Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

• Abdominoplasty is an operation in which the excess skin and fat below the umbilicus is removed to give the abdomen a better shape and make it look nicer.

• When people gain and lose weight as following pregnancy and significant weight loss, the lower abdomen is stretched and refuses to go back. No amount of diet and exercise can overcome the laxity of the skin especially if it has stretch marks. In this situation, the excess skin and fat have to be removed by surgery. So those who would benefit from abdominoplasty are

• a. If you have got excess abdominal tissue which doesn’t go with exercise
• b. If you can hold a pannus of tissue with both your hands below the belly button and feel it unwanted
• c. If you are embarrassed with the abundant stretch marks below the umbilicus which you find it unappealing.
• d. If you are embarrassed as the abdomen overhangs the top of the trouser, skirt or saree and causes a bulge under fitted dresses.

• The scar will be a transverse scar over the lower abdomen extending from one hip to the other hip. This will be hidden while you wear a pant, skirt or a saree and we will try to hide it under the bikini line.

• The operation abdominoplasty is done under general anaesthesia. It lasts for 2 to 3 hours depending on each patient. During this operation the skin and fat over the abdomen are lifted from the underlying abdominal musculature, redraped and the excess skin and fat are removed. If there is an underlying weakness of the abdominal wall causing divarication of recti, we will repair it and strengthen the abdominal wall musculature. To ensure that there is no excess collection of serous fluid or blood collecting under the flap we will place three surgical drains to drain them. The umbilicus or the belly button is sited at the right place, and the wound is closed.

• Some patients are bothered about excess fat around the hips or at the waistline popularly called as the saddlebags and lovehandles respectively. During the operation fat from these areas can be sucked out to give them a good shape to the body. This is done when the skin tone is good. However when the skin tone is not good it will be better to excise it. This will be done by having a longer transverse scar which goes around the side of the body to the back. The scar will still be hidden by the panty line

Liposuction over the Lovehandle area

Liposuction of Fat over the Saddlebag area

• This operation is primarily a body contouring operation and not a weight reducing operation. After the operation, you can expect a decrease of about 1-2 kg weight. Some patients may not reduce weight at all. So if reducing weight is your primary goal, this operation is not for you.

• Soon after the operation, the patient may feel slightly tight over the abdomen as the abdominal musculature has been repaired and the excess skin has been removed. This will go away in 2 to 3 weeks. We will give adequate painkillers to control the pain. We will monitor the amount of fluid in the drains daily and will remove them as soon as the amount of fluid in the drain is very less. Depending on how comfortable the patient is we will try to mobilise the patient from the first or second day after surgery. We will discharge the patient as soon as the patient feels comfortable walking to and from the toilet and after the drains have been pulled out. This amounts to approximately 4 to 5 days of hospital stay. Patients who stay near and are happy to monitor the drains may be discharged earlier around the third or fourth day from surgery.