A tummy tuck incision surgery is a visually appealing cosmetic surgery that improves the abdomen’s appearance. A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is the process involving the removal of excess skin and fat from the abdomen. Sutures are used to tighten the abdominal connective tissue to give the skin a more toned appearance.
A tummy tuck may be a very good option if you are concerned about excess fat, skin, or weaker lower abdominal walls. You can also improve your body image with a tummy tuck.
Reasons why Tummy Luck Procedure Is Done
The main reason behind the Tummy Tuck procedure is to eliminate excess fat, improve skin elasticity, and repair weak connective tissue. You might have gathered excess fat or lost your skin elasticity due to the below-mentioned reasons
- Weight loss is significant
- Pregnancy
- A C-section is abdominal surgery.
- Aging
- Your natural body type
Tummy tucks can tighten the loose fascia and remove excess skin. Tummy tucks can remove stretch marks, extra skin below the belly button and pull the fascia. A tummy tuck may not correct stretch marks in any other area. Your plastic surgeon may be able to integrate your C-section scar from an earlier C-section into your tummy-tuck fault.
You can have a tummy tuck done with other body contouring procedures like breast surgery. A tummy tuck is recommended for those with excess skin or tissue removed (liposuction).
Tummy Tuck Incision: Is It Complicated?
It may or may not be a complication. Not everyone needs a tummy tuck.
How do you know you are a candidate for a tummy tuck?
Your doctor may tell you if you need a tummy tuck.
- You can lose significant weight
- Might consider future pregnancy
- A severe chronic condition such as diabetes or heart disease
- A body mass index greater than 30
- Smoke
- A previous abdominal surgery left important scar tissue
Risks Associated With A Tummy Tuck
Fluid accumulation under the skin
Drainage tubes left in place following surgery can reduce fluid risk. Your doctor may use a needle and syringe to remove fluid from the skin after surgery.
Insufficient wound healing
Sometimes, areas near the incision line may heal poorly or become separable. Antibiotics may be administered to you during and after your surgery to prevent infection.
Unexpected scarring
An incision from a stomach tuck is permanent and is located along the easily concealed bikini line. Individuals will have different visibility and lengths of scars.
Tissue death or damage
Tissue death or damage may make your skin black and ruptured. This risk is increased by smoking. The size of the affected area will determine whether tissue can heal naturally or need to be repaired.
A change in skin sensation
The repositioning of abdominal tissues during a tummy-tuck can cause nerve damage in the abdominal region, and sometimes, the upper thighs. There will likely be a feeling of numbness or decreased sensation. This feeling usually subsides over the following months.
Different Types of Tummy Tuck Incisions
- Standard or full tummy tuck. It uses a hip-to-hip incision below the navel and another scar around the belly buttock so it can be repositioned after removing the excess skin in the upper abdomen.
- Extended tummy tuck.
- Fleur-de-lis tummy tuck.
Full or standard tummy tuck
It is made using a hip-to-hip incision under the navel and another around the abdomen buttock. After tightening your abdominal muscles using internal sutures and removing excess skin, the skin is pulled down to the stomach.
Extended tummy tuck
Horizontal incisions reach the hips, i.e., sides of the lower back. The tail ends of scars are visible posteriorly. The extended tummy tuck is altered for patients who are extremely overweight. It removes more skin in a larger area than the standard procedure. An extended tummy tuck requires around the incision. This allows you to remove excess skin and position it higher.
Fleur-de-lis tummy tuck
It requires a horizontal incision. A vertical scar is also needed, which can be more difficult to conceal. This technique is reserved for patients who require the greatest correction and are willing to make a tradeoff to get the best post-op contour.
If the patient has a very long torso, a short vertical scar may be required. Alternatively, removing a lot of skin between the belly button (and the pubic area) could lead to distorted contours.
Mini tummy tuck
A few patients can only use mini tummy tucks due to their limited improvement.
Mini tummy tucks require a 4-8-inch scar above the pubic area. They do not reposition or remove excess skin from the upper abdomen.
What To Do If You Have Scarring
Although your scar should be completely healed in 12 weeks, it may take up to one year to recover fully. Always wait until the scar has healed before deciding whether or not to have any surgery to minimize its appearance. Although these methods can’t completely erase scarring, they can improve the size, color, texture, and appearance.
Things You Should Do For Your Tummy Tuck Scars
Apply Vitamin E oils
According to some sources, vitamin E applied topically may improve scarring. It can also moisturize scar tissue. Use only 100 percent pure vitamin E oil. You should apply it at least once per day to the scar for the first few months. Once the scar tissue has healed, you can use it to massage it.
Stop using the product if you have any irritation or allergic reaction to it.
Apply sunscreen
Sunscreen should be applied to your scar at least one year following surgery. Avoid sunbathing the scar. Scars are made from new skin and respond differently to sunlight than normal skin. Sunscreen will protect scarring from turning darker than surrounding skin. Also, you should use sunscreen 30 or more.
Injections and applications of steroids
Steroids may be used to remove red, raised, or thick scars. These treatments can be used immediately after surgery to prevent scarring or for correction up to four weeks later. The cost will change depending on the severity and size of the scar. The cost of treatment is usually around a few hundred dollars.
Laser treatment
Laser treatments are also possible. Vascular lasers may be used to lower the reddening caused by tiny blood vessels. Laser surfacing is one way to improve scar tissue texture and color. Laser surfacing can be used to resurface the skin. Healthy collagen is used to replace scarred skin. This enhances color and texture.
Talk to your health care expert about how long you should wait before starting laser treatment. Laser treatments can be expensive. This treatment is costly. You may need many sessions over a few months.
Revision of a surgical scar
If you desire your scar to look more like your normal skin, scar revision may be an option. The doctor might use a combination of minimally invasive procedures and surgical revision. The scar will still be visible but less prominent.
You should consult your doctor about how long you should wait before you have scar revision surgery. You may be advised to stay at most one year so that you can observe how the scars heal over time.
Punch Grafts
Punch grafting is a technique that involves making a small incision in the skin with a small tool. The scar tissue is then removed and replaced by new skin, usually behind the ear. The scar will remain but will appear less obvious and smoother.
Look For Infections
Your incision should be cleaned daily. It will not only reduce the appearance of your scar but will also lower your chance of getting infected.
When to consult your doctor?
- Excessive bleeding at the incision line
- Redness, swelling, or bruising that isn’t improving,
- Serious pain that doesn’t respond to medication
- Yellowish or greenish drainage from the incision
- Any discharge with an unpleasant odor
- Loss of sensation or loss of motion
- Oral temperature above 100.4 degrees.
- Fever or chills
Tummy tuck Incision: Before and After
Final Words
There are different things to consider when recovering from a tummy tuck. They are all manageable and possible. You need to research and think about all the aspects of the tummy tuck healing procedures and their timeline. Tummy Tuck recovery is a slow process and you should improve every day to attain complete recovery.
