TUMMY TUCK (ABDOMINOPLASTY) SURGERY IN DELHI

Why should one consider a tummy tuck?

In their day-to-day practice, our plastic surgeons in Delhi suggest different individual reasons to undergo a tummy tuck. While your health has always been a priority, we value your emotions and make sure you enjoy a better self-image and quality of life. 

Here are some of the prime motivations that make our clients plan a tummy tuck with us:

• Significant changes in weight due to a caesarian 
• Deposition of excess fat due to aging
• Presence of excess fat and skin around the abdominal area due to a sedentary lifestyle or some medical reasons

Who should stay away from a tummy tuck?

One should not go for tummy tuck blindly. It is a decision that requires careful analysis by an expert. Your doctor may not approve it if you:

• Smoke
• Have a pregnancy on the cards
• Have a body mass index higher than 30
• Are targeting a significant amount of weight loss
• Have significant scar tissue due to a previous abdominal surgery
• Are suffering from serious chronic conditions including diabetes or heart disease

Our expert abdominoplasty surgeon in Delhi can also perform a tummy tuck in combination with other cosmetic procedures like breast surgery to meet patients’ expectations. 

People who have undergone liposuction may also need a tummy tuck as liposuction. It is because liposuction eliminates the excess fatty mass under the skin but the excess skin remains intact. A Tummy tuck is used to remove this excess skin. 

How should you prepare for a tummy tuck?

We will arrange for you a pre-surgery meeting with your plastic surgeon. He will explain to you in detail how you can prepare for the surgery. You need to follow your surgeon’s instructions as the success of the procedure depends on how you follow the advice.  

The key objectives of the meeting will include:

To know your medical history: During the consultation session, the doctor will ask you questions related to your present and past medical conditions. Make sure you furnish correct information about your health, medications you’re or have been taking, and the surgeries you’ve undergone.

You are expected to tell your doctor if you have an allergy to any medication. And most importantly, you need to tell the expert your motivation behind a tummy tuck and your expectations from the surgery.

It is also an opportunity for you to clarify your doubts and concerns related to the surgery. You should ask the doctor about risk factors and precautions for the procedure.

A physical examination: A physical examination is required to see if you are the right candidate for a tummy tuck. Apart from some important blood reports and scans, our tummy tuck surgeons in Delhi will also examine your abdomen. They might take some pictures of the abdomen for preparing your medical reports.

A candid discussion on your expectations: 

The discussion includes the following main pointers:

• What results do you expect from the surgery in terms of appearance?
• Are you physically and mentally prepared for a tummy tuck?
• Are you aware of the possible risks and side effects of the surgery?
• Are you prepared for a recovery period of 3—4 weeks after the procedure?
• Are you ready to discontinue smoking and other drugs with immediate effect?
• Do you know tummy tuck can reverse if you fail to keep a healthy weight?

Once your surgeon and you arrive at a mutual consensus on the above pointers, we can proceed with the procedure of a tummy tuck. 

What is the procedure of a tummy tuck?

Also called abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck is a 1-5 hour procedure. The surgery is taken place in a hospital setting. 

The procedure involves the following common steps:

Step 1 – Anesthesia

Like other major surgeries, a tummy tuck involves the use of relaxing medications or anesthesia to make you calm during the surgical procedures. The options comprise general anesthesia and intravenous sedation. Your doctor will choose the one that suits you the best.

Step 2 – The incision

Our best cosmetic surgeons in Delhi will start the procedure by making a horizontally-oriented incision between the belly button and the pubic hairline.

The shape and length of the incision will depend on the amount of excess skin. After the surgeons tighten the abdominal skin, they will repair the underlying weak abdominal muscles.

The procedure may also require a second incision around the navel to remove extra skin present in the upper abdomen. 

The surgeons will then trim the excess skin, followed by the stitching of the remaining skin. After that, they will create a new opening for the belly button. It makes the belly button pop through to the surface, which is then sutured into position.

Step 3 – Closing the incisions

Once the procedure is completed, the skin incisions are sealed through sutures, tapes, clips, and skin adhesives.

Step 4 – Check the results

It is time to see if our best surgeons in Delhi have met your expectations. And, we are sure you are ready to see a firmer, flatter, and more proportionate abdominal contour. 

What should you expect after the procedure?

Most of our patients get discharged the same. However, some may need an overnight stay at the hospital.

Here are some of the unpleasant experiences that may bother you for a few days after a tummy tuck:

• May have your belly button and abdominal incision covered with surgical dressing. 
• May have small tubes placed along the incision area to allow drainage of any excess fluid (mucus) or blood
• May need your family members to help you walk for 1—2 days after the surgery. It’s a precaution to prevent the formation of blood clots.
• May have to take pain medication to feel calm. 
• Swelling in the surgical area.
• May need to wear an abdominal binder for the next six weeks following a tummy tuck. You may need this supportive abdominal garment to provide support to the abdomen and help prevent fluid buildup during the healing period. 
• Have to appear for scheduled regular follow-up visits without fail. And, watch out for emergency symptoms as your doctor has directed.

What are the possible risks after a tummy tuck?

As a case with other surgical procedures, a tummy tuck has its share of possible risks or some rare complications, such as:

Unexpected scarring: While the incision scar made during the procedure is permanent, you can hide with clothing.

Seroma: It refers to the accumulation of fluid beneath the skin (seroma). That’s why experienced plastic surgeons in Delhi place drainage tubes to help reduce the risk of fluid retention. The doctor may have to remove fluid using a needle and syringe in rare cases.

Poor wound healing: Sometimes, the areas along the incision line take comparatively more time than expected. But, it’s a rare observation. Generally, our patients don’t face this problem. Make sure you maintain proper hygiene and adhere to the surgeon’s advice to avoid the risk.

Changes in skin sensation: The repositioning of the abdominal tissues may cause the nerves in the abdominal area, and rarely the upper thighs to experience numbness or reduced sensation. But again it’s a temporary effect that would diminish over the next couple of months.

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