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A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that extracts
surplus fat and tissue from the abdominal region.
It is especially helpful for men who retain excess
weight in their mid-sections and for women who
have undergone multiple pregnancies. Following
abdominoplasty, patients can expect a flatter,
more contoured, and more visually satisfying stomach.
The Surgery
Patients considering a tummy tuck can choose either
a complete or partial procedure. A full abdominoplasty
begins with an incision above the pubic area that
extends between the hipbones. The surgeon then
makes a second incision to separate the navel
from the underlying tissue. Next, the skin is
separated and pulled up to the level of the ribs.
The surgeon pulls the abdominal muscles together
and stitches them into position. The navel is
then relocated and stitched into place. The surgeon
replaces the skin (excess skin is trimmed) and
sutures the original incisions. A complete tummy
tuck takes between two and five hours and may
or may not be outpatient based.
After Surgery
Immediately following surgery, the incisions are
dressed with bandages to keep the skin in place.
A tube may be inserted to drain any excess fluid
that has collected. Patients may experience some
swelling and discomfort, although a doctor can
prescribe medication to alleviate these symptoms.
Stitches are usually removed five to ten days
following surgery, although deeper sutures may
require up to three weeks. The specifics of each
procedure, as well as the duration of hospitalization
and the type of anesthesia (general or local),
will vary among individuals.
Inherited traits often prevent
people from achieving their desired body
shape. Even years of exercise may not yield significant
or noticeable results in certain people. For many,
the answer is liposuction, a surgical procedure
which extracts fat from specific areas of the
body. Following the procedure, patients can expect
a slimmer, more shapely figure.
The Surgery
The surgeon begins by inserting a cannula (a slim,
hollow tube) into small incisions near the area
to be recontoured. The cannula is moved through
the layers of tissue and extracts the necessary
fat. Once the fat and tissue have been removed,
the surgeon stitches the incision and trims away
excess skin. Several techniques exist. The super-wet
technique involves an injection of fluid into
the patient's body, roughly the same amount as
the fat to be extracted. The tumescent technique
involves an injection of double or even triple
the amount of fluid. In UAL (Ultrasound-Assisted
Lipoplasty), a specially designed cannula
uses ultrasound to liquefy the fat and suction
it away. Except in the most extreme cases, procedures
are performed on an outpatient basis. Your surgeon
will suggest the most appropriate form of anesthesia
(epidural block, intravenous sedation, local,
or general anesthesia).
After Surgery
Following surgery, an elastic bandage is applied
in order to reduce swelling and keep the skin
in place. In complex procedures, patients should
be monitored closely to make sure no complications
occur. Patients return to work after several days
and stitches are typically removed in one week.
Gynecomastia, or male breast reduction, seeks
to address a condition that exists, in varying
degrees, in almost half of all men. While the
surgery may be performed on men of any age, it
is discouraged for those who suffer from obesity,
as well as for men who drink alcohol excessively
and/or smoke marijuana. Gynecomastia extracts
excess fat and tissue from the breast to produce
a flatter, more "masculine" chest.
The Surgery
A surgeon may perform the procedure using a scalpel,
liposuction, or a combination of the two. In the
first technique, an incision is made, typically
in the underarm. The surgeon then extracts surplus
tissue and fat from the chest region and stitches
the incision. If, however, the gynecomastia is
to remove mostly fatty tissue, then the surgeon
may opt for liposuction. This technique involves
a slim hollow tube (a cannula) that sweeps through
the layers of the chest, breaking up the fat and
suctioning it away. Once the fat and tissue is
removed, the surgeon stitches up the incision
and trims away any excess skin. These procedures
last one to two hours and are typically performed
on an outpatient basis.
After Surgery
Following surgery, the incisions are dressed and
the chest is wrapped in an elastic bandage. A
small tube is sometimes use to drain away excess
fluids. The surgeon generally removes the stitches
in seven to fourteen days, while the bandage stays
on for up to a month. Patients can generally return
to work in two weeks time.
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