Op.Dr. Hakan TEYMUR

ABDOMINOPLASTY / ABDOMINAL AESTHETIC SURGERY

Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, is a surgical procedure that involves removing excess fat and loose skin from the middle and lower abdomen while tightening the abdominal wall. These surgeries do not aim to reduce weight in overweight individuals. Ideal candidates for these procedures are those who have excess skin and weakened abdominal walls left after losing significant weight, but who are not excessively overweight. Patients with excessive subcutaneous fat may have less satisfactory results and higher rates of wound healing complications post-surgery. Therefore, it is recommended to reduce fat through weight loss as much as possible before undergoing these procedures, which increases both patient and doctor satisfaction.

HOW IS ABDOMINOPLASTY PERFORMED?

Shaping the abdominal wall depends on the condition of existing fat accumulation, sagging, and skin elasticity. Abdominoplasty can be performed using techniques such as fat removal (liposuction – laser lipolysis) or abdominal wall tightening. Abdominoplasty can also be combined with surgeries aimed at improving body contouring (e.g., aesthetic breast surgeries, liposuction, etc.). There are two main types of abdominoplasty procedures: full abdominoplasty and mini abdominoplasty.

Mini Abdominoplasty: Suitable when the deformity is limited to the area below the navel or when liposuction around the navel is sufficient.
Full Abdominoplasty: Applied in cases where the deformity above the navel cannot be corrected with liposuction alone and extensive abdominal wall repair is required due to severe skin sagging. Excess fat is removed from the entire abdomen and waist, excess skin below the navel is excised, and weakened abdominal muscles are reconstructed.

WHY IS ABDOMINOPLASTY PERFORMED?

A flat abdomen is an indicator of a beautiful physique. Abdominoplasty is performed to correct deformities caused by aging, multiple consecutive pregnancies, frequent weight fluctuations leading to abdominal fat accumulation, and loosening of abdominal muscles and skin.

HOW IS ABDOMINOPLASTY PERFORMED?

Mini Abdominoplasty: Suitable when the deformity is limited to the area below the navel or when liposuction around the navel is sufficient.
Full Abdominoplasty: Applied in cases where the deformity above the navel cannot be corrected with liposuction alone and extensive abdominal wall repair is required due to severe skin sagging. Excess fat is removed from the entire abdomen and waist, excess skin below the navel is excised, and weakened abdominal muscles are reconstructed.

ANESTHESIA METHOD AND DURATION

Abdominoplasty surgeries are performed in an operating room under general anesthesia. Aspirin should be stopped a week to 10 days before the operation, and smoking should be discontinued four weeks before. The duration of the surgery depends on the procedures performed. If liposuction is not applied to a large area, a full abdominoplasty surgery takes between 3-4 hours.

RECOVERY PERIOD

In the initial days after surgery, there may be swelling and pain in the abdominal area that can be controlled with pain relievers. Drains are typically removed within 3-5 days, and stitches are taken out in 2-3 weeks. Patients usually stay in the hospital for about 1-3 days. It may take several months to feel like yourself again. You can return to work within 2-4 weeks. You will need to wear a suitable corset for 2 months after surgery. Your scar will reach its final form after 6 months, and although some redness and pronounced scarring is normal during this period, it may take between 9 months to 1 year for the scars to flatten and fade. Although they may not completely disappear, the scars can be easily hidden even under a bikini. Partial or complete abdominoplasty procedures achieve satisfactory results for patients with abdominal muscle weakness or skin sagging. For most patients, results achieved through regular exercise and diet can be maintained for years.