One of the more common misconceptions patients have regarding tummy tucks is that it is a surgery intended for those who would like to lose a substantial amount of weight from their midsection. However, a tummy tuck is not considered to be a weight loss or bariatric procedure. In fact, a tummy tuck, also known as an abdominoplasty, is a cosmetic surgery procedure that is designed to remove excess skin and fat from the abdominal area, tighten the abdominal muscles, and improve the overall appearance of the midsection. It is not meant to be a substitute for weight loss through proper diet and exercise.
During a tummy tuck procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the lower abdomen, removes excess skin and fat, and tightens the underlying muscles. This results in a smoother, firmer abdominal contour. While some patients may experience a slight reduction in weight after a tummy tuck due to the removal of excess skin and fat, the primary goal of the procedure is to improve the appearance of the abdomen, not to achieve significant weight loss.
It is important for patients considering a tummy tuck to have realistic expectations about the results of the procedure. A tummy tuck is not a quick fix for weight loss or obesity. Patients who are significantly overweight are not good candidates for a tummy tuck, as the results may not be as effective or long-lasting. It is best to achieve a stable, healthy weight through diet and exercise before undergoing a tummy tuck in order to achieve the best possible results.
In summary, a tummy tuck is not a weight loss procedure, but rather a cosmetic surgery option for patients who are seeking to improve the appearance of their abdomen by removing excess skin and fat and tightening the underlying muscles. Patients considering a tummy tuck should have realistic expectations about the results of the procedure and understand that it is not a substitute for weight loss through proper diet and exercise. Consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon is the best way to determine if a tummy tuck is the right option for achieving your aesthetic goals.
Tummy Tuck Or Gastric Sleeve
Abdominoplasty, commonly known as “tummy tuck” is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin as well as fat from the abdomen. Tummy tuck also tightens the muscles of the abdomen and decreases the sagging of the skin. The most common candidates for this surgery are men and women who are bothered by a bulging or loose abdomen that does not respond to exercise or diet. This type of surgical procedure is quite helpful to women who have given multiple births and have their abdominal skin stretched to a point that cannot return to normal.
This procedure takes usually 2-3 hours and is done by giving the person general anesthesia. During this procedure, a cut is made just below the belly button (above the pubic bone) in order to remove the excess skin. The skin above the belly button is pulled down and sewed close to the cut once the excess skin has been removed. Since it is done under anesthesia, the procedure is not painful. However, there can be some tightness and swelling in the first few weeks after the surgery. You will start to feel better within 2-3 weeks of the surgery, but it is generally advised not to return to vigorous activities or heavy lifting for about 6 weeks.
Who are Good Candidates for Tummy Tuck Surgery?
The tummy tuck is not beneficial for everyone. Here we mention some of the candidates who can be good candidates to undergo tummy tuck:
- Physically healthy people ( Problems pertaining to Blood Pressure, Diabetes should not go )
- Non-smokers
- People who have a stable weight
- Women who have had multiple pregnancies
What to Expect Post Abdominoplasty Surgery?
This procedure is ideal for a patient who is at his/her normal weight and is dealing with a belly bulging problem that won’t go away. After abdominoplasty, the healing and repairing of muscles occur, and the desired flatter appearance is achieved. Provided that no excess weight is gained after surgery, the results of the tummy tuck can be permanent. You will have tighter muscles, better fitting of clothes and a better self-image. However, it does not prevent the natural effects of aging and laxity over time.
The most important thing to remember before or after getting a tummy tuck is that it is not a weight loss solution at all. Getting a tummy tuck does not even replace dieting. A tummy tuck does not remove the abdominal fat. It only removes the excess skin. Since the fat levels remain the same after an abdominoplasty, the health other parameters such as body mass index (BMI) do not change. The tummy tuck does not prevent any diseases linked to excessive fat in the body such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure. Hence, it can be safely said that tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is simply a cosmetic surgery that just improves the outer appearance and your self-confidence. Getting a tummy tuck should be a well-thought decision and should be compared with other better procedures such as a weight loss surgery which actually helps to remove fat from the body.
Which Is Better Liposuction Or Bariatric Surgery
Liposuction is better used for body contouring, while bariatric surgery is effective for weight loss.
What to Know About Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery is a range of techniques focused on changing your body’s ability to digest food. This leads to rapid weight loss, which is sustained with dietary and lifestyle changes. Each bariatric surgery has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and the choice to go ahead involves careful consideration with a bariatric surgeon and your provider.
