Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) - Most Common Questions

Following pregnancy or massive weight loss, your body will look quite different. There may be sagging skin, excess flab, or stretch marks to deal with. Having a cosmetic surgeon take care of that sounds great, but is it? What do you need to know to decide whether abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is right for you and your body? The following list of frequently asked questions will address this.

What is abdominoplasty?

You hear about it all the time, but few know what it actually is. Abdominoplasty is most commonly referred as a tummy tuck. Simply put, it’s a surgical body contouring procedure designed to remove fat and extra skin from around the abdomen. Though many people consider this a weight-loss measure, it’s not. Accumulating fat may have stretched the skin, necessitating surgery to remove it.

Is there much pain involved?

This is perhaps the biggest question on people’s minds when considering altering their bodies. Unfortunately, there’s no right answer because it all depends on the person. Some patients experience a lot of pain with tummy tuck surgery, while others only a moderate level. The pain, however, can be managed with prescription pain medication.

What does abdominoplasty surgery entail?

Now this question depends on which type of tummy tuck you get. A full abdominoplasty involves an incision made from hip to hip, just above the pubic bone, and another one near the navel. Your surgeon will then separate the skin and fat from the abdominal muscles up the torso and around the belly button, although the navel remains intact. The fat is removed (this may be achieved through liposuction), the abdominal muscles are tightened, and the skin stretched down over the incision before your plastic surgeon closes you up. The excess skin is then removed and a hole is made around the belly button.

What are the risks?

You will most likely have some bruising, swelling, and some discomfort. There’s a chance for infection, excessive bleeding, and a negative reaction to the anesthesia, as with any surgery. Additionally, people who undergo this procedure may also have skin, muscle, and fat die or discolor, or they may experience a loss in sensation in their abdomen. These complications are rare, but they can happen. If this is a concern for you, make sure to talk this over with the team at our Bala Cynwyd / Philadelphia plastic surgery practice during your first consultation. Also, to reduce the risk of complications, follow your doctor’s pre- and post-operative instructions to the letter.