Many different factors can cause the abdominal wall to lose elasticity, sag and sag. Examples are one or more pregnancies, an age-related loss of elasticity or a significant weight loss. In addition, this effect can be increased by poorly developed abdominal muscles. Since a sagging abdomen cannot be corrected with exercise, massage or cosmetics, a tummy tuck is the only sensible option if you are looking for a method that removes excess skin and fatty tissue, tightens muscles and reshapes your silhouette. Everything you should know in advance of a tummy tuck can be found here.
Overview
Duration:
2-3 hours
Anesthesia:
general anesthetic
length of stay:
1-2 days
Seam Removal:
if necessary after 14 days
Healing Duration:
about 6 weeks
What is a tummy tuck?
The tummy tuck, also called Abdominoplasty or lipoabdominoplasty is a method to surgically remove excess skin and fat tissue in the abdominal region. In doing so, Dr. Depending on the surgical technique chosen, Matiasek makes one or more incisions, removes the excess tissue, repositions the navel if necessary and forms a new silhouette overall. A tummy tuck is particularly useful if, for example, you have large amounts of loose skin in the abdominal area after significant weight loss or pregnancy, which cannot be removed by cosmetics or training. In these cases, a tummy tuck is the most effective way to remove excess tissue, reshape the abdomen, and give you a slimmer silhouette to help. If the abdominal wall muscles have also diverged in the middle (rectus diastasis), this rectus diastasis can be closed in the same procedure, whereby the protrusion in the upper and lower abdomen disappears and the waist is accentuated. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and takes about two to three hours.
What are the reasons for a tummy tuck?
There are numerous different reasons that can motivate patients to have a tummy tuck performed. On the one hand, the elasticity of the skin decreases with increasing age, since collagen synthesis only takes place to a reduced extent. The skin and connective tissue slacken, lose thickness and firmness, and thus increasingly sag. This effect can be amplified by muscles in the abdominal region that are too weak or slack. This often causes the abdominal wall muscles to diverge in the median, which is referred to as diastasis recti.
On the other hand, the shape and structure of the abdominal wall can also change, for example due to pregnancy. Since the entire abdominal wall is significantly overstretched during pregnancy, this is very common Stretch marks (Striae), some of which can be very noticeable and may be a heavy burden for the patient. Furthermore, the overstretching of the abdominal wall caused by pregnancy does not completely regress in all cases. Sometimes the tissue remains in a loose, flabby state that cannot be corrected by cosmetics, massages or training, since the underlying problem in this case is not a weak muscle cover, but primarily the connective tissue.
Significant weight reduction can also lead to a sagging abdominal wall. While there is usually no noticeable effect when losing a few kilos, a difference in large amounts of tissue can lead to a significant relaxation of the tissue. In this case, too, it is possible that the previous excess weight caused stretch marks that cannot be corrected with cosmetics or massages. In all of these cases, a tummy tuck is a way to remove excess skin and fat tissue and tighten the underlying layers of connective tissue and muscle, and seal any diastasis recti, in just one session. This is followed by a tightening of the skin. The result is a tighter, slimmer stomach that regains definition and is no longer covered by sagging skin.
Who is suitable for a tummy tuck?
A tummy tuck is suitable for people who are generally healthy and ideally have already completed family planning (for women). Unless the tummy tuck due to moderate to severe weight reduction occurs, it is important not to carry out the procedure until the desired weight has been reached. Otherwise it can happen that the effect achieved by the tummy tuck is lost again if you lose larger amounts of weight again. There are a number of factors that speak against a tummy tuck. An example of this is a generally poor state of health. Likewise, performing a tummy tuck can be contraindicated in the case of some pre-existing conditions and the use of certain medications. The details are discussed by Dr. Matiasek in a personal consultation with you.
What methods are there for a tummy tuck?
There are different ways to perform a tummy tuck. Which of the methods is best suited to your individual case is decided by Dr. Matiasek as part of your personal consultation prior to the operation.
Mini or minor tummy tuck
With the mini tummy tuck, Dr. Matiasek only cuts the skin in the lower abdomen and does not move the navel. With this procedure, the resulting scar in the woman lies within the bikini zone in the pubic area and fades over time. You will also need to wear a compression belt after a mini tummy tuck to ensure optimal healing and good regeneration of the tissue.
