Tummy tuck surgery is an effective and successful plastic surgery operation. It is also called abdominoplasty. Especially in women, fat accumulation occurs in the abdomen after the pregnancy period. In addition, since the ligaments and muscles in the abdominal region are deformed, this region is restored with tummy tuck surgery. Since the belly area of women sags after pregnancy, it does not look aesthetically beautiful. Especially in women who have given birth more than twice, deformations may be more. After pregnancy, the connective tissues in the abdominal wall loosen. A bloated appearance occurs in the abdomen. The abdominal wall becomes protruding forward. Cracks form and visually undesirable images appear.
Sports and diet may be insufficient on their own to restore the abdominal region. Therefore, this problem is solved with a single operation. With tummy tuck surgery, the loosened and sagging abdominal skin is collected, so that the excess fat is removed and the person has a flat stomach.
Effects of tummy tuck aesthetics:
- It makes the body shaped like an hourglass.
- A tight stomach is obtained.
- Slim waist circumference is provided.
- Fat in the waist area is reduced.
How is Abdominoplasty Performed?
It is important to decide on the technique to be applied in tummy tuck aesthetic surgery. Detailed analysis should be performed on the patient with examination and radiological images. The area where the excess skin will be removed is examined and thus the surgical technique is planned. In tummy tuck aesthetic surgery, a line is drawn from the area known as cesarean section to the sides and the saggy and cracked skin in the belly button area on the line is removed. The skin on the upper side of the belly button is stretched downwards. Thus, sagging in the abdomen is eliminated. Excess fat in the abdomen is removed by liposuction during tummy tuck surgery. The loosened abdominal muscles are tightened by using gathering stitches. Thus, the former hardness of the abdomen is restored. Aesthetic sutures are made for incisions that occur as a result of tummy tuck surgery. So the trace is not visible.
Abdominal sagging occurs after excessive weight gain or loss or pregnancy. However, abdominal sagging, looseness and cracked appearance in the abdomen are eliminated with tummy tuck surgery. The same problems may occur again in women who have had a re-pregnancy period after surgery.
Abdominoplasty Surgery Duration
How long do tummy tuck surgeries take? The duration of tummy tuck plastic surgery operations differs for each person. It can take up to approximately 3 and a half hours. It takes 4 hours for people with a wider abdomen. In abdominal surgeries where there is less sagging and loosening in the abdomen, the operation time may take 1 hour. Therefore, the duration of tummy tuck aesthetic surgeries varies according to the slackness, sagging and size of the area to be operated. Factors affecting the duration of the operation; The area of the abdomen, the amount of excess skin in the abdomen, the suture technique to be applied, whether fat can be removed from this area, and the condition of the abdominal muscles.
Abdominoplasty Recovery Period
Abdominoplasty is performed under general anesthesia. Abdominal stretching surgery recovery time varies according to the procedures performed after the surgery and the technique applied.
However, patients are usually discharged after a day or two of hospitalization. After the operation, patients need to wear a special corset. In addition, wearing this corset continuously for 1 month has a positive effect on the healing process. Because this corset helps the person to reach the desired form and increases the effective result of the surgery. It is normal to have pain due to the operations and stitches in the abdominal region after the surgery. However, it is recommended to take a bath 2 days after the operation. It is possible to return to work life in approximately 10 weeks.
Pregnancy Period After Abdominoplasty
One of the things that people who have had tummy tuck surgery most want to know is whether they can get pregnant again and whether they will encounter any complications when they become pregnant again. There is no condition that affects pregnancy after tummy tuck aesthetic operations. It is not an operation that prevents the person from getting pregnant. After the tummy tuck surgery, the recovery period for pregnancy should be expected to be completed. The pregnancy period is decided by the specialist physician. In other words, it is important how long the people who will have tummy tuck surgery during pregnancy should wait.
However, tummy tuck surgery should be performed 1 year after pregnancy. During this 1-year period, the mother can lose weight with exercise and regular nutrition. Women who want to get pregnant again can postpone the tummy tuck surgery because after the second pregnancy, sagging, cracks and looseness will appear in the abdomen. Abdominoplasty can be applied to women with good general health. At the same time, it is a method that can be applied to patients who have not had a major operation in the abdominal region before and who are deemed appropriate for surgery as a result of the necessary analyzes by the specialist physician.
What are the Risks of Abdominoplasty?
As with any surgical intervention, some risks and uncertainties may arise in Abdominoplasty. Abdominoplasty is a surgery that is necessary for shaping the body and gives very effective and good results. Risks that may be encountered after tummy tuck surgery:
- risk of wound infection,
- Body fluid accumulation during surgery,
- Risks such as blood accumulation, blood clots.
