For many people, when going through rapid weight loss (such as the result of diet or pregnancy), it can result in excess skin around the stomach area. This can be very bothersome or make someone feel uncomfortable with the excess skin.

Abdominoplasty, commonly known as tummy tuck surgery, is the cosmetic procedure recommended by plastic surgeons to significantly improve this aesthetic problem. Other forms of cosmetic surgery include eyelid surgery and lip implant surgery. The procedure involves an incision made at the base of the abdomen, close to the navel. There is also a procedure known as a mini tummy tuck, where a much smaller incision made compared to a full tummy tuck. To be a candidate for a mini tummy tuck, the patient usually needs to be close to their ideal body weight. The surgeon will not tuck the skin, but rather will remove the excess skin by cutting it away completely. Sometimes this procedure is also done along with liposuction for optimal aesthetic results.

If you are considering tummy tuck surgery, be sure to find the best plastic surgeon and educate yourself so you can have the surgeon answer any questions you may have. Most patients will spend up to five hours under general anesthesia. Once out of surgery make sure to let the nurse in recovery know how you feel they can give you’re the right medicine and help you recover faster. It is normal for people under the effects of anesthesia to have feelings of nausea and dizziness, or even to feel like crying. As with any surgery, make sure to have someone reliable to come and pick you up at the hospital or surgery center, because they will not let you go home without an adult driving you or accompanying you home in a cab.