This procedure works best for women post-pregnancy who don’t want to have any more children or for people of any gender who have lost weight and are close to their ideal body weight but still have a large fat deposit or loose abdominal skin that will not respond to dieting or exercise. Remember that tummy tuck surgery is not a substitute for weight loss.
The Abdominoplasty Procedure
The tummy tuck procedure is completed under a general anaesthetic in an accredited hospital here in Sydney. Dr Safvat only works with highly trained anaesthetists accredited with the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. The procedure takes around three to four hours and the patient is required to stay in hospital for three to seven days. Drainage tubes are usually placed under the skin to help prevent any fluid build-up.
The procedure ranges from a mini to a full tummy tuck surgery depending on individual requirements.
A full tummy tuck operation is designed to reshape the entire span of the abdomen. It works for people with significant amount of loose skin, subcutaneous fat, and stretch marks. It also tightens the abdominal musculature (that often stretches and separates after pregnancy) to flatten the contour, reduce any bulges, and give an hourglass appearance to the waist.
The belly button is also reshaped and placed in a more cosmetically desirable location. The scar in a full abdominoplasty is usually from hip to hip in the lower abdomen.
Dr Safvat often combines tummy tuck operations with liposuction of the upper abdomen and flanks to yield optimal results. A mini tummy tuck is a lighter procedure and suits people with a smaller amount of fat and excess skin in the lower abdomen only. The incision for a mini tummy tuck is smaller and is located just above the pubic area.
A mini tummy tuck has less down time and also requires less time staying in a hospital in Sydney – usually only one night. In some cases it can be done as a day only procedure.
Recovering from Abdominoplasty
Immediately after a tummy tuck and for six weeks afterwards, patients need to wear a medical garment (abdominal binder). While patients may not be able to stand fully upright just after their surgery, they are actively encouraged to walk for short periods and to do deep breathing exercises post-operatively to prevent complications. Exertion and heavy lifting are not allowed for four to six weeks.
Dr Safvat advises his patients to take about three to four weeks off work (depending on the type of work you do) to rest at home and optimise the healing process. It’s also highly recommended that you have someone to assist you for the first week after your abdominoplasty surgery. You will need as much rest as possible and your range of movement will be limited for a time. This means that seemingly easy tasks such as cooking and caring for children can become slightly more challenging.
In terms of the final results of your surgery, most patients will need to wait up to 6 months before seeing the final outcome. This is different for everyone though. The best thing you can do is to follow Dr Safvat’s specific aftercare instructions to ensure a positive outcome.