Infections in the wound site are eliminated with the use of antibiotics. Body fluid and blood accumulation during surgery are rarely seen. These are removed with a second intervention. The condition of blood clot is a risk that may occur in elderly patients. In fact, it is a complication that can be seen after every surgery. After tummy tuck surgery, this risk is eliminated by getting the patient up early, using compression stockings, and administering some medications. However, there is a risk of poor scarring and poor wound healing. This risk means the formation of very obvious scars after the surgery. Second intervention may be required to remove bad scars. Wound healing is difficult, especially in smokers and people with diabetes.
What is a Mini Abdominoplasty?
The degree of sagging of the skin, the elasticity of the abdominal skin and the degree of laxity in the abdominal wall muscles are important factors when planning a tummy tuck aesthetic operation. These factors are taken into consideration and a plan is made in the procedures to be applied in the tummy tuck operation. In people who do not have cracks, sagging and looseness in the abdomen, simple procedures called mini tummy tuck procedures are performed. Methods such as liposuction can also be applied in the mini tummy tuck process. In cases where the amount of fat on the abdominal wall is too high and the flexibility of the abdomen is lost too much, the classical tummy tuck method is applied. Mini Abdominoplasty is the removal of sagging in the area just below the belly button. This procedure does not have a certain effect on the groin, and this procedure does not correct the navel.
What is a Full Abdominoplasty?
If the looseness and sagging in the abdomen is more serious, a full tummy tuck is applied. Generally, patients who need a full tummy tuck are those who have gained and lost excess weight, or those who have had more than two pregnancies. In these patients, the anterior abdominal wall remains extremely loose. Full tummy tuck surgery is performed for people who have excessive fat accumulation in the waist region and anterior abdominal wall and who have severe sagging in their abdomen. Before the full tummy tuck surgery to be performed on these people, liposuction method is applied to the abdomen and waist area. In this way, it is easier to shape the body with surgery.
What Causes Fat in the Abdomen?
As the metabolism slows down with age in both men and women, fat is stored in the abdomen and the muscles lose their strength. The tissue here begins to expand and sag. However, those who gain and lose weight very quickly have fat in the abdominal region after pregnancy. Genetic features also affect adipose tissue.
What is done with Abdominoplasty?
- With Abdominoplasty, the fat layer in the upper, middle and lower abdomen is removed.
- If there is sagging in these areas, excess skin is removed.
- During the operation, the skin is stretched downwards.
- The excess fat layer is removed.
- What is put in its place by sliding the navel upwards.
- In some extended and combined operations, hip lift can also be performed together.
It is very important which procedures will be performed during Abdominoplasty. A mini tummy tuck can be done or a wide tummy tuck can be done. The anatomy of the person is taken into account when deciding which method to apply. Abdominoplasty can be performed on people who have sagging and loosening in the abdomen after birth. Due to weakened abdominal muscles and sagging belly, diet and exercise are insufficient to correct this situation. Therefore, the plastic surgeon can decide on the tummy tuck surgery. It is generally recommended not to have a tummy tuck surgery if you are going to become pregnant. In addition, it is important to get pregnant 3 years after tummy tuck surgery.
Points to Consider Before Abdominoplasty
In order for tummy tuck surgery to be successful, patients should pay attention to the following points:
- Approximately three weeks before tummy tuck surgery, blood thinners should be discontinued.
- Smoking should be stopped before the operation.
- Before the operation, the use of herbal medicines such as flaxseed and green tea should be discontinued.
- Vegetable-based foods should be consumed before the operation.
What are the Advantages of Abdominoplasty?
- After tummy tuck surgery, a fit and taut body is achieved.
- You have a nice looking belly button.
- You have strong abdominal muscles.
- The sagging abdominal skin stays taut as it is recovered.
- The inner abdominal muscles are strengthened, so the deterioration in the body is eliminated.
- Fat accumulation in the body is prevented.
- A beautiful body appearance is achieved with a taut abdominal structure and an aesthetic body.
- The scar is not very obvious. The scar remains under the underwear area.
Is Tummy Tuck Surgery Repeated?
Those who want to have tummy tuck surgery wonder whether they will have a second tummy tuck surgery when there is sagging and lubrication again after the surgery. One year after the tummy tuck surgery, the operation can be performed again. The scope of the second operation is narrower. Because, in the first surgery, smaller operations are performed instead of wearing out the body for the second time, since it is applied with many tasks in the body. However, the Liposuction method can also be done again.
