Abdominal Lift Surgery

Abdominal stretching surgery is one of the treatment methods that have been started to be applied as a result of the developments in medicine in recent years for individuals with excess fat in the abdomen, excess skin, sagging and similar problems for various reasons. Although it can be seen in both genders, looseness and sagging in the abdominal region, which is frequently seen especially in women and in the post-pregnancy period, can be stretched and given a smooth appearance with the help of a simple operation applied with aesthetic surgery methods. In this way, the sagging skin appearance is eliminated, excess fat is removed and the abdominal region is flattened, especially the cracks in the part below the belly button are eliminated.

What is tummy tuck surgery?

Abdominoplasty, also called abdominoplasty, is a kind of plastic surgery operation. It is one of the most effective methods among the types of surgery applied in the fields of abdominal and belly aesthetics. Especially after the pregnancy period, the muscles and skin in the abdominal region cannot return to their original form. As a result, deformations occur in the abdomen and the sagging belly part leads to an aesthetically unpleasant appearance. The level of deformation is much higher in pregnancies resulting in excessive weight gain and in women who have given birth more than twice. After pregnancy, an undesirable appearance occurs with the loosening of the connective tissue in the abdominal wall, the protrusion of the abdominal wall, the appearance of bloating, abundance and cracks in the abdomen. It is often not possible to completely destroy this image and regain the old appearance of the abdominal region with the methods that the person will apply on his/her own, such as sports and diet. In tummy tuck surgery, which solves this problem with a single operation, the loosened and sagging abdominal skin is recovered and the excess fat concentrated in this area is removed, allowing the person to have a flat stomach in a short time. As with any operation, there are some risks of complications that may occur after tummy tuck. Bleeding and infection are the most important of these. For this reason, medications given by the physician should be used after the surgery, sudden movements should be avoided and the dressings should be renewed regularly.

How is tummy tuck surgery?

The technique applied in tummy tuck surgery, the area where the skin will be taken, and other issues are decided in the light of the detailed examination and radiological images examined by the physician. The saggy and cracked skin in the part up to the belly button area is removed over a line to be drawn sideways from the area called the cesarean section mark level in general, and the skin in the upper part of the navel is stretched downwards. The belly button is also reconstructed in order to bring it into the proper position. In addition to sagging and looseness, if there is an excessive lubrication problem, excess fat in the abdomen is removed by a method called liposuction. Thanks to the sutures placed on the membranes of the abdominal wall, the loosened abdominal muscles are tightened and regained their former hardness. The incisions at the end of the surgery are sutured with aesthetic sutures to prevent the formation of unsightly scars. After the operation, abdominal sagging, looseness and cracked skin problems, especially caused by pregnancy or excessive weight gain, are eliminated. However, in the event of a re-pregnancy and delivery after the surgery, some of these problems may reoccur.

How long does tummy tuck surgery take?

The duration of tummy tuck surgery varies from person to person. A full tummy tuck surgery, called total abdominoplasty, takes approximately 3-3.5 hours, but the operation time can be up to 4 hours in people with a large abdomen. In mini tummy tuck surgeries, which are performed in patients with milder looseness, sagging and similar problems and do not cover as wide a region as total abdominoplasty, the operation time is shorter and the operation is completed in a short time like 1-1.5 hours. The amount of excess skin in the abdomen, whether or not to remove fat, the area of the abdomen, the suture technique to be applied and the condition of the abdominal muscles are some of the factors affecting the duration of the operation. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and must be performed in a hospital environment with appropriate conditions and equipment.

Abdominal stretching surgery recovery time

After tummy tuck surgery, patients are usually discharged after 1-2 days of hospital care, depending on the operating conditions. Patients are generally advised to wear a special corset after tummy tuck surgery. This corset, which is worn continuously for 1 month, increases the success of the surgery by helping the abdomen to reach the desired form. Approximately 3-4 hours after the end of the operation, you can get up and walk with the help of a relative, and the next day you can walk slowly without help. It is normal to have pain for a while due to the operations and stitches in the abdomen during the surgery and the necessary painkillers will be applied by your doctor. You can take a bath 2-3 days after the operation and have the comfort of doing your daily work by yourself. During the first week, you should avoid these movements as much as possible, as movements such as coughing, sneezing, and straining may hurt you due to the fact that the stitches have not fully fused, and if they are severe, they may damage your stitches. If you do not work in a heavy job, you can return to your work life in approximately 7-10 weeks under average conditions, depending on your doctor's recommendations and whether you feel good or not. This information is valid for full tummy tuck surgeries, and patients can return to their daily lives within 3-4 days, although the recovery time is shorter in mini tummy tuck surgeries applied to solve milder problems.