Abdominal wall surgery
Alternative Names: Cosmetic surgery of the abdomen; Tummy tuck; Abdominoplasty
Abdominal wall surgery is surgery that improves the appearance of flabby, stretched-out abdominal (belly) muscles and skin. It is often called a "tummy tuck." It can range from a simple "mini-tummy tuck" to more complicated, extended surgery.
Tummy tuck is not the same as liposuction, another way to remove fat. But abdominal wall surgery is sometimes combined with liposuction.
Description of Procedure
Your surgery will be done in an operating room in a hospital. You will receive general anesthesia. This will make you asleep and pain-free during the procedure. The surgery takes 2 to 6 hours. You can expect to stay in the hospital for 1 to 3 days after surgery.
After you receive anesthesia, your surgeon will make a cut across your abdomen to open up the area. This cut will be just above your pubic area.
Your surgeon will remove fatty tissue and loose skin from the middle and lower sections of your abdomen to make it firmer and flatter. In extended surgeries, the surgeon also removes excess fat and skin (“love handlesâ€) from the sides of the abdomen. Your abdominal muscles may be tightened also.
Mini abdominoplasty is performed when there are areas of fat pockets (love handles). It can be done with much smaller cuts.
Your surgeon will close your cut with sutures (stitches). Your surgeon may insert small flat tubes called drains to allow fluid to drain out of your cut. These will be removed later.
A firm elastic dressing (bandage) will be placed over your abdomen.
For a less complicated surgery, your surgeon may use a medical device called an endoscope. Endoscopes are tiny cameras that are inserted into the skin through very small cuts.
They are connected to a video monitor in the operating room that allows the surgeon to see the area being worked on. Your surgeon will remove excess fat with other small tools that are inserted through other small cuts. This surgery is called endoscopic surgery.
Risks of Abdominal wall surgery
The risks for any anesthesia are:
- Reactions to medicines
- Breathing problems
- Heart attack or stroke
The risks for any surgery are:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Scarring
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
Risks of abdominoplasty are:
- Damage to internal organs
- Excessive scarring
- Having a very low body temperature during surgery
- Loss of skin
- Nerve damage that can cause pain or numbness in part of your belly
- Poor healing
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Drugs associated with:
Reviewed By: Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Copyright 2011 A.D.A.M., Inc.
