Abdominoplasty/Tummy Tuck

 Many people consider having a flat stomach, in other words, a flat and toned abdomen to be a sign of health and beauty, so they undergo various diet and exercise regimes to achieve it. However, in some cases, it is not enough to achieve the desired goals. In fact, many people of normal weight may feel that they have stubborn fat deposits or sagging skin in the abdomen, and since exercise alone is not enough to remove them, they must resort to other methods.

What is an abdominoplasty?

An abdominoplasty, commonly referred to as an abdominoplasty, is defined by the American Society of Plastic Surgery as the cosmetic surgical procedure that allows the surgeon to remove excess fat and skin in the abdomen. Similarly, this surgical procedure allows the surgeon to repair weakened or separated abdominal muscles to restore their firmness and strength.

It is important to note that, as will be explained later, abdominoplasty is not the same procedure as liposuction. However, they can be performed together to achieve better results.

Who can have an abdominoplasty?
In general terms, the patient should understand that a good candidate for an abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is a man or woman who has a sagging belly, stretch marks in the skin or even excess skin that does not improve with diet or exercise.

These changes in the skin of the abdomen are usually caused by the aging process, a family history of loose abs, pregnancy (especially more than one child), previous abdominal surgeries, and even significant weight changes.

People who want to regain their self-confidence by restoring a beautiful tummy contour can also undergo this procedure. However, these individuals should be aware that abdominoplasty is never a substitute for proper diet and exercise.

Likewise, the patient must reach his or her ideal weight before surgery by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In the case of women, they must also have satisfied their desire to have children.

Can abdominoplasty be used for muscle repair?

As previously stated, an abdominoplasty can be used to repair weakened or separated abdominal muscles. This has two important benefits for the body, the first of which is that good abdominal muscle tone can help achieve better posture.

This happens because during the abdominoplasty, the plastic surgeon can tighten the weak muscles, helping to reduce the effort that the patient's spine must make to maintain posture.

The second major benefit of abdominoplasty for the body is that a plastic surgeon can repair a ventral hernia (protrusion of the bowel through a defect in the abdominal wall) during the procedure, reducing the risk of hernia complications.

How is an abdominoplasty performed?

The length and need for hospitalization after abdominoplasty will depend on the patient's needs and general health. The patient must undergo general anesthesia and must have someone to take care of him/her when he/she returns home.

Typically, the plastic surgeon begins the abdominoplasty by drawing a few marks on the patient's abdomen so that he or she will know later where to make the incisions, the exact amount of skin to be removed, the anatomical landmarks and the location of the belly button. After that, the plastic surgeon will make the different incisions and may combine different techniques to remove the fatty and loose skin for the best results.

Once he or she has cut away all the loose skin, the surgeon repairs the abdominal muscles (if necessary) to later close the incisions with stitches. It is important to know that depending on the amount of skin that needs to be removed and the condition of the abdominal muscles, the plastic surgeon may perform different types of abdominoplasty.

What is the difference between liposuction and a small or large abdominoplasty?

The main differences between a full and mini tummy tuck are the amount of skin that is removed, the muscles that are repaired, and the size of the incisions the plastic surgeon makes.

For example, the complete abdominoplasty is the most common type of this procedure. It consists of making a horizontal incision on the abdomen, between the navel and the hairline, to later make another incision around the navel, this way the plastic surgeon can handle a larger amount of tissue. After that, a lot of loose skin placed between the upper abdomen and the pubis is removed and the belly button is placed in a new position to look normal.

On the other hand, during a mini-abdominoplasty, the plastic surgeon will make a small incision in the pubic area to remove excess skin and repair the muscles in the lower abdomen. In fact, during this procedure, the belly button usually remains in its normal location. Also, the surgical time and recovery process will be shorter in a mini tummy tuck than in a full tummy tuck.

How are abdominoplasty and liposuction combined?

The traditional abdominoplasty or tummy tuck just helps to remove excess skin and repair the abdominal muscles, so the plastic surgeon may use different liposuction techniques during the abdominoplasty to remove the fat deposits that remain in the abdomen and cannot be removed.

How much does an abdominoplasty cost?
The cost of an abdominoplasty or an abdominoplasty will vary depending on the particular needs and desires of the patient, the specific method that will be used to perform the procedure, the skills of the plastic surgeon, the type of anesthesia used, the general condition of the patient.

The price also depends on the size of the belly and the time spent in liposuction.

In addition, it is recommended to lose some weight before having an abdominoplasty.

Since prices have increased significantly in mid 2022, we can easily say that in mid 2023 we should expect an increase of about 10% and you should get more information.