A tummy tuck, or an abdominoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure performed in order to improve the shape of the abdomen area. It involves removing excess fat or skin and tightening the muscles of the abdomen. The majority of patients opting for a tummy tuck surgery comprises of women who had multiple pregnancies and people who lost a big amount of weight.
Before deciding to go under the knife, you need to consider a couple of factors. Are you eligible for this kind of surgery? How much does it cost? What do you hope to achieve with it? Where should you do it?
The best candidates are the ones who are generally in good health. Women planning to get pregnant or people planning to lose a big amount of weight are at risk of scaring and painful recuperation, and it’s better for them to wait a bit before doing the surgery.
Before considering the price of the procedure, it’s necessary to schedule a consultation with your surgeon. That’s when the doctor will recommend you one of two options: a complete tummy tuck or a partial tummy tuck.
A complete tummy tuck involves making an incision across the abdomen from one hip all the way to the other hip. It typically also includes the repositioning of the naval. It’s done under general anesthesia and can last up to 3 hours. The surgeon will access the muscles in order to pull them together and stitch them in a new position. After that, the excess skin is removed and a new navel created.
On the other hand, there is a partial tummy tuck surgery during which only a small incision is made, and the navel isn’t being repositioned. It can last up to 2 hours and is also performed under general anesthesia.
It’s normal to feel the pain right after the surgery, and some pain medications are often needed. Few days after the surgery, bruising and swelling is common and expected.
You can also expect to have a temporary fluid-swelling above the scar.
Of course, as with any surgical procedure, some complications like infections or blood clots can occur. However, those are extremely rare.
Stitches are usually removed after 10 to 14 days, and any internal stitches will dissolve with time.
It’s possible for doctors to keep patients in the hospital for two or three days after the procedure, but some patients are released the very same day.
When it comes to the tummy tuck price, it significantly differs around the world. The fees included are doctor’s fees, lab fees, anesthesia fees, clothing and medicine fees and the fees covering your nights spent at the clinic. Of course, in case you decide to do the surgery outside your home country, you can expect to have costs of travel.
In the United States, the price range is anywhere from around 5 thousand dollars to over 12 thousand. In the UK, the cost of the surgery is between 4.5 and 6 thousand British pounds. The prices are significantly lower in Brazil, around 4 thousand dollars, and in Poland, starting at 3900 euros. The most affordable prices of tummy tuck surgery are in Hungary, Costa Rica, and Malaysia. In Hungary and Costa Rica, you can expect to spend from 3 to 4 thousand dollars. In Malaysia however, the procedure is available for 3 thousand dollars in some places.
The most popular countries for tummy tuck procedure are Hungary, India, Turkey, and Greece.
Not surprisingly, India and Sri Lanka remain the cheapest places for you to get your abdominoplasty.
After you have considered all the factors, you can make your appointment. Usually, some sort of deposit will be asked for you to pay.
Don’t rush with your decision, take your time finding the best clinic and don’t be afraid to ask for advice!