Information provided is intended to inform clients of expected procedures and outcomes. However, not all patients, procedures,or surgeons are the same, and information may not be applicable to all procedures. The Hospitals may reserve the right to vary the way that a procedure is performed or which technique is used.
PRICE (THB) 140,000
Abdominoplasty Surgical/Procedure Name Abdominoplasty
Common Name Tummy Tuck
Duration Thailand 14 Days
Introduction Known more commonly as a "Tummy Tuck," is a major surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. The procedure can dramatically reduce the appearance of a protruding abdomen. Abdominoplasty, is one of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures performed today. Factors such as multiple pregnancies, genetics and even substantial weight loss can contribute to the development of loose skin, fat deposits, and stretch marks in the abdominal region But bear in mind, it does produce a permanent scar, which, depending on the extent of the original problem and the surgery required to correct it, can extend from hip to hip
PRICE (AUD) $ 4,200
AUD$ prices are correct as of 10th March 2010 and can change according to currency rate fluctuations.
Best Candidates The best candidates for abdominoplasty are men or women who are in relatively good shape but are bothered by a large fat deposit or loose abdominal skin that won't respond to diet or exercise. The surgery is particularly helpful to women who, through multiple pregnancies, have stretched their abdominal muscles and skin beyond the point where they can return to normal. Loss of skin elasticity in older patients, which frequently occurs with slight obesity, can also be improved. Patients who intend to lose a lot of weight should postpone the surgery. Also, women who plan future pregnancies should wait, as vertical muscles in the abdomen that are tightened during surgery can separate again during pregnancy. If you have scarring from previous abdominal surgery, your doctor may recommend against abdominoplasty or may caution you that scars could be unusually prominent.
The Surgery Complete abdominoplasty usually takes two to five hours, depending on the extent of work required. Partial abdominoplasty may take an hour or two. Most commonly, the surgeon will make a long incision from hipbone to hipbone, just above the pubic area. A second incision is made to free the navel from surrounding tissue. With partial abdominoplasty, the incision is much shorter and the navel may not be moved, although it may be pulled into an unnatural shape as the skin is tightened and stitched. If loose skin and muscle weakness are limited to the area below the navel, a slightly different procedure - which usually leaves a smaller scar and no scarring around the navel - may be performed. Abdominoplasty can be combined with liposuction to help reduce the areas of fat accumulation The skin and fat excision is sometimes called Panniculectomy but many times the surgeon will have to include repairing the separated abdominal wall muscle that could positively help tighten the bulging of viscera which could not be corrected by Panniculectomy only.
Next, the surgeon separates the skin from the abdominal wall all the way up to your ribs and lifts a large skin flap to reveal the vertical muscles in your abdomen. These muscles are tightened by pulling them close together and stitching them into their new position. This provides a firmer abdominal wall and narrows the waistline. The skin flap is then stretched down and the extra skin is removed. A new hole is cut for your navel, which is then stitched in place. Finally, the incisions will be stitched, dressings will be applied, and a temporary tube may be inserted to drain excess fluid Surgical/Procedure from the surgical site. Name In partial abdominoplasty, the skin is separated only between the incision line and the navel. This skin flap is stretched down, the excess is removed, and the flap is stitched back into place.
Day of Admission Preop laboratory examination (Blood test, Chest Xray, EKG). Consultation with an internal medicine specialist if there is some abnormality detected. Preop photo taking and surgical markings will be made
Post Operative Care and Recovery Expectations Immediately post-op, you will be brought to the recovery room. You will have one or two drains placed at the time of surgery to help remove fluids and blood that collects under the skin. Whilst in bed you will be advised to sleep on your back, head elevated and knees bent with a pillow underneath them. This will help reduce the strain on the abdominal area. The abdomen may be dressed with bandages and you will experience some compression across the abdomen. You may not be able to stand straight for some time due to the compression, but it is important that you start walking for short periods as soon as possible after surgery to reduce swelling and eliminate the chance of developing clot in your leg veins.
Hospital Admission At least three nights
Duration of Operation Four to six hours
Anaesthetic General anaesthesia
Pre-operative Care Before any surgery, remember to : Inform your surgeon of any medication/s that you are taking (both prescription and non-prescription), any allergies, all medical conditions (such as bronchial asthma, diabetes, hypertension, blood clotting abnormalities, etc‌) Stop taking Aspirin, medications containing Ibuprofen, all vitamins and herbs for at least 2 weeks prior to surgery to eliminate the chance of post-operative bleeding. Stop smoking for at least 2 weeks prior to surgery as this will prolong your healing process from vasoconstriction. NO food and any liquid intake for at least 6 hours prior to surgery. Absolutely no alcoholic beverages for at least 24 hours prior to surgery. Make sure you do not wear any jewelries, piercings, make up and nail polish to surgery. You should shower the morning of your surgery, wash your hair and do not apply any perfume, lotion, powder, cream or deodorant.
