Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Is Abdominoplasty Necessary?

By Andrew W John

Abdominomplasty, commonly known as 'tummy tuck' is a major surgical procedure involving the removal of excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdominal region with the aim of tightening the muscles of the abdominal wall. It can significantly reduce the protrusion of the abdomen.

Who opts for an abdominoplasty?

Although women are the majority of abdominoplasty candidates, anybody who has an abdominal protrusion which will not be affected by diet or exercise is likely to think about this procedure. Loose skin in the abdominal area causes some to look into the possibility of undergoing this surgery as well. Often as a result of the tightness of the abdominal skin from pregnancy, women will seek out this surgery to correct the problem after exercise and diet fail to correct the situation.

The Dangers of Abdominoplasty

When performed by a skilled, qualified surgeon, there is very little risk of complications and is a total success in most patients. However, it should be understood that any surgical procedure does come with some risks of complications. The patient considering an abdominoplasty procedure must of course be aware of these risks before having the surgery.

Blood clots and infection, though rare, can occur after the operation. This, though treatable, will extend the patient's stay at the hospital. Sometimes, there is poor healing, resulting in prominent scars. In such cases, a second operation may be required. Smoking can also increase complications.

Planning and preparation for surgery

First, the surgeon must evaluate the skin tone of the patient and the size and location of fat deposits in the patient's abdomen. After having looked at these factors, the surgeon will recommend either a partial or full abdominoplasty based on their findings. If fat deposits are to be found only below the navel, then a partial abdominoplasty will likely be their recommendation. If they are more extensive, or simply to result in a better end result for the patient, the surgeon will recommend either a full abdominoplasty or a partial abdominoplasty in tandem with liposuction.

You will be given some guidelines in regard to diet and other habits (i.e. - smoking and drinking) to be followed prior to undergoing the procedure. If you develop an illness or an infection, your surgery will probably be postponed until a later date. The complete abdominoplasty procedure takes between two and five hours, depending on the patient and a partial abdominoplasty one to two hours.

In a complete abdominopplasty, an incision is made from one hip to the other, directly above the pubic area. A second incision is made just below the navel to make removal of fat deposits easier. In a partial abdominoplasty procedure, a much shorter incision is made, with the second incision often not needed at all. - 15437

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