If only the sagging skin is removed and the tightening sutures are not applied to the abdominal muscle structure, it is called the mini abdominal stretching. It can be applied if there is no strong relaxation in the muscles or if there is a strong muscle structure and slight skin sagging.
Preoperative evaluation
Your abdominal area is examined and excess skin and looseness of the abdominal muscles are evaluated. If there is an increase in adipose tissue on the navel and trunk sides, Liposuction procedure can be performed in the same surgery. The patient is informed about the surgical process, post-operative and possible risks. In order to have a tummy tuck surgery, your body mass index must be appropriate. For this, the skin fat thickness and tension is evaluated during the examination. If there is not enough thinness and sagging, you will need to lose weight. I do not find it appropriate to be done before 6 months after birth. If you have previous surgery, high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic diseases such as goiter, allergy to any medicine or food, you should definitely inform if you have medications you have to use. If you are smoking, you should quit before surgery, and you should not drink until the stitches heal afterwards.
Hospital and Operating Room process
Preoperative examinations are prepared on the same day or 1 day before. You should not eat or drink anything 8 hours before the surgery. If the results are evaluated by the anesthesiologist and there is no obstacle, your surgery can be performed. The patient will not feel any pain during the procedure as it is performed under general anesthesia. The average operation time is 2 hours and the time spent in the operating room will be longer after the patient is put to sleep and awakened.
In the postoperative service, you will be given antibiotics and pain medication. You will be discharged the next day by making a control examination and being called for a check-up on the 3rd day.
After the tummy tuck surgery, a drain is inserted to remove the fluid and leaking blood between the tissues. Drains are removed when incoming quantity decreases (after 3-7days).
Post-operative pain and return to work?
You may feel tension and pain (drain exit points) in your abdomen in the first days after the surgery. Your pain will decrease with using the prescribed drugs and removing the drain, about 7-10. you will be able to go back to work after days.
Is there a stitch mark?
The amount of scar left after the surgical incision depends on the tissue healing of the patient, the sewing technique and care of the surgeon. Even if all patients are sewn using the same sewing technique and material, the amount of scars that will remain from person to person will differ. Age, skin color, diseases accompanied by skin tension, smoking, post-operative care and hygiene are the determining factors for the scar. In the early period, the pink line-shaped stitch line completes healing after about 12 months and becomes compatible with your skin color. In some patients, hypertrophic scar may occur due to unlimited wound healing. In this case, silicone press plates, silicone gels are used on the red bouncy stitch lines, and finally, steroid injection may be required.
