How Long Is A Tummy Tuck Surgery

The recovery period varies depending on how long you have to wait before going home after surgery. You may need to stay in the hospital for one or two days after surgery, depending on how much pain you experience during recovery. You’ll be able to eat solid foods as soon as you’re able to tolerate them without experiencing pain or nausea. It’s normal for patients to experience some bruising and swelling around the incision site immediately following surgery; this should subside within a few weeks or months.

While the length of tummy tuck surgery varies from patient to patient, it typically lasts between two and four hours. During the procedure, an incision is made in your lower abdomen, so that the surgeon can remove excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen. The surgeon then tightens the abdominal muscles and sutures them back together with dissolvable stitches. The procedure can be done under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation.

Read on to learn more on How Long Is A Tummy Tuck Surgery, How Long Is A Tummy Tuck And Lipo Surgery and The New Tummy Tuck Procedure

How Long Is A Tummy Tuck Surgery

Abdominoplasty, or a tummy tuck, is a cosmetic procedure that tightens the abdomen’s appearance. This is done by surgically removing fat and skin, and (in most cases) improving the integrity of the abdominal muscles.

This elective surgery is one of several some people consider when looking to slim their midsection. Sometimes this is desired after significant weight loss.

Sometimes abdominal muscles separate down the middle. Known as diastasis recti, this most commonly happens as a result of pregnancy due to the increased pressure from the fetus on the muscles. It can also result from excess weight in the stomach.

A tummy tuck may involve sewing these muscles back together.

Results are not guaranteed to be long-term. However, avoiding excess weight gain after a tummy tuck helps maintain a flat stomach.

This article explains what you can expect from tummy tuck surgery, and ways to speed the recovery process.

Tummy Tuck Recovery Tips

A tummy tuck surgery flattens the appearance of the abdomen by cutting away excess skin and fat and sewing the skin back together. The procedure might also include surgically fastening the underlying abdominal muscles to give the look and feel of a taut core.

This major surgery uses either a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique (with one or more small incisions and the assistance of a camera to visualize the structures) or a more extensive open method (involving one or more incisions that provide the surgeon with visibility and access to the abdominal fat and underlying muscles).

• A complete abdominoplasty typically involves a large abdominal incision, extensive removal of fat and skin, and possibly the creation of a new belly button.¹
• A partial abdominoplasty may involve a smaller incision, less extensive tissue resection, and might not involve an incision around the belly button.²

A reverse tummy tuck is a partial abdominoplasty in which loose skin is removed from the upper portion of the abdomen. Sometimes partial abdominoplasty is used to remove skin and fat that’s only localized to the lower abdominal area.

When the paired rectus abdominis muscles that run down the front of the abdomen are separated, this is described as diastasis recti. These muscles can be sewn together to tighten the appearance of the stomach as part of a complete or partial tummy tuck procedure.³

You will need to have intravenous sedation or general anesthesia for any tummy tuck surgery.

Because a tummy tuck is cosmetic, most health plans don’t pay for this procedure.

Contraindications

You will be advised against having this procedure if you have a high risk of surgical complications. You may be at risk of post-surgical problems if you have a major chronic illness, a bleeding disorder, or an immune deficiency. Smoking is also associated with postoperative infections after tummy tuck surgery.⁴

Sometimes, issues like a major infection or newly detected kidney disease would entail postponing surgery until the health problem is under control, even if these problems are discovered on the day of surgery.

It’s important to know that anyone who anticipates significant weight gain or loss, or women who are planning to become pregnant, might experience skin, fat, or muscle changes that alter the cosmetic effects of abdominoplasty. So while the procedure is not prohibited in these individuals, it may not result in the desired outcome.⁵

A permanent post-surgical scar will be visible when you are completely undressed, but it should follow along with a natural crease that runs along the lower abdomen, along the pelvic bone. If you are very concerned about this, you may not want to have a tummy tuck. (Discuss the incision and potential scarring with your healthcare provider in advance so you can make an informed decision in your case.)

Potential Risks

In general, outcomes of this procedure are good and most people are satisfied with the results.⁶ Be aware that this surgery results in a scar along your lower abdomen.

That said, along with the usual risks associated with surgery and anesthesia, abdominoplasty can lead to additional post-operative problems.

You might develop health complications or an appearance that is different from what you expected or discussed with your healthcare provider prior to your surgery.

Complications of abdominoplasty can include:⁷

• Wound infection
• Blood clots
• Asymmetry of the shape of the abdomen
• Severe scarring or discoloration of the skin
• Loose skin
• Numbness or pain in the surgical region
• Unsatisfying cosmetic results

A complete procedure is more likely to cause complications than a partial procedure.¹

Purpose of Tummy Tuck Surgery

Abdominoplasty is done for purely aesthetic reasons: to have a flatter and more toned abdominal area. You might consider this surgery if your abdomen appears larger or when the skin is sagging, especially when it’s due to stretching.

