Abdominoplasty / Tummy Tuck

Man has always been amused by the way our Creator had conceived the human body. This could be appreciated in the works of eminent artist and sculptures, particularly during the renaissance time. The human body with its curves and contours as we portray it in our mind should be complete and flawless. However, nothing in this world is created with inestimable beauty. As we witness the changes that our body would undergo through time. In particularl our abdomen, this would be skin laxity, fat deposits at the middle and lower abdomen and protrusion of the abdominal musculature. This is brought about by multiple interrelated causes; such as ageing, pregnancy and massive weight loss.

The abdominal transformation that we incurred through time could be address by abdominoplasty or commonly term as tummy tuck. Abdominoplasty can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it would not necessarily change your looks to match your standard, or cause other people to treat you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon. Prospective patient that are good candidate for this procedure are men and women with large fat deposits and / or loose abdominal skin that would not respond to diet and exercise. This procedure will particularly benefit women who, through multiple pregnancies, have stretched their abdominal muscles and skin beyond the point where they can not return to normal. Loss of skin elasticity in older patients, which frequently occurs with slight obesity, can also be improved. Tummy tuck can dramatically reduce the appearance of a protruding abdomen and also tighten lax and / or excess skin.

Tummy tuck is a body contouring procedure that can be performed on an inpatient or outpatient basis using general or regional anesthesia. The procedure does produce a permanent scar that usual extends from hip to hip. A horizontal incision is made at the lower abdominal area, from hip bone to hip bone along the “bikini” line, just above the pubic area were the resulting scar could be concealed by clothing. A second incision is made to free the navel from surrounding tissue. Initially, the surgeon gently separates the skin and subcutaneous fat from the abdominal wall, and the abdominal muscle and fascia are tightened with plication sutures to lessen the protrusion. The excess skin and fat are removed then flap is closed by layers of sutures. A tube drain may be left in place for several days. A mini or partial tummy tuck is used to remove fat deposits near the navel, 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. This procedure is sometimes conducted endoscopically. In which a small incision is made near the belly button and excess fat is removed through it. A complete tummy tuck generally takes about 2 to 5 hours.

An elastic bandage is applied following the surgery to help prevent swelling and give comfort to the patient. In some cases, drainage tubes are inserted for the first 2 to 3 days to help remove excess fluid. There is the possibility of infection following any surgery. However, when done by a qualified plastic surgeon that is trained in body contouring, the results are generally quite positive. Nevertheless, there are always risks associated with surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure. Your surgeon will likely prescribe you with antibiotics to avoid infection in addition to any pain medication. Swelling, bruising and numbness are normal after the surgery and will subside in a few weeks to months. Patients are encouraged to begin walking right away even it they can not stand upright. Stitches are removed in 5 to 10 days, after which a support garment is used in place of the dressing. Healing from a tummy tuck is slow since this is major surgery. Most patients return to normal activity within 4 weeks. Exercise is encouraged after the initial recovery period to help tone the muscle. The scar is permanent but will fade in 6 to 9 months.

For more information on Abdominoplasty / Tummy tuck or Philippine Cosmetic Plastic Surgery you may visit www.philippinecosmetic.com or email us at peregrinovii@yahoo.com

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Gastric bypass surgery is a major event with potentially serious postoperative complications. During the recovery period, it is extremely important that you follow all of the guidelines your doctor gives you to minimize your risks and to maximize your successful recovery.

Your hospital stay during gastric bypass recovery will be anywhere from two to six days, depending on the success of the surgery and how quickly your body heals. After you go home, take your time before returning to your normal routine. Slowly increase your level of activity over a period of several weeks, and follow your doctor’s instructions on what activities are permitted.

Health Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Although no results are guaranteed, most people lose between 60 and 80 percent of their excess body weight within 18 months. Many will regain some of the weight but in long-term studies, most people keep at least 50 percent of the excess weight off for five years or more.

After gastric bypass recovery, co-morbid conditions, such as weight related heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, lower back pain and knee problems, usually improve or completely disappear. However, since the surgery causes your body to absorb fewer nutrients, it is important that you take the proper dietary supplements to prevent development of any serious deficiency-related diseases. Your doctor will probably require post-operative and follow up visits for the first two years after gastric bypass recovery to monitor your overall health and progress.

Cosmetic Considerations After Weight Loss

One of the more unpleasant results of losing large amounts of excess weight is having entirely too much skin after the fat is gone. This excess skin tends to hang loosely and very unattractively around the face, neck, breasts, upper and lower abdomen, flanks, armpits, back, buttocks, upper arms, forearms, thighs, legs and calves. The younger you are, the more likely you are that the skin will eventually tighten up and look normal. Older people will need to consider cosmetic surgery to get rid of all the loose, flabby skin.

Besides looking horrible, all this extra skin can also cause hygiene problems, shin irritation, infections, etc.—not too mention making it almost impossible to find clothes that both look good and fit properly. The most common cosmetic operations people have done are:

Tummy Tuck – This procedure removes excess skin around the waist and tightens the abdominal muscles.

Breast Reduction, Breast (Implants) and Breast Lift – Losing weight causes breasts to sag severely and get smaller, since some of the size is due to the fat underneath the skin. Implants or a breast lift can help restore a natural shape and firmness. In a few rare cases, a woman’s breasts may still be too big and need to be reduced to improve appearance.

Male Breast Reduction – This procedure removes excess skin and corrects chest droopiness in men.

Face Lift, Eyelid Surgery, Neck Lift and Forehead Lift – Many people opt for facial plastic surgery to correct the sagging caused by time and then exacerbated by extreme weight loss.

Thigh Lift and Buttock Lift – These procedures basically lift, tighten and remove excess skin in the thigh and buttocks.

Arm Wing Removal, Arm Lift and Arm Reduction – These surgeries remove the unsightly wings often seen on older people, or lift and reduce the excess on the rest of the upper arm and in rare cases the lower arm.

Liposuction – A popular solution, liposuction removes stubborn fat in localized areas and “sculpt” the body.

The results of these cosmetic procedures can dramatically improve the quality of life for gastric bypass patients and some of them are covered by health insurance if considered medically necessary.