What do you do when you have that resistant fat layered up in the front of your abdomen? Some might find it cute but most may not. And how do you flaunt your body when this bit of fat simply refuses to go away no matter how much you exercise.
The one stop answer to such questions could be the aesthetic procedure commonly called “the tummy tuck” in India. Also surgically called the abdominoplasty it refers to the cosmetic procedure where extra fat and skin are removed. The muscles in front of your abdominal wall are tightened. The remaining skin is sutured together. The end result would be the ever-elusive flat tummy.
The tummy tuck surgery in India can be combined with other surgeries such as liposuction and can be used to bring forth a well chiselled body.
Though this dream surgery sounds unbelievable it still is considered a major surgery and carries its own set of dos and don’ts.
Pre operative concerns
Ideal Candidates for a Tummy Tuck in India include?
What good is a surgery when it is not meant for you. Well one must know if he/she is a candidate for the surgery or not. That being said a tummy tuck surgery in India is suitable for both men and women who are in good health and have a healthy lifestyle.
Women who have been through multiple pregnancies where the abdomen i.e. the skin and the muscles undergo immense changes during pregnancy. The muscles become weak and lax while the skin loses its elasticity and striae etc. develop. Abdominoplasty is very useful in patients with “diverication of recti” where the muscles are separated at the midline and during abdominoplasty it can be corrected and tightened. The excessive skin is removed. These procedures with a few other additional ones together form the “mummy make-over” surgery.
A tummy tuck surgery in Mumbai is also an unbelievable option for men or women who were once quite obese and have lost a majority of their weight. This would lead to loose skin hanging around the belly. Post bariatric surgery patients (weight loss surgery) will also benefit from this surgery.
Bad candidates
Women who have not completed their families and are wanting to get pregnant. Mainly because the excess skin is removed and the muscles are tightened. This may not be the ideal situation in pregnancy and may cause new striae. It is counterproductive to the surgery itself.
Smokers in view of the delayed healing due to the ill effects of nicotine are not ideal candidates. They are expected to stop smoking for atleast 15 days prior to surgery. Also, in smokers the wound healing process is delayed and thus the post-operative complications can be expected with uncertain results.
It must be known that this is not a weight-loss surgery but rather a body contouring procedure. Therefore, the outcome in a very obese patient will not look good.
Any other health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, seizures, cardiac problems etc have to be disclosed to the doctors and managed accordingly.
The Tummy tuck surgery in India
Types
- 360* lipo abdominoplasty
Here the surgeon first does liposuction wherein most of the fat is sucked out. Following the lipo the flabby and loose skin previously marked can be surgically excised. The incision is usually placed from one hip bone to the other. This is done to ensure the scar remains well within the panty line and does not show. A small midline incision is made at the right level to create the new belly button. The end result may only show a small midline scar and a flat tummy.
- Partial abdominoplasty ( Tummy tuck in India).
They are done for patients who have the annoying lower abdominal fat deposition that refuses to fade away even with exercise. Here the incision is placed below the belly button within the panty lines and the extra fat and skin is removed. The belly button is not repositioned.
- Complete abdominoplasty ( Tummy tuck in India).
This type of tummy tuck surgery in India includes liposuction to remove excess fat, excising the loose skin to provide a taut skin and tightening of the muscle wall along with reposition of umbilicus if indicated. For a large abdominoplasty the patient has to ideally undergo general anaesthesia wherein the patient is put to sleep. A few(3-7) hours later depending on the type of surgery, you can wake up to find an almost new chiselled body. Drain tubes are placed depending on the type of surgery and the amount of tissue removed. This is done to ensure no fluid accumulates within the operated site to prevent “seroma formation”. The drains are normally removed in 3-5 days. Skin sutures are placed bringing together the two ends of the incision site. They are normally removed in out patient review meeting that occurs 10 days after the surgery and discharge from the hospital.
Abdominoplasties with minimum fat extraction can also be done on day care basis under local anaesthesia (tumescent anesthesia)
Post operative care.
- The tummy tuck surgery being categorised as a major one, the need for general anaesthesia, the placement of drains. often performed in a hospital setting day off monitoring is required and patient may remain in the hospital care for 3-5 days after surgery.
- Usually, in the immediate post op the patient would be placed on strict caloric diet.
- The patient will be made to walk while in the hospital itself within a day or two to reduce the incidence of “DVT”
- A tight compression clothing is required to be worn by the patient at all times. This mainly prevents the accumulation of the fluids and reduction of oedema. TED stocking in place with calf pump is used till the patient walks.
- Ward dressings and wound care are required.
Home care
- Patient must strictly adhere to the diet as advised (calorie restricted).
- Patient must continue medications as prescribed by the doctor.
- Patient is expected to move around and exercise as tolerated or advised.
- Must review with the doctor as advised or whenever there is concern.
- A normal routine maybe resumed anywhere between 4-12weeks depending on the type of surgery. Common household work can be initiated by the 3rd week after surgery.
Tummy tuck surgery cost in india and insurance
Abdominoplasties (Tummy tuck in India) are considered major surgeries as a result it warrants hospital admission and post op hospital care. Depending on the institutional charges etc and a hospital stay of 4-5 days. One might think insurance would cover this surgery, sadly it does not cover the surgical cost as this comes under cosmetic surgeries.
The tummy tuck surgery cost in Mumbai depends on many parameters which include the extent of fat deposits, amount of skin laxity and presence or absence of loose muscle wall (all of these need a clinical examination), also the facility chosen, the duration of surgery ( 2-6 hrs) and the number of days stay required. Since it is highly variable, we suggest that you come and meet the doctors in person so that they can provide you with the final cost.