in women who have had multiple pregnancies for these muscles to be stretched a great deal.

The surgeon will then take the rectus muscles and stitch them into a more appropriate position that lends itself to a flatter abdomen. This will make a difference in terms of tightening the muscles and decreasing the waistline.

Once the muscles have been placed in a new position and tightened, the excess skin is then stretched and taken away. The skin that is left is then redraped over the abdomen and sutured. The belly button is then brought out again. It may be slightly repositioned but the difference from its former location will be very small.

The recovery time for tummy tuck surgery can leave you frustrated as you are most likely anxious to view the end result. It is important that you bear in mind that your body needs sufficient time to recuperate as you had skin removed from your body and muscles that were tightened. Some patients also have liposuction at the same time which means that they also had fat extraction from the abdominal area. This may lengthen the recovery period.

In most cases for your tummy tuck surgery recovery you can expect to need to take off at least a week to two weeks from work in order to relax at home and heal properly. If you suffer complications from the surgery you might need to be off longer. Some patients are off as long as three weeks to a month. The important thing is that you allow yourself the time you need to heal and do not put any undue pressure or strain on yourself.

It could take you a number of weeks and up to a couple of months for tummy tuck surgery recovery to completely allow you to feel like your old self again. It might also be awhile before the swelling and bruising subsides enough for you to really get to see and enjoy the new and improved look of your abdomen. Individuals who were in overall good physical condition preceding the surgery may have a shorter recuperation period than those who were in worse shape.

Use the time you have at home to relax and rest. Do not lift anything heavy. If you have any questions then do not hesitate to contact the surgeon’s office right away. It is also imperative that you follow the surgeon’s instructions for your post-operative care. These instructions are given for your benefit after all!