DAY 1-2 Pain and nausea will be most intense that needs intravenous medication. Surgical wound will be cleaned daily Discomfort may be intense in the first few days. You will start to feel pain, soreness, numbness of the skin in the abdominal area, discomfort in the incision and this could last for several weeks. Bruising and swelling will be noted. This will subside in 6-8 weeks. The extent of the post operative swelling and bruising depends on whether you tend to bruise or swell easily. Every person is different. DAY 3-4 Removal of all the drain catheter and cleaning of the surgical wound. You may shower and bathe as normal hours after removal of the drains. But do not submerge in swimming pools and bath tubs. Discharge from the hospital with take home oral medications and the necessary materials for self wound dressing. Please be reminded that it is important to complete the full course of antibiotic therapy. P
DAY 5-7 (At Hotel) You have to try to keep the wound clean and dry, so the environment should be dry and cool. You must clean your wound at least twice a day. You may shower and bathe as normal but do not submerge in swimming pools and bath tubs. You should avoid strenuous activities that could disrupt the internal muscular suture and the external skin suture. Avoid lifting up things greater than 2 kilograms in the first week. The wound strength will return to the normal level around 3 months. Your surgeon will discuss with you when you can return to your normal daily activities. DAY 7-10 Check up with your doctor and stitches will be removed Day before departure from Phuket Outpatient appointment and photo recording. It may take you weeks or months to feel like your old self again. If you start out in top physical condition with strong abdominal muscles, recovery from abdominoplasty will be much faster. Silocone Sheeting and scar Creams can greatly assist in the fading of scars. While they'll never disappear completely, abdominal scars will not show under most clothing, even under bathing suits Tightness: Your abdomen will feel tight for a month or longer after surgery. If you have had a muscle repair as well (the usual case), you will feel the most tightness down the centre of your tummy where the surgeon has actually repaired your muscles. This hurts more than any other part of the procedure. Healing of Sensory Nerves: Usually, the skin of the abdomen remains partially or completely numb for several months or longer after tummy tuck surgery. Tingling, burning, or shooting pains indicate regeneration of the small sensory nerves. This feeling will disappear with time and is not cause for alarm. It may take as long as 2 years for sensation in your abdomen to be restored completely. Feeling of Fullness: You may pleasantly find that you feel full sooner than normal when you begin to eat regular meals. Activities: If your job keeps you sedentary, you may plan on returning to work in 14 days, with the understanding that you will still have discomfort with motion. swelling may indicate too much activity. Do not plan on resuming aerobic or strenuous exercise for about 5-6 weeks .
Postoperative Instructions Position: Because tummy tuck surgery involves removal of the extra abdominal skin and (usually) tightening of the abdominal muscles, you will experience some difficulty standing up straight for a week or two or even longer. During this period, you may find it more comfortable to place a pillow or two under your knees while in bed. The tightness will gradually disappear as you heal and progressively use your body muscles for the activities of daily living. Dressings: You are recommended to purchase appropriate compression garment, as the surgeon will place this on after surgery in the operating rooms. This provides some gentle pressure, to give you stability, and to reduce swelling. You may also want to purchase a second garment so they can be changed for laundering. Many patients wear the garments for several weeks after tummy tuck surgery and some choose to wear it for several months. Let your own comfort and the amounts of swelling you experience guide you. The surgeons want you as comfortable as possible without swelling. Drains: Will be placed into the surgical area at the time of your tummy tuck surgery. These drains evacuate the fluid that accumulates after tummy tuck surgery and enable you to heal faster. When the drain is first put in place, the bulb at the end of each tube will be compressed to create gentle suction. As the fluid collects in the bulb, it will expand.. Activities: Tummy tucks are probably the most uncomfortable operation. You will experience some pain for 10-14 days and will not feel like resuming sports or heavy exercise for at least 6 weeks. After the first 2 weeks, you may resume moderate walks for as long as is tolerable. Too much initial activity can prolong swelling. Sutures: Your surgeon will remove the sutures around 7 -10 days after surgery Exposure to Sunlight: We recommend that you protect your scars from the sun for a year after Tummy Tuck surgery. Even through
