How to choose the right tummy tuck procedure for you

How to choose the right tummy tuck procedure for you

A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a cosmetic surgery operation that aims to remove adipose tissue and excess skin; it serves to improve the appearance of the abdomen, but is not a treatment for body weight control.

Abdominoplasty is indicated for women who have been through several pregnancies and for individuals who lost a great amount of weight following a bariatric procedure. Generally speaking, a tummy tuck can help anyone who’s looking to improve the appearance of their midsection, whether it means removing fat, loose skin, or a combination of both.

What is a tummy tuck and how does it work?

A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure that will reshape your abdomen by removing excess skin and tightening your abdominal muscles. A tummy tuck is performed under general anaesthesia and duration varies depending on the type of technique used.

While tummy tuck can improve the shape and look of your abdomen, it is not a weight-loss procedure. On the contrary, patients will have to be close to their ideal weight in order to undergo this procedure. This means that, six to 12 months before the procedure, you should be no more than 6-7 kg (15 pounds) from your goal weight. Weight fluctuations may negatively affect the results of your tummy tuck so having a healthy weight is fundamental to ensure the success of the procedure.

In general, patients need to be in good health to undergo plastic surgery and shouldn’t have any underlying conditions that might cause complications during surgery or during recovery.

Are there different tummy tuck procedures?

Yes, abdominoplasty comprises a series of procedures. Some types are ideal for removing large amounts of fat and excess skin; other types, on the other hand, are suitable for the removal of moderate or circumscribed fat accumulations and excess skin.

Below, you will find a few indications on how to choose the type of abdominoplasty that best suits your needs. Ultimately, what type to perform is decided on an individual basis, and it is up to the operating surgeon to determine. The choice will largely depend on the amount and location of abdominal fat and excess skin in your abdomen.

Please consider that the natural process of ageing can still impact the elasticity and firmness of your skin. Having a healthy lifestyle will help you maintain the results achieved with plastic surgery as long as you can hope for.

If you need to remove just a little bit of fat tissue

If you only require a small amount of fat and skin to be removed, your surgeon may recommend a miniature abdominoplasty. Also known as mini tummy tuck, this procedure involves removing excess fat and skin from the area around your navel, to reshape your lower abdomen. Abdominal muscles are not repaired or toned during a mini tummy tuck. This procedure is shorter than other abdominoplasties and the scar is less visible.

If you had bariatric surgery

Bariatric surgery includes a series of procedures (e.g. gastric sleeve or gastric bypass) that help patients with obesity start and maintain a healthier lifestyle. Losing a great amount of body weight means getting overhanging, loose skin that can also cause hygiene issues and discomfort. Once your weight has stabilised, you might want to tackle these problems to fully enjoy your amazing results. In this case, your doctor may recommend an extended abdominoplasty. The incisions made for this tummy tuck procedure allow for a comprehensive removal of fat and skin around your abdomen. Muscles are also repaired and toned. Liposuction may be combined in some cases to improve the contours of the hips and abdomen.

If you need to remove sagging skin

A Fleur-de-lis tummy tuck might be the right procedure if you need to treat a significant amount of sagging skin. During a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck, the surgeon makes a horizontal incision from hip bone to hip bone and a vertical incision from the bottom of the ribs until the pubic area. This type of incision, which looks like a fleur de lis, allows your surgeon to remove loose skin on the sides of your abdomen, as well as left and right of the first incision and not just above and below it. This way, a greater amount of excess skin is removed.

I’m still unsure of what type of abdominoplasty is right for me. What should I do?

Navigating the different cosmetic procedures and understanding what type of tummy tuck is right for you can be daunting, and we understand that! While we hope that this article has been informative for you, we recommend that you always consult a specialist to discuss your expectations and desires.

We are always just a phone call away if you need assistance. Our team of experienced physicians, nurses, and coordinators is happy to assist you. Contact us anytime! We have a team dedicated to patients travelling from abroad and offer treatment packages that include accommodation and local transport with a driver. Having surgery is a big step and we want to make sure that your experience on site is as worry-free as possible!

Just to give you the rundown of what you can expect once you get in touch with us: one of our patient coordinators will reply to your inquiry and be in touch with you. First of all, we need to have a look at your medical history, your current health, and if you have any medical conditions we should be aware of. We might ask you to send us some recent test results as well as a few pictures of your abdominal area. This will already give us an idea of what procedure best suits your expectations. Of course, all confidential information will be handled with discretion.

Check out our patient stories to hear first-hand how their experience at KCM Clinic went!