Many women worldwide suffer from sagging abdominal skin and an abdomen that is out of proportion with the rest of the body. This makes them feel fat and self conscious. Fortunately there is a plastic surgery procedure called tummy tuck or more formally abdominoplasty, that helps remove the excess skin and fat in the abdominal region. The tummy tuck is considered by surgeons as a mayor procedure ideal for patients that want to improve their waist contour and gain self-esteem.

Patients performing a tummy tuck should be clear on their expectations. The objective of a tummy tuck is to improve the body contour and general appearance. It will not ensure the “ideal figure” but it will certainly give you a better “look” and help you improve your self-esteem.

A tummy tuck usually lasts between 2 to 4 hours and it is performed under general anesthesia. The first thing the surgeon does is an incision from hip to hip in V shape. Sometimes an additional incision around the navel is needed. The next step is to detach the skin from the abdominal wall to tighten the muscles and draw them together. The abdominal wall will be tighter and firm and the waist line will be smaller. The next thing is to remove the excess skin and place the navel into proper position. Finally the incisions are stitched and a drain is placed in the incision to prevent fluids to build up behind the skin.

A tummy tuck is a major procedure and the recovery process is longer than other types of plastic surgeries. Each tummy tuck patient will receive analgesics during the recovery process that will help with pain and the drain will be removed 48 hours after the surgery. Patients must use a bandage around the abdomen to support the abdominal wall during the first weeks after the tummy tuck and it is recommended to walk inclined forward to prevent problems with the stitches.

Stitches are removed from 5 to 7 days after the surgery and deeper stitches are removed 3 weeks later. You will be able to resume your daily activities and go back to work 2 to 4 weeks after the tummy tuck. This will highly depend on your physical condition. Post-operative exercise is a good option to accelerate the recovery process although demanding physical activity is restricted during several weeks. Scars are more evident during the first months but after time passes they will turn more natural. Scars will be permanent but thanks to their location they can be covered by most clothes including swimming suits.

Performing a tummy tuck 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.