Things to Consider in Abdominoplasty
- If the person who will have Abdominoplasty is in the process of losing weight, he or she should have a tummy tuck surgery after losing weight.
- If pregnancy is planned, tummy tuck surgery should be performed at least one year after delivery.
- It is recommended to stop smoking one week before the surgery.
- Heavy exercises can be started two months after the operation.
Arm Lift Surgery
Arm Lift Surgery is an aesthetic operation performed to remove thickening and sagging in the upper part of the arm. Depending on weight gain and aging, an increase in fat tissue and excess skin may occur in the upper part of the arm. In some patients, only excess skin is seen, while the increase in fat tissue in the arm can be seen together with the weight of the arm and excess skin.
The surgical correction of the bat wing image formed on the arm due to the stretching of the skin is called Arm Lifting. It is especially needed after treatments that cause rapid weight loss, such as sleeve gastrectomy. If the sagging in the arms cannot be corrected with exercise, surgery is decided.
Why does the arm sag?
The causes of arm sagging vary from person to person. In general, rapid weight gain and loss, sedentary life, advancing age, unbalanced and irregular nutrition and genetically sagging arm in the family.
How is Arm Lift Surgery Performed?
If the patient has an increase in fat tissue in the arm with excess skin, Arm Lift Surgery can be combined with Liposuction. With liposuction, the fat tissue accumulated in the arm is removed and the excess skin is removed using an elliptical incision that starts from the armpit and extends to the inner area of the elbow.
In this way, both the arm is thinned and the excess skin is removed. With the removal of excess fat in the arm, the weight of the arm decreases, and accordingly, the tension on the suture lines is reduced, which allows the wound to heal faster. Since the incision on the arm is located in the inner and back region of the arm, it is relatively less common.
It is possible to get rid of the fat in this area and tighten the arm with liposuction, especially in young patients who do not have much skin and have good skin quality and only complain of lubrication in the arm.
Recovery Process After Arm Lift Surgery
Complete recovery after surgery occurs after about 6 weeks. Immediately after the operation, the arm is wrapped with a bandage. This bandage remains for at least 1 day to prevent edema. Afterwards, the patient should use an arm corset to reduce edema in the arm area. A drain is inserted to ensure fluid accumulation and bleeding control during surgery. Drains are removed on discharge from the hospital. It is recommended to wear the arm corset for 6 weeks.
What are the Risks and Potential Side Effects of Arm Lift Surgery?
Possible side effects of this operation are infection, numbness in the arm and bleeding. Installed drains and bandages prevent the risk of bleeding. The drain is an important factor, especially for monitoring bleeding. If the amount of blood measured is high, it indicates a complication.
Arm numbness is seen as an effect of anesthesia. Although the swelling goes away, the arm may be numb and the movements may be limited. However, the probability of this risk is very low. The most common side effects are infection and wound healing problems. Healing is more difficult, especially in areas extending to the armpits, due to moistening. Antibiotics are prescribed after surgery. As long as this antibiotic is used regularly, the possibility of infection is reduced.
Does Arm Drooping Fix With Exercise?
Sagging noticed in the early period can be corrected with the right exercise and diet program. However, unfortunately, exercise is not enough for people who have problems in hormone metabolism, who are older and who have a high fat ratio.
When Will I See the Results of Arm Lift Surgery?
At least 2 months must pass for the arm shape to fully develop. Since there are bruises and edemas in the first 4 weeks, the shape of the arm is not clearly evident. At the end of the first month, the edema goes down. It should be waited for 2 months for the bruising and all swelling to disappear.
Am I Suitable for Arm Lift Surgery?
People whose skin is not collected as a result of long-term diet and heavy exercises, men and women whose skin has lost its elasticity due to aging, those who lose a lot of weight after sleeve gastrectomy and people whose general health is suitable for the operation can have this surgery.
What Should Be Considered After Arm Lift Surgery?
We recommend our patients to use an arm corset for up to 6 weeks after arm lift surgeries. After the surgery, our patients can return to their normal lives within 1 week. Patients can start cardio exercises 10 days after the surgery. Exercise movements that require the use of arms can be performed 6 weeks after the operation.
Is There Any Scar After Arm Lift Surgery?
The incisions made for the operation remain in the armpit or in the inner part of the arm. The most important issue in aesthetic operations is the absence of scars, however, scars remain in arm lift surgeries. You can ask your doctor for advice for effective wound care after Arm Lift surgery.
If I Gain and Lose Weight, Will the Arm Sagging Again?
The results of the operation are successful and highly permanent. However, with severe weight gain and loss, the arm may sag again.