Tummy Tuck Surgery (Abdominoplasty) in Chennai

Diagnosis

A plastic surgeon diagnoses the patient thoroughly to understand his/her reasons for undergoing tummy tuck surgery. Only then the surgeon proceeds to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure.

The surgeon will ask about your medical history and lifestyle to identify the reasons why the skin might have lost its elasticity. The following tests will also be performed-

• Complete Blood Test & Urine Test – These tests are done to find out if the patient has a specific health condition that can increase the potential risks of the surgery.
• MRI Scan – It is recommended if the surgeon suspects that a diastasis recti may be present in the patient.
• Ultrasound – Patients who have loose abdominal muscles are likely to have some type of hernia. The ultrasound helps to find out if a hernia is present.
• BMI Check – The patient’s BMI is checked to determine if he/she is overweight and needs to lose some more weight to qualify for tummy tuck surgery.

Once all the tests are done and the doctor confirms that the patient is a good candidate for abdominoplasty, the surgery is planned.

Procedure

The procedure involves the following steps-

• The anesthetist administers the anesthesia to put the patient to sleep. Typically, general anesthesia is used, but in some cases, IV (intravenous) sedation may be used for the procedure.
• An incision is made across the abdomen right above the pubic hairline.
• If a full tummy tuck is being performed, the surgeon will also detach the belly button. In the case of a mini tummy tuck, the belly button is not detached as the procedure is performed only below the belly button.
• The skin is lifted to expose the abdominal muscles. The loose muscles are banded or stitched together. If required, liposuction is used to remove extra fat from the belly.
• The skin is then stretched over the abdomen and the excess skin is excised.
• In case of a full tummy tuck, a new opening is created to reattach the belly button.
• Once the necessary modifications are complete, the incisions are closed with stitches and covered with a dressing.

The entire surgery takes around 1.5 hours to 2 hours approximately. The patient’s health is observed for the next few hours. If everything is good, the patient will be discharged on the same day.