Complete tummy tuck
As part of a full tummy tuck, Dr. Matiasek remove particularly large amounts of skin and fatty tissue. Here Dr. Matiasek made an incision above the pubic hairline, which extends to the iliac crest on both sides. He also cuts around the navel, as this is offset in the case of a complete tummy tuck in contrast to a small tummy tuck. Next, the skin up to the sternum is separated from the underlying structures. This makes it possible to remove excess skin and fat tissue and tighten the abdominal muscles. Finally, Dr. Matiasek places the now tightened tissue over the stomach, positions the navel correctly and sews up the incisions.
Combination with liposuction
If there is a thickened layer of fat in the abdominal area, Dr. Matiasek combine the tummy tuck with liposuction, i.e. liposuction. This is particularly useful when large amounts of fat are to be removed, especially when they cannot be broken down through sporting activities. Whether a combination of both procedures makes sense in your individual case is decided by Dr. Matiasek in a personal conversation with you.
What should you pay attention to before a tummy tuck?
It is important that you understand that a tummy tuck is not designed to quickly get you into the shape you want by shedding a few pounds. If this is your goal, a healthy lifestyle characterized by a balanced diet and plenty of exercise is much better suited. A tummy tuck makes much more sense when your goal is to get rid of sagging, excess skin. However, a tummy tuck is not suitable as a means of losing weight simply because, unless you change your lifestyle, you would gain weight again relatively quickly after the procedure and return to your original figure.
Everything else that needs to be considered before the procedure, Dr. Matiasek explain to you in your personal consultation (incl. 3D simulation with VECTRA XT). For example, you may need to stop taking certain medications. It is also important that you are aware of the downtime after a tummy tuck and plan accordingly in advance.
How does a tummy tuck work?
As with any treatment in our practice, the first step is a personal one consultation with dr Matiasek. This is about talking about your reasons for the tummy tuck, clarifying your ideas and possible questions from your side as well as possible ones contraindications rule out. After that, the general anesthetic.
The incision is made above the pubic hair or above the pubic area. If the significant amount of excess skin is primarily in the upper abdomen, Dr. Matiasek also made the incision below the breast. In addition, Dr. Matiasek removed the navel so that it could be sewn back into the tightened abdominal wall at the end of the operation. First, Dr. Matiasek removes the skin including the subcutaneous fatty tissue from the underlying muscles and tightens the area towards the pubic hairline. He then removes the excess abdominal skin and excess fat and sews the navel back into the now tightened skin. It also reshapes the abdominal wall. If necessary or desired, Dr. Matiasek also tighten the straight abdominal muscles. This leads to a tighter abdominal wall and a smaller waist.
Since blood and tissue fluid seep out during the procedure, Dr. Matiasek drains during the operation, which can usually be removed the following day. The wound is mostly closed with self-dissolving sutures according to strict aesthetic criteria. He also treats the resulting wounds with seam plasters and a wound bandage. After that, one waist belt or one compression underwear attracted.
A tummy tuck takes about two to three hours in total.
What should be considered after a tummy tuck?
You usually recover quickly from the anesthetic. For a week after the procedure, a thrombosis prophylaxis take place and after about two weeks Dr. Matiasek pulling the strings for you. For the six weeks following your tummy tuck, you will need to wear an abdominal bandage or compression garment to support the abdominal wall and ensure optimal healing. This also means that the loosened abdominal skin grows together more quickly with the underlying tissue due to the compression. Furthermore, wearing the compression garment reduces the risk of secondary bleeding and makes a decisive contribution to an evenly beautiful result of the tissue.
Immediately after your tummy tuck, there may be sensory disturbances in the tightened body region for a while. These symptoms usually go away on their own after a while.
In the period after the procedure, it is advisable to position the upper body a little higher when sleeping and to bend the legs slightly. When standing, you should also be careful not to straighten your legs completely, but bend your knees slightly to prevent excessive stress on the seams. This is very important in the healing process.
Finally, as long as your stitches have not yet been removed, you should refrain from showering in order not to endanger the healing of the wound and to avoid complications.
How long is the downtime after a tummy tuck?
Immediately after your tummy tuck, you will initially spend one to two nights under medical supervision. The recovery period can last up to four weeks, but you will usually be socially acceptable in about a week and able to work in two to three weeks, unless your job involves heavy manual labour. Avoid exercise, heavy lifting, and sauna visits for six weeks.
Are scars possible after a tummy tuck?
As part of the tummy tuck, Dr. Matiasek made a transverse incision on the lower abdomen and one around the navel. Accordingly, scars form in these areas, but these generally fade after six to 18 months. So you don't have to reckon with permanent noticeable scars. If, contrary to expectations, the resulting scar remains clearly visible, Dr. Matiasek can remedy this with a scar correction.