How Does It Work?
Primarily, bariatric surgeries are indicated in cases of morbid obesity, a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more, or a BMI of 35 or more alongside a related condition, such as type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea. They may also be indicated with a BMI of 30 or more if other measures to lose weight haven’t worked.3
While bariatric surgery doesn’t lead to instant results, it causes rapid weight loss within three to six months of the procedure.1 This is caused by changes to your eating patterns and should be accompanied by lifestyle changes. After one year, researchers found those who had one type of surgery, gastric bypass, lost 31.2% of total weight. This figure was 25.2% with another common approach, gastric sleeve, and 13.7% with a third, gastric band.4
Delivery
In the United States, there are three main bariatric procedures. These options are:1
- Gastric bypass: Also called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the aim of this surgery is to basically reroute a part of your digestive system. Gastric bypass is done in three steps: First, the surgeon uses staples to create a smaller pouch out of your stomach; then they split the small intestines into two parts. Finally, this pouch is surgically connected, bypassing the upper portion of the intestinal tract.
- Gastric sleeve: Another approach is the gastric sleeve, also known as sleeve gastrectomy PRN. In this irreversible procedure, the surgeon takes away about 80% of the stomach. Using staples, they leave a sleeve made up of the remaining portion. This makes you feel full quicker and can change hormone balances to promote weight loss.
- Gastric band: This approach makes no permanent changes to anatomy and involves placing a specialized band around the upper portion of the stomach. This ring, known as a gastric or lap band, creates a smaller pouch, reducing your digestive capacity. Throughout the course of treatment, the surgeon adjusts the band by adding or taking away the saline-filled balloon inside the band. This therapy generally produces less or more gradual weight loss than the others.
Side Effects
Though largely safe, bariatric surgery is associated with a range of side effects and adverse events. Depending on the surgery you have, you may experience:5
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Leaking at surgical sites (the stomach for gastric sleeve, or the juncture of the stomach and intestines for gastric bypass)
- Diarrhea
- Blood clots
In rarer cases, adverse side effects require revision surgery or additional treatment. These include:5
- Stricture, a narrowing of the existing stomach or intestines
- Hernias, or rips at incisions sites
- Vitamin or nutrient deficiency
- Gallstones
The rapid weight loss accompanying bariatric surgery can also cause symptoms. During the first three to six months after treatment—as your body is shedding those pounds the quickest—there may be other symptoms, including:6
- Body aches
- Mood swings
- Feeling of cold
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
Notably, bariatric surgery—and the rapid changes afterward—can also increase the risk of developing depression and other mental health disorders.7 Psychological evaluation is necessary before treatment, and counseling is typically needed afterward.
The Safety of Bariatric Surgery
Though bariatric surgery is safe, its complications can become fatal. Advances in minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery techniques over the last two decades have dramatically improved outcomes. Deaths are very rare; the mortality rate of these procedures is between 0.03% and 0.4%,4 making it about as safe as a hip replacement.
Prices & Where to Get It
Bariatric surgeries may be performed in an outpatient clinic or a hospital; depending on the approach, you need an overnight stay. Treatments are best guided collaboratively, by a team that includes your primary care physician, the bariatric surgeon, a nutritionist, and a mental health counselor or therapist.1
How much you end up paying for bariatric surgery depends on your insurance, the nature of the treatment, as well as the surgeon performing the work. According to a review published in 2017, the average cost of bariatric surgery was $14,329 and ranged from $7,423 to $33,541.8 Before making any decisions, talk to your insurance company about what is and is not covered.
What to Know About Liposuction
Performed by a plastic surgeon, liposuction refers to a set of cosmetic procedures that directly remove fat from specific parts of the body. Though highly effective, this surgical procedure has some risks, and you may experience side effects. Here’s a quick breakdown of how liposuction works, and what you can expect.
How Does It Work?
Liposuction is a means of improving the appearance of your body by removing specific fat deposits in the body. It doesn’t help with obesity, excess weight, or any of the related risks and is best for those who are slightly overweight or have unwanted fat deposits in the body.2
This class of treatment, also known as body contouring, targets and removes fat deposits in different parts of the body, including the:2
- Thighs
- Ankles
- Knees
- Upper arms
- Chin
- Breasts
- Abdomen
- Buttocks
Following liposuction, it takes about four to six weeks for you to grow into your new body shape.2 Not without some risk of complications, it causes significantly less weight loss than bariatric surgery.
