Thinking about getting a tummy tuck? Well, abdominoplasty is one of the more popular types of cosmetic surgery performed by plastic surgeons. The chief aim of having a tummy tuck is to make the area around the abdomen more toned and attractive. This surgical procedure is usually performed on women with loose skin and excess tissue after a pregnancy or on those who have undergone a dramatic loss in weight.
The cost of a tummy tuck varies with different geographical locations. As with most cosmetic surgery operations, the cost depends on a variety of factors such as a patient's age, their weight as well as their health status. Other costs involved with the operation include the pre-operative and post-operative care, facility fees, anesthesia, medications and possibly follow-up visits as required by some doctors. On average you will find that this procedure can cost from $5,000 to as much as $20,000. As a tummy tuck is considered an elective or cosmetic form of surgery, it is generally not covered by health insurance.
The simplest tummy tuck is called a partial abdominoplasty. A surgeon or perhaps a team of plastic surgeons will make a smaller horizontal incision across the relevant region of the stomach. Sections of skin and residual fat will be removed slowly from the area, as connective tissue is gently cut through. In some cases, the surgeon will also take some time to investigate the musculature in the area to ensure that no additional work needs to be done there. Once the extra skin and tissue have been removed, the remaining skin is closed with sutures and the procedure is complete.
In a complete abdominoplasty operation, the abdomen is cut horizontally from hip to hip. The surgeon contours the skin, tissue and muscle. In this surgery, the navel is separated from the surrounding tissue. A patient may require drainage tubes post-surgery. A complete tummy tuck procedure is more complicated and can last up to five hours.
As with any surgery, abdominoplasty is something that should not be entered into without the proper medical supervision. Many plastic surgeons will not perform this surgical procedure unless they are satisfied that the patient is in reasonably good health. After surgery, patients should maintain a balanced lifestyle and get monitored by a medical professional for complications such as blood clots or infection.