Are you considering getting an abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck? If so, you are likely to be curious about what exactly happens to your muscles during the treatment. In this post, we’ll walk you through what happens to your muscles during an abdominoplasty.
Why have abdominoplasty?
Over time, factors like pregnancy, weight gain, and the natural ageing process can stretch and weaken the muscles of your abdominal wall. This can lead to a protruding belly and bulges that just won’t go away no matter how much you exercise. We appreciate this can be extremely frustrating!
How it works
During an abdominoplasty, our surgical team will work their magic to address these concerns. The procedure typically starts with an incision in the lower abdomen, and the skin is carefully separated from the underlying tissue.
Once exposed, the weakened abdominal muscles will be tightened and brought closer together, this helps restore the muscles to their original position and shape, giving you a flatter and more toned tummy.
Not only does this muscle tightening improve the appearance of your abdomen, but it also has some added benefits. By tightening the abdominal muscles, your core strength and stability can be greatly improved which is good news if you enjoy sports.
During the treatment, your surgeon will proceed to remove any excess skin and fat that may be causing that unwanted belly bulge before carefully closing the incision area, taking care to ensure scarring is kept to a minimum.
Even though the tummy muscles themselves are not being cut during abdominoplasty, the recovery will still take a few weeks. You’ll need to take it easy for a while and avoid strenuous activities.
It’s normal to experience some discomfort and swelling during this time. We’ll give you plenty of information and tailored advice before you leave the hospital, so you know what to do in the initial aftermath of surgery.
Most people find they can return to normal activities within a few weeks, though everyone heals at a different pace so it’s best to be patient and give yourself plenty of time to recuperate.
If you’ve been dreaming of a flatter tummy and saying goodbye to that persistent belly fat, the first step is to attend an initial consultation here at Manchester Plastic Surgery.