You might have diminished tone and elasticity of your skin and muscles if you used to be overweight or if you gained and then lost significant weight with multiple pregnancies. Major weight loss, including after weight loss surgery, might result in extra skin that feels lax and flabby.

This procedure can improve your quality of life if it makes you more satisfied with your physical appearance, but it cannot improve your physical health.²

Abdominoplasty is not a replacement for diet and exercise and doesn’t result in substantial weight loss.

Tummy tuck surgery is not weight loss surgery. You might consider whether another type of surgery would be a better fit for you as you are deciding if you want to go ahead with abdominoplasty.

Other procedures your healthcare provider may discuss with you include:

• Liposuction involves the removal of fat without surgically remodeling skin or muscle, and it isn’t limited to the abdomen. Like tummy tuck surgery, liposuction is a cosmetic procedure.
• Panniculectomy is a surgical procedure in which excess skin is removed from the abdominal area without surgical intervention to fat or muscle.
• Bariatric surgery is a type of weight loss surgery that involves surgically restructuring the digestive system to prevent overeating and absorption of excess calories. It is typically done to prevent medical complications of obesity rather than for cosmetic reasons.

You will need some pre-operative testing and medical clearance to ensure that you can safely have this procedure, including preliminary lab evaluation such as including a complete blood count (CBC) and electrolyte tests, to evaluate for health problems.⁴

Additionally, your healthcare provider might also do some other pre-operative tests to ensure that you can safely have an abdominoplasty if you have a pre-existing medical issue that puts you at high risk during surgery, such as heart disease or pulmonary disease.

How Long Is A Tummy Tuck And Lipo Surgery

The tummy tuck and liposuction surgery lasts about three hours, but the recovery time is a good six weeks. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia, so you will be asleep during the operation. The surgeon will make an incision on your lower abdomen or side (depending on the type of tummy tuck) to remove excess fat and skin. The skin is pulled back together with sutures that dissolve on their own.

The liposuction procedure usually takes 1 to 2 hours, but it may take longer depending on how much fat needs to be removed from your body. Liposuction can be done under local anesthesia or general anesthesia.

Tummy tuck and liposuction surgery can be performed at the same time or separately.

The tummy tuck procedure is performed under general anesthesia, which means you will be asleep for the surgery. The surgeon will make an incision around your belly button and remove some of the loose skin and fat from your lower abdomen. The doctor will then tighten up the muscles in your abdomen to give you a flatter, firmer-looking stomach.

The surgeon may also make other changes to help you look your best after surgery:

Remove excess fat from other parts of your body, such as arms or thighs

Replace stretched out skin with a more youthful appearance

Reduce visible stretch marks with laser treatments

A tummy tuck can be performed under general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia. Typically, you will be in the hospital for one night.

The length of your recovery depends on the extent of your procedure. After a tummy tuck, most patients can return to work within a few weeks.

In general, liposuction is an outpatient procedure that requires little downtime and minimal pain. You will be prescribed pain medication to help manage any discomfort after surgery.

The tummy tuck procedure is performed under general anesthesia and takes about 2 to 3 hours. The liposuction takes about one hour.

You can expect to be in the hospital for 4-6 hours after surgery, then go home the same day.

After the surgery, you will wear a surgical bra for 6 weeks. You can start exercising again 6 weeks after the surgery, but only if your doctor approves it.

The tummy tuck and liposuction procedure takes approximately 2-3 hours. The tummy tuck will take the most time, while the liposuction takes a shorter amount of time. It’s important to note that the entire procedure is done under general anesthesia, so you will be asleep for the duration of the surgery.

The total recovery time will vary depending on your individual situation and how much downtime you need following your surgery. Most patients can go back to work within two weeks after their procedure, but some may need more time off depending on how long they are out of work before their procedure.

There are some side effects that should be expected after your surgery:

Swelling – As with any surgical procedure, swelling is common following an abdominoplasty and liposuction. Your doctor might prescribe compression garments for compression and support so that you don’t experience too much swelling in areas that have been treated with liposuction (i.e., thighs).

Bruising – Bruising can occur in any area where there was liposuction performed but is typically worse around the hips due to more fat being removed there than in other areas of your body. If bruising persists longer than

The New Tummy Tuck Procedure

When it comes to body contouring, tummy tucks are among the most popular procedures performed by board-certified plastic surgeons. A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) removes excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen, as well as tightens muscles and repositions the belly button.

But this procedure isn’t just for those who are overweight or have had multiple pregnancies. It can also be beneficial for people who have lost a significant amount of weight but still have excess skin that hangs down from their midsection.

If you’re considering a tummy tuck or if you’ve already had one, you might be wondering about the latest advances in this procedure. Here’s what you need to know:

The traditional tummy tuck procedure involves making an incision across your lower abdomen and removing fat deposits with liposuction. To tighten the muscle layer, your surgeon will then make an incision beneath each side of your navel and reattach it to itself while tightening the underlying abdominal wall muscles. The result is often an improved waistline that appears more toned than before surgery. Afterward, a compression garment will be worn for several weeks while healing occurs