How painful is a tummy tuck?
The tummy tuck itself is performed under general anesthesia. In the time after the procedure, you may experience slight to moderate pain, which usually goes away on its own after a few days.
How long is bed rest after a tummy tuck?
After discharge, you should rest and give your body time to recover after the operation. You should therefore refrain from sport and heavy physical activity for at least six weeks. Depending on your activity, you can usually go to work after one to two weeks. In any case, it is important that you do not resume your usual everyday activities all at once, but gradually and give yourself and your body enough rest. This is the only way to ensure complete wound healing and good regeneration of the tissue, and this is the only way you can get the most out of your tummy tuck.
How long is the abdomen swollen after a tummy tuck?
How long the swelling will last after a tummy tuck varies greatly from patient to patient and therefore cannot be accurately predicted. Usually in the first two weeks after the operation there is a significant swelling noticeable, which gradually heals after about six weeks. However, it can take up to six months for the swelling to go away completely. Endermology and lymphatic drainage help the swelling to subside more quickly and can be carried out in our surgery in the weeks following the procedure.
What anesthesia is used for a tummy tuck?
The tummy tuck is usually performed under general anesthesia. A mini tummy tuck can also be performed under local anesthesia. The type of anesthesia therefore depends heavily on the method of tummy tuck you have chosen.
When can you see the results of a tummy tuck?
You can see the final result of your tummy tuck after about three months. It should be noted that in some cases it can take up to six months for the postoperative swelling to completely subside. It is therefore not possible to predict exactly when you can expect your final result. The results last for about eight to ten years. However, it should be noted that a significant increase in weight, for example, can also destroy the effects gained more quickly. How long the results actually last is highly dependent on your diet as well as your lifestyle.
What are the risks associated with a tummy tuck?
Like all surgical procedures, a tummy tuck is associated with certain risks, which can be significantly reduced by choosing an experienced and competent doctor. Furthermore, there are some side effects that occur frequently after a tummy tuck and disappear by themselves after a few days without having any serious consequences. These include, for example, swelling, pain and sensory disturbances in the operated area, i.e. disturbances in the perception of pressure and touch, for example.
Rarely, infections and wound healing disorders can occur. However, the risk of the latter occurring is significantly reduced if you wear a compression garment after the operation.
There are also individual risk factors that can lead to complications. These include various previous illnesses, the consumption of nicotine and the use of certain medications. You will discuss all of these factors in a detailed consultation before the procedure with Dr. Matiasek to ensure a safe procedure and to keep complications as low as possible. A risk that exists with any primarily aesthetically motivated intervention is an unsatisfactory result for the patient. After a tummy tuck, excessive scarring is particularly relevant in this regard. Normally, however, this is not to be expected, especially if the procedure is carried out correctly and there is adequate aftercare. If, contrary to expectations, severe scarring occurs, Dr. Matiasek fix this problem operationally.
Which doctors can perform a tummy tuck?
The specialist designation that entitles you to perform a tummy tuck is “Specialist in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery”. So you are with Dr. Matiasek is at the right place if you are looking for a doctor who can perform a tummy tuck on you.
How much does a tummy tuck cost?
The cost of a tummy tuck starts at around 6100 euros. However, there are also the costs for the overnight stays and the compression underwear that you have to wear in the time after the procedure. In general, the costs incurred vary from patient to patient and depend on various factors. If dr Matiasek combines the tummy tuck with liposuction, for example, and the price increases accordingly. The costs incurred can be paid by Dr. Matiasek will only explain this to you in a personal consultation in the surgery.
Does health insurance cover the cost of liposuction?
Since the tummy tuck is not a medically necessary but a cosmetic procedure, the health insurance company does not cover the costs incurred. It is only in rare exceptional cases that the health insurance and private supplementary insurance will partially or even fully cover the costs.
Conclusion/Summary
Abdominoplasty is the most effective procedure when it comes to removing excess skin and fat tissue. This can be useful after a significant weight loss, for example. Depending on the amount of tissue to be removed, Dr. Matiasek use different surgical methods, which are performed either under local or general anesthesia. The result of a tummy tuck, often in combination with correction of the rectus diastasis, is a newly formed silhouette without the excess skin that was previously present and, if necessary, a relocated navel adapted to the tightened abdominal wall. The tummy tuck is not suitable as the sole method for losing weight, but can be a useful addition if you have reached your desired weight after a major weight loss and now want to get rid of your excess skin. If you are interested, please make an appointment online or by telephone for a consultation in the office of Dr. Matiasek!