Liposuction Delivery
So how does it work? Here’s a quick breakdown of a typical liposuction procedure:2
- Preparation: The procedure is performed while you’re under local anesthesia or while you are sleeping so you won’t feel pain. The targeted area is clean and sterilized in preparation for surgery.
- Incision and injection: The surgeon makes a small incision at the targeted area, and injects tumescent fluid under the skin. This fluid breaks down the fat deposits. Some surgeons use guided ultrasound or lasers to liquefy the fat tissue.
- Suction: Using a specialized liposuction machine or a large syringe, the plastic surgeon essentially vacuums or sucks out the dislodged fat. Depending on the case, multiple sites may be treated.
- Drainage: Following the removal of the fat, you may or may not be fitted with temporary drainage tubes for two to three days after surgery. These prevent the fluid buildup that may arise following surgery.
- Fluid replacement: Intravenous (IV) fluid replacement therapy or blood transfusion may be needed if you’ve lost a lot of blood during the procedure.
- Closing up: The incision or incisions will be sealed off with bandages and a compression garment. Carefully follow the surgeon’s guidance about how to care for the affected areas after surgery.
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Tummy Tuck Surgery
Tummy tuck in Nigeria or abdominoplasty, is an operation performed in Nigeria to flatten the abdomen by removing excess skin, fat, and repairing separated muscles. A protruding abdomen can be a cause of distress for men and women alike. To treat these problems, Dr. Okoro and his group of American Board Certified Plastic Surgeons will remove excess abdominal skin and fat
Common after pregnancies or major weight changes, Nigeria women develop excess skin and fat across the abdomen which is often resistant to diet and exercise. Additionally, stretched or separated abdominal muscles generate visibly poor muscle tone in this area. Stretch marks are also a common problem in this area and a tummy tuck often eliminates them. Because every case is unique, Dr. Okoro and his American team of doctors will tailor your abdominoplasty to your concerns.
Who is a candidate for tummy tuck in Nigeria?
You may be a good candidate if you
- Have completed child bearing
- Have excess abdominal skin and fat
- Do not smoke (or plan to quit)
- Do not have medical conditions that prohibit safe surgery and normal wound healing
- Have realistic expectation
To determine if you are a good candidate for a tummy tuck procedure, Dr. Okoro and his team will review your health history and perform an examination during your consultation.
Initial Consultation
During your consultation, Dr. Okoro and his team will review with you the various options available for abdominal rejuvenation. He will pay close attention to skin tone, existing scars, possible hernias, fat deposits, and muscle abnormalities, as all are important factors that can influence the surgical result. We will also take preoperative photos during your visit. During the consultation, Dr. Okoro and his associates will understand your goals and desires and he will review available options and techniques.
Steps before surgery
Prior to surgery, you may be asked to:
- Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
- Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
- Stop smoking well in advance of surgery
- Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding
Do I need Tummy Tuck Surgery to Flatten my Stomach?
A mini tummy tuck is usually performed in conjunction with liposuction of the upper abdomen and the flank areas. With a mini tummy tuck, a smaller incision is made in your bikini area and no incision is made around your belly button. Dr Okoro will remove your excess skin and fat through this incision. Permanent sutures may also be placed through this incision to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. To blend the contours, Dr. Okoro may recommend liposuction to the waist and abdomen during this surgery.
A full tummy tuck involves an incision around the belly button and another incision that runs from hip to hip. Your entire abdominal wall is tightened with permanent sutures, and the excess skin and fat is removed. Dr Okoro will remove your excess skin and fat through this incision. Permanent sutures will also be placed through this incision to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. To blend the contours, Dr. Okoro may recommend liposuction to the waist and abdomen during this surgery.
Regardless of which procedure you have, your incisions are closed with small sutures. Small drains may also be inserted to eliminate fluid buildup. Snug elastic bandages are then applied to the area.
Surgery location
Your tummy tuck procedure will be performed in Abuja, Nigeria. The exact location will be determined after your consultation with Dr. Okoro and his associates. He usually performs tummy tuck surgery as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia by certified & qualified anesthesia doctor. Dr. Okoro performs surgery in the hospital to ensure your safety.
If you prefer, your surgery can also be performed in the United States. However, you will be responsible for the additional cost of transportation and housing in the USA.