Abdominoplasty also has another name “tummy tuck”. It is a cosmetic

surgery procedure to reshape and firm the abdomen. It involves the

removal of excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen in

order to tighten the muscle of the abdominal wall. This surgery is

performed mostly on or usually asked for by women. Most women are

finished with having children when considering this surgery. This

procedure is also used following a large volume weight loss, either

from diet, exercise or gastric bypass, in which the remaining excess

skin is removed.

There are two types of abdominoplasty:

• One which requires two to five hours called

complete.

• One which requires one to two hours called partial.

Procedure on how the complete abdominoplasty is done

can be discussed in the form of simple steps.

1. An incision is made from hip to hip just above the

pubic area.

2. Another incision is made to free the navel from

the surrounding skin.

3. The skin is detached from the abdominal wall to

reveal the muscles to be tightened. These muscles are tightened with

sutures.

4. The skin flap is reattached with an extra skin

being removed. A new hole for the navel is created and stitched into

place.

5. All stitches are dressed and any excess fluid from

the site is drained.

Partial abdominoplasty involves three steps:

1. A shorter incision is made.

2. The skin is removed between the incision and the

navel. The skin stretched down and excess skin is removed.

3. The flap is stitched back into place.

An abdominoplasty can be combined with a liposuction treatment.

Recovery from a complete abdominoplasty can take four to six weeks and

patients are advised to take a least three weeks rest. Heavy weights

must be avoided during this time. For the first ten days, a patient may

experience bruising and discomfort. A supportive abdominal binder is

normally worn to control swelling and support the muscular repair.

Patients are advised not to smoke for several months before the surgery

is scheduled and after when they are recovering.

Cost:

The cost of an abdominoplasty varies from country to country.

In the United States on an average, this procedure can cost from US $ 6,000 to as much as $12000.

Thus in the state and the city in which you choose a surgeon to perform the

procedure will play a role in determining a final cost. Surgeons in

urban areas such as Los Angeles, Boston, or Beverly Hills tend to have

a higher cost than their colleagues in rural and suburban areas where

these cosmetic procedures are not as common.

No surgeries guarantee success and therefore a second procedure or

touch-up may be required to achieve the desired appearance. These costs

are typically not included in the original cost paid by the consumer.