In medical terms, Abdominplasty is the word for a tummy tuck. It involves cutting the stomach below the panty line, removing fat and trimming all excess skin. Result – flat abs with a few hitches:

• A tummy tuck has to be performed under general anesthesia
• The incision scar remains
• Your navel will have to be repositioned

The results in a job well done, are marvellous. A perfect surgeon is needed for bodies to shape up well after all that extra blubber has been removed and skin tightened.
As usual, several factors must be taken into consideration before performing a tummy tuck. The procedure can help men and women achieve flatter, tighter, smoother mid-sections by removing excess skin and fat. A good surgeon will tighten weakened abdominal muscles.
A very common surgery, it creates a thinner waistline, and is very popular among those who desire the perfect shape.
However, those living under the misconception that it will help you lose weight, banish the thought. A tummy tuck is not a weight reduction substitute. To lose weight you will have to watch what you eat and exercise, in a 60:40 ratio.

Best results occur in people who are as close to their average body weight as possible.
So, then, who is a good candidate for abdominoplasty?

Anyone who has one or more of the following conditions:

• Excess or sagging abdominal skin.
• An abdomen that protrudes and is out of proportion to the rest of the body
• Abdominal muscles that have been separated and weakened
• Excess fatty tissue that is concentrated in the abdomen

A full Tummy Tuck involves abdominal wall deformities that comprise of three components:

1. Wrinkled, loose skin with stretch marks that come with age, post pregnancy or as the after effects of sudden and immense weight loss.
2. Excess fatty tissue that accumulates in the lower abdomen and causes love handles.
3. Rectus muscle diastasis, which results from the separation of the anterior abdominal muscles. Patients affected by this condition cannot improve it with exercise. Once the abdominal muscles have relaxed and separated, the stomach will continue to noticeably bulge.

A Full Tummy Tuck works on all three components, treating conditions related to the skin, fat and stomach muscles. The surgery repairs weakened abdominal muscles and removes excessive skin/fat through tightening, surgical removal and, often, liposuction.

Patients lose a number of inches from their waist, making them very happy.

An outline of the body where skin and fat are to be removed is marked. A horizontal incision, just above the pubic hairline, is then made in order to allow for the removal of unwanted tissue and skin. Attention is paid to creating an area of skin (above the operational area) that can be pulled down and sutured closed at the end of the procedure, determining the shape and length of this incision. A second incision around the navel is made so as to remove the excess skin and close the incision.Excess fat that has gathered above the belly button is removed with liposuction while the skin and fat from the belly button to pubic area is removed by excision. Dr then places internal stitches that tighten loose muscle, by up to five inches, from the rib cage to the pubic bone.

The upper abdominal skin and remaining fat from above the surgical site are pulled down. The surgeon then closes the lower abdominal incisions with absorbable, internal stitches without having to place external stitches. After the procedure is complete, the patient’s belly button will be inserted vertically to give it a more youthful appearance.

A Mini Tummy Tuck or partial abdominoplasty is best suited for those who cannot reduce the bulge beneath their navels or who have stretched, lax skin. Stubborn bulging in the lower abdomen is usually the result of weakened and stretched muscles from fluctuating weight, pregnancy and aging.The ideal candidate is a male or female who has a slim midsection and only desires to change the shape of their tummy by reducing a limited amount of bulging or saggy skin. Understanding the patient’s goals is very important to achieving a customized procedure,

What Is A Mini Tummy Tuck or Mini Abdominoplasty Procedure?

A Mini Tummy Tuck is a great way to achieve the flatter, firmer body contour you want. It is performed as an outpatient surgery but employs general anesthesia and does not have the complications, nor is as invasive as a Full Tummy Tuck. The Mini Tummy Tuck has a much smaller incision that does not require detachment of the belly button. Extra skin, tissue and fat are removed through the incision. The rectus muscles, or the ‘six packs’, are tightened with sutures. Any excess fat is liposuction-ed out and produces very good results. Sutures are placed to close the incision and drains may be inserted to drain out excess fluids.

Although the belly button is not touched, it often improves because the skin is pulled downward to make it taut, thereby creating a more pleasing shape.

Recovery from Mini Tummy Tuck

As with any surgery some discomfort is a given. Prescribed medicine controls it, though. Remember to walk around slowly for the first two to three days. Bend forward so as to prevent any tension on the incision. A compression garment will be prescribed for three weeks after the surgery to control swelling and help skin adhere to its new sleeker silhouette better. The compression garment aids proper healing of mini tummy tuck scars.

Depending on your comfort levels, you could get back to work in as little as two weeks. The resulting scar small, however, focus on rest and recovery for successful healing.