Live Life Team
Another common weight loss surgery is abdominoplasty, or a tummy tuck. There are three different kinds of tummy tuck: The standard tummy tuck, a mini tummy tuck, and an extended tummy tuck.
With the standard tummy tuck, the surgeon makes incisions in your abdomen and above your bikini line. He/she removes your belly button, then pulls and stitches together stretched or torn muscles. Excess fat is taken out, and the skin is stretched down to form a taught midriff, and the excess skin is cut away. After this, the belly button is repositioned on your stomach to look natural. After the healing process, you’ll be left with a circular scar around your belly button, as well as a long scar along your bikini line.
A mini tummy tuck removes skin and fat from below the belly button, and you’re left with just a scar above your bikini line.
An extended tummy tuck removes excess skin and fat from both your abdomen and your back, and you’re left with the scar around your belly button and the long curved scar above your bikini line as well as around your back.
Common side effects of these procedures include (but are not limited to) bruising, swelling and scarring, and the risks you have to be aware of before undergoing such a procedure are infections, sub-dermal bleeding (under your skin), long-lasting to permanent numbness, damage to internal organs, and unusually red or raised scars. One must keep these in mind before committing to this type of surgery and also bear in mind that tummy tuck surgery isn’t a recommended weight loss solution, but mainly for people who have already lost weight and have some extra skin hanging about. A tummy tuck should not be confused with liposuction, and as always consult your doctor before considering any type of surgery. It is also important that if you do commit to getting this surgery done, that you exercise and maintain a healthy diet, and do not smoke. Smoking increases the chance of infection, and a healthy diet and exercise will help retain the effects of the surgery.
