A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a type of cosmetic surgery that removes excess fat and skin from your stomach and tightens your abdominal muscles. The result is a firmer, flatter stomach.

Tummy tucks are most frequently requested by women whose stomachs have been stretched by multiple pregnancies. It is also performed on both men and women who are mildly obese or who have lost skin elasticity due to aging.

Tummy tucks are not recommended for women who are planning to have more children or for people who are seriously overweight.

Before getting a tummy tuck, you will need to have a preoperative consultation with your surgeon. This consultation will include blood tests and a pregnancy test, if you are a woman who has not yet gone through menopause. The surgeon will give you preoperative instructions as to what you can or cannot eat or drink before surgery, which medications you should take or avoid, and a list of things you will need to have on hand for your recovery. During your consultation, the surgeon will answer any questions you might have, so come to your appointment prepared.

There are two common types of abdominoplasty: 1) complete abdominoplasty; and 2) partial abdominoplasty (mini tummy tuck). Which type you will need will depend on the extent of muscle damage and the amount of skin to be removed. Both procedures are usually performed under general anesthesia, which means that you will be given drugs through an IV to put you to sleep. Liposuction is often used along with abdominoplasty to remove excess fat deposits.

Complete Abdominoplasty
There are 5 steps to a complete abdominoplasty:

1. An incision is made from hip to hip between the public area and the naval.
2. A second incision may be made around the naval to remove excess skin from the upper abdomen.
3. The stomach muscles are repaired and excess fat and skin are removed.
4. The skin is reattached and a new hole is made for the naval.
5. Excess fluid is drained from the site and sutures, skin adhesives, tapes or clips are used to close the incisions.

Partial Abdominoplasty (Mini Tummy Tuck)
A partial abdominoplasty may be appropriate for you if you are within 10% of your ideal body weight. A partial abdominoplasty is less invasive and can be done on an outpatient basis. A mini tummy tuck leaves the navel intact and requires a smaller incision.

Many people spend one or two days in the hospital after a tummy tuck, depending on the extent of the procedure. During tummy tuck recovery, your stomach will be swollen and sore for the first few days. Your surgeon can prescribe pain medication as needed.

You will have stitches in your stomach and be fitted with a drain to draw fluid away from the wound. It will be at least a week before the drain is removed. The stitches will be removed in stages over the course of two weeks. You will need to wear an abdominal compression garment for several weeks (for more information about abdominal compression garments, see below).

Light walking and other very gentle exercise will help with the swelling and prevent blood clots from forming in your legs.

Most people don’t return to work and a normal schedule for one to three weeks.

Your tummy tuck scars will appear to get worse during the first three to six months, and it may take nine months before they flatten and become lighter in color. The scars never completely disappear, but they can normally be easily hidden by clothing.

Abdominal Compression (Support) Garments
In the days and weeks following a tummy tuck, your doctor may instruct you to purchase and wear an abdominal support garment. These are designed to help improve and increase blood circulation, rid your body of potentially harmful fluids, decrease your post surgery recovery time and reduce swelling. They also help the new skin fit the body’s contours allowing you to recover faster. To purchase an abdominal support garment, click on the links below. Among your garment options are binders, girdles, abdominal panties, and body shapers.

These garments are typically worn immediately after your surgery. They are generally worn continuously for several weeks, so you may want to purchase more than one.

Contour® is America's 1^st choice in premium quality post-surgical compression garments for women and men. Contour® has 25 years of experience with design, fabric and craftsmanship so Contour® garments fit every subtle contour of the body, offering unprecedented comfort during the recovery process. ContourMD website also offers helpful information on recovery tips and sizing charts.

Although tummy tuck is a relatively safe procedure, all surgery comes with some risk.

Potential tummy tuck risks may include:

• Bleeding
• Blood clots
• Poor wound healing
• Infection
• Reactions to anesthesia
• Scarring

Many of these complications can be avoided if you closely follow your surgeon’s instructions.

Tummy tuck costs vary based on a number of factors including:

• Type of surgery
• Geographic location
• Facility fees
• Surgeon expertise and demand

Costs can range from around $3,000 to around $8,500.

American Society of Plastic Surgeons www.plasticsurgery.org