A flat and well-toned abdomen is something that we have all wished at certain point in our life. Generally in our society our body appearance is defined by our body and abdomen contour. However even people with a normal body weight can suffer from a sagging abdomen. There are 4 main reasons that cause this to occur: Aging, gravity, pregnancy, or a significant weight loss.

Fortunately for many there is a surgical procedure called abdominoplasty or more commonly known as a “tummy tuck” that can help in achieving a flatter and more toned abdomen. An abdominoplasty removes the excess skin and fat from the abdominal region and helps in diminishing stretch marks especially those located below the belly button. One of the main advantages is that results of a tummy tuck last for several years. This depends on the personal care that you have with your body after performing the abdominoplasty. The results of an abdominoplasty can be affected by a pregnancy or weight gain. It is recommended that you have a healthy and active life style for your abdominoplasty to last for 10 or more years.

An abdominoplasty is a plastic surgery procedure to improve the abdominal contour and tone up the abdominal areas. An abdominoplasty involves removing excess fat and skin from the abdominal wall, tightening the abdominal muscles and stitching them together to make the abdomen more firm.

Good candidates for a tummy tuck are healthy people that have an abdomen with an evident excess of fat and muscular flaccidity in the abdominal wall. Patients that have lost a significant amount of weight and have excess skin in the abdominal region are also good candidates for an abdominoplasty.

After an abdominoplasty you should expect an improvement in your body contour. Your abdominal muscles and stretched skin will be tightened and you will have a flatter abdomen. The abdominoplasty usually leaves a scar on the bikini line.

A tummy tuck is not a replacement for exercise and a balanced diet. It will not make you younger or give you an incredible figure. It will however, significantly improve you self-esteem and self confidence.

The first step in an abdominoplasty procedure is to administer anesthesia. Most surgeons prefer to use general anesthesia with sedation because it allows a better relaxation of the abdominal wall muscles and facilitates the procedure.

In some cases such as mini-abdominoplasty surgeons use local anesthesia because they last a shorter time. A complete abdominoplasty takes an approximate of 1 to 1.5 hours.

There are two types of abdominoplasty: Complete or partial abdominoplasty, also known as mini-abdominoplasty.

Complete abdominoplasty is performed on patients that require major corrections. Incisions for complete abdominoplasty are made from hip to hip above the pubic area.
Your surgeon will make sure that the scar is located in a place that can be covered by the panties. After the incision is made, the abdominoplasty surgeon will free the navel from the surrounding skin so that it can be returned to the proper position after skin has been stretched.

The next step is to detach the skin from the abdominal wall to tighten the muscles and draw them together. Finally muscles are stitched into their new position using a drain placed in the incision. This drain will make the recovery process faster and less painful and it will prevent fluids to build up behind the skin. The stitches will be removed some days after the surgery.

Mini-abdominoplasty is used to improve aesthetics on patients that have excess fat below the navel and require smaller incisions. Generally with this type of abdominoplasty the navel does not change position. Results of a mini-abdominoplasty are not as drastic as those of a complete abdominoplasty and recovery period is shorter.

Another important procedure is the endoscopic abdominoplasty. This type of abdominoplasty uses a small camera called endoscope attached to small surgical instruments, which is introduced in the abdomen through a small incision. Endoscopic abdominoplasty is performed on patients that weakened muscles of the lower abdomen.

For all abdominoplasty types, the surgeon put bangages to the patient that will protect the surgical area and minimize inflammation.

Abdominoplasty is a major procedure that requires a longer recovery process. A patient will usually need 20 or more days to get back to work and daily activities. At the beginning your abdomen will get swollen and hurt but you will receive painkillers to alleviate this pain. Your abdominoplasty surgeon might also recommend you to use a pillow below your knees to keep them flexed and reduce the tension of your abdominal muscles.  You will have a hard time standing up but you should try to walk as soon as possible. Lifting weights and doing activities that require physical effort should be avoided. After recovery it is recommended to do some physical exercise.

Performing an abdominoplasty at Natural Belle will ensure good quality service, certified and experienced professionals that are committed to obtaining the best and most natural looking plastic surgery results and a plastic surgery at low cost.