Who Is It For?
After significant weight loss or pregnancy, it is normal for the abdominal wall to lose its tightness and for the skin to sag. Additional problems such as stretch marks, old scars or separated abdominal muscles can occur. All of these can be improved by a tummy tuck operation. Abdominoplasty surgery offers a solution by flatting the saggy skin and tightening the muscles of the relaxed stomach wall, and if needed, excess fat tissue can be removed.
Get Prepared
You will need to take some time off work to get the required rest post-operation. During the recovery period, you will also need support and help from family and friends as you will not be able to do physically demanding jobs, attend social events, etc. In case you have young children you might also need to arrange child care. Make sure that you don’t have any acute sickness, such as a viral illness or cold, for at least three weeks before your scheduled temporal lift surgery; please inform us in case it does occur. No medications were containing acetylsalicylic acid, such as Acylpryin, Aspirin, Alnagon, Mineral, etc., should be taken a week before the operation. Such medicines are blood thinners which may increase bleeding during and after the selective facelift surgery. If women are taking hormonal contraception or replacement, they should stop doing so a month (minimum two weeks) before the temporal lift to prevent thromboembolism. Bring your usual medicine and pills, if possible in the original packaging. Smokers are encouraged to stop or at least considerably reduce smoking two weeks before the operation, and make sure you bring nicotine patches with you. It is required to wear elastic garments after the procedure which you can buy from the clinic or bring your own. We would recommend that you buy them after consulting your surgeon to decide on which size and type are most suitable for you. Ideally, women should not have their period during the operation but in case they do, they should inform their doctor.
How Is It Done?
A tummy tuck operation is a highly individualized procedure achieved through a variety of incisions and techniques. The appropriate method for you will be determined during your personal consultation with your cosmetic surgeon in Prague. The incision is made in the so-called bikini line – from hip to hip in such a way it can be hidden within most underwear or swimsuit. During the tummy tuck operation, the skin and abdominal wall with the fat layer are separated, the navel is separated from the surrounding skin, abdominal muscles are tightened, and the skin and subcutaneous tissue are stretched out while their excess is removed. During suturing non-absorbable or, absorbable materials can be used. In the case of non-absorbable materials, the sutures must be extracted, while absorbable sutures dissolve in the body on their own, and their advantage is also the fact that the scar is finer. There are two main types of abdominoplasty surgery:
Complete abdominoplasty (inc. muscles tightening and belly button transposition) – the belly button is cut from the surrounding skin, stretched muscles are pulled together and stitched, excess fat is removed. The skin is removed, and the excess cut off. The belly button is repositioned to fit the new shape of your abdomen.
Mini tummy tuck – only the skin and fat in your lower abdomen is removed. The scar is along your bikini line.
Surgery
The abdominoplasty surgery is done under general anesthetic and takes approximately two to three hours.
After Surgery
This abdominal surgery normally requires a two-night stay at the clinic and a five-day period of limited movement and abdominal wall rest. During this time, the client should bend forward slightly when sitting or walking. On the third or fourth day after leaving the clinic, there is a medical check-up by the surgeon. Special compression bandages are worn.
Possible Complications
If you smoke, there will be prolonged healing. There can be swelling, discoloration and tightness of the skin for about two weeks. Insufficient post-operative care can result in post-operative bleeding, hematomas and infection of the wound as well as an imperfect effect of the surgery. You will have bruising and swelling of the abdomen, but the maximum discomfort is only for the first few days. The majority of bruising and swelling will subside in 6-8 weeks.You may feel tired for several weeks or months and will walk slightly bent forward and gradually return to normal posture over next three weeks. Scars will be reddened for six months and after that, they will fade and soften.
Back To Normal
Following uneventful recovery, it is usually possible to return to work and resume usual activities (excluding exercise) within four to six weeks of the operation, or, in the case of non-strenuous, sedentary jobs, within three weeks.
Result
The scar remains but fades considerably. The resulting effect is long-lasting or even permanent.
Extra
The consultation with the surgeon is of vital importance; the extent of the operation will be recommended, as well as other potential related treatments that can achieve the best possible result. Liposuction can be part of the process or can be done several months afterward; it removes remaining excess fat in the lower abdomen and hip area. In some cases, the surgeon may recommend the client to lose weight before the operation – either through a diet and exercise, or a gastric balloon (available at this clinic), which enables rapid weight loss by making the stomach feel full more quickly.
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