A tummy tuck may be performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. The duration of the procedure depends on the patient’s condition and the extent of work that is necessary to achieve desired results. Some patients may opt for a mini or partial tummy tuck, which is a less extensive surgery and takes less time to perform.
The surgeon pre-plans the incisions that will be required to remove excess skin and tighten the muscles around the abdomen. A mini tummy tuck involves a small incision made below the navel area. On the other hand, a full tummy tuck may involve a circumferential incision to remove excess skin from the entire hip region, including the back.
An experienced surgeon will decide the position of the incisions carefully so that the resulting scars are hidden as far as possible. The positioning of the scars may be discussed with the patient prior to the procedure to produce the desired results.
A full tummy tuck procedure will almost always involve altering the position of the navel so that the abdomen appears more natural after the skin is tightened and the procedure is completed. The repositioning of the navel requires surgical expertise to do it perfectly. Therefore, it is advisable to have this procedure performed by an experienced plastic surgeon only.
Once the incisions are made, the surgeon will also pull together the sagging muscles and stitch them in a way that the abdomen achieves a more toned look. The waistline also becomes considerably narrower due to this muscle tightening.
Once the abdominal muscles have been tightened, the skin is stretched downward, and excess skin is excised. In some cases, liposuction may be used to remove excess fat deposits before the skin is tightened. When the procedure is completed, the surgeon will close the incisions by suturing the skin with surgical stitches.