When to call It is important that you know the signs of infection This includes fever (temperature over 37.8 C), pain not relieved by meds, increased redness along the incision, yellowish or greenish fluid collection on the wound edge or notice a foul odor, excessive swelling, excessive tenderness. When signs and symptoms of infection is noted or there is bleeding from the incisions that is difficult to control with light pressure, call the nurse or your doctor without hesitation. Risks and complications Risks are inherent to any surgical procedure. The most common risks are swelling, bruising, bleeding, infection, fluid, scarring, numbness, or a loss of sensation to the affected area - this should improve after nerve damage has repaired itself, which may take up to 12 months. All precautions are taken to avoid these risks. Incisions (Scars): After a full tummy tuck surgery, you will have a long scar above the pubic hairline extending toward the flanks or beyond, as well as a scar around the umbilicus (belly button) and possibly a shorter vertical scar in the midline just above the pubic hairline. You should discuss your incision lines with surgeon. Uneven Skin Contours: Following tummy tuck surgery, the skin contours may be slightly uneven and areas of slight depression or wrinkling can occur. As healing progresses, most of these problems (if present) usually improve dramatically. Asymmetry: Minimal asymmetry of tummy tuck scars occurs frequently as healing is not always even from side to side. The mild asymmetry is usually not cosmetically significant. If the asymmetry is significant, revision surgery of the scars may be considered. Bellybutton (Umbilicus): The bellybutton may be slightly off centre, heal poorly, suffer necrosis (loss of circulation), protrude or be unusually retracted. Significant problems are uncommon. Loss of Sensation: Patients commonly experience areas of partial and/or complete numbness of the abdominal skin following tummy tuck surgery. Few experience permanent loss of feeling, but it may take several months or longer for sensation to return. Rarely, areas of numbness persist. Fat Necrosis: In rare cases, some of the underlying fat can necrose (die) because of infection or excessive tension. An uncommon problem, it is usually nothing more than a severe annoyance, requiring additional healing time, dressing changes, and sometimes, revision of the scar later. It usually does not seriously affect the ultimate outcome of tummy tuck surgery.
Skin Loss: Like fat necrosis, skin loss can result from infection or excessive tension. The treatment is the same regardless of the cause. Careful preoperative planning and resisting the urge to make the tummy "as tight as possible" reduces but does not eliminate the possibility of this problem occurring. "Dog Ears": When closes the angle at the end of the skin incision during the repair, a nipple or projection of bulging tissue called a "dog ear" can occur. Liposuction under the area or extension of the incisions can solve or reduce the problem. If a small "dog ear" appears at the end of tummy tuck surgery, it will usually flatten or disappear with time and healing. If it remains visible, a small procedure under local anesthesia can solve the problem at a later time. Fat Emboli and Blood Clots: These problems can occur rarely with any surgery, but occur a little more frequently after a tummy tuck. Shortened operating time, postoperative leg movements, and walking soon after tummy tuck surgery help to prevent these problems. Although fat emboli and blood clots can be life threatening, they usually resolve completely with hospitalization and care. Fluid Accumulation: Rarely, tissue fluids collect under the abdominal skin flap (usually after the drains have been removed). If this occurs, aspiration of the fluid with a needle two or three times a week for 2-3 weeks usually solves the problem. Few patients require further surgery
Your New Look
Question to ask Am I a good candidate for this procedure? What will be expected of me to get the best results? Where and how will you perform my procedure? What surgical technique is recommended for me? How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery? What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure? How are complications handled?
It may take you weeks or months to feel like your old self again. If you start out in top physical condition with strong abdominal muscles, recovery from abdominoplasty will be much faster. Exercise will help you heal better. Even people who have never exercised before should begin an exercise program to reduce swelling, lower the chance of blood clots, and tone muscles. Vigorous exercise, however, should be Abdominoplasty, whether partial or complete, produces excellent results for patients with weakened abdominal muscles or excess skin. And in most cases, the results are long lasting, if you follow a balanced diet and exercise regularly. A tummy tuck is not a substitute for weight loss or an appropriate exercise program.
How can I expect my stomach to look over time? After pregnancy? What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my tummy tuck? Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for this procedure and what results are reasonable for me? Be sure to ask your surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period. Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
Although the results of a tummy tuck are technically permanent, the positive outcome can be greatly diminished by significant fluctuations in your weight. For this reason, individuals who are planning substantial weight loss or women who may be considering future pregnancies may be advised to postpone a tummy tuck. Also, a tummy tuck cannot correct stretch marks, although these may be removed or somewhat improved if they are located on the areas of excess skin that will be excised, generally those treated areas below the belly button. If you're realistic in your expectations and prepared for the consequences of a permanent scar and a lengthy recovery period, abdominoplasty may be just the answer for you
What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery? Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery? When will they be removed? Are stitches removed? When? When can I resume normal activity and exercise? Previous abdominal surgery may limit the potential results of a tummy tuck. In women who have undergone cesarean section, the existing scars may often be incorporated into the new scar
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