Tummy Tuck in Geneva
Despite regular exercise and a healthy diet, many people are unable to tone and tighten a protuberant abdomen, which is often due to multiple pregnancies, fluctuations in body weight or prior surgery. Loose or sagging abdominal skin and tissue can be corrected at the Concept Clinic in Geneva, Switzerland with a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) to remove excess skin and fatty tissue and in some cases to tighten weakened or separated abdominal muscles.
For women who have undergone surgery like a cesarean section, unpleasant scars may often be revised during the abdominoplasty procedure. Through a tummy tuck Dr. Kai-Uwe Schlaudraff can restore a tighter, flatter belly and create an abdominal contour that is in harmony with the whole body, thus enhancing your body image and self-confidence.
Dr. Schlaudraff is a plastic surgeon in Switzerland offering advanced body sculpting procedures at his Concept Clinic in Geneva. To learn more about abdominoplasty, request a consultation online, or phone the office at +41-22-54-000-54.
Abdominoplasty Candidates
A tummy tuck is intended for healthy women and men of any age who are moderately fit and have a stable body weight. It is not a substitute for physical exercise or weight loss and the results of surgery might be greatly diminished by significant fluctuations in body weight. For this reason, patients with severe obesity or women considering future pregnancies are usually advised to postpone a tummy tuck.
Your Consultation
During the consultation Dr. Schlaudraff (board certified by the Swiss and the European Board of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery and a member of ISAPS) will find out how you feel about your body and how you visualize it after surgery. He will then examine your body and carefully evaluate the quality of the skin, fatty tissue and the abdominal muscles. Special note is made of the eventual presence of stretch marks of the skin or of inguinal/umbilical hernias or a rectus diastasis, which is a weakness of the abdominal wall due to the separation of the rectus abdominis muscle causing a central bulge and 'round' belly appearance.
These details will enable Dr. Schlaudraff determine the appropriate abdominoplasty technique for you, which may be:
- Mini tummy tuck for patients who have minimal excess skin, which does not result in a scar around the umbilicus (navel or belly button).
- Tummy tuck with transposition of the umbilicus for patients who have significant excess skin above the navel.
He will also determine whether you might also need VASER® Hi Def™ liposuction or tightening of the abdominal muscles.
Tummy Tuck and Liposuction Combined
The combination of a tummy tuck with VASER Hi Def liposuction in Geneva, Switzerland can provide our patients with at least 2 significant benefits:
- In a first step, this liposuction technique allows the removal of deep and superficial fat in the upper abdomen as well as the flanks and hips. Its innovative ultrasound technology selectively targets the fatty tissue and leaves the connective tissue, nerves and small blood vessels intact. The result is less bruising and swelling as well as a much better skin retraction.
- In a second step, excess skin and fatty tissue are excised and if necessary the abdominal muscles are tightened. The combination of a tummy tuck with VASER Hi Def liposuction enables Dr. Schlaudraff to create a tighter and flatter abdomen and more pleasant contours in the upper abdomen as well as in the flank and hip area.
Surgical Procedure
Abdominoplasty procedures are performed in a state-of-the-art surgery theater under general anesthesia. A transverse, gently curved incision is made in the lower portion of the abdomen usually in or just above the pubic hair. The skin and fatty tissue are mobilized as far up as the ribs and then pulled down in order to determine the excess tissue that is removed. After tightening the abdominal muscles, the skin is sewn back together. The surgery takes 1 to 3 hours depending on the amount of excess skin and whether additional procedures are performed at the same time. After tummy tuck surgery in Geneva the patient is usually advised to stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 days for optimal recovery.
Recovery and Results
The soreness during the first days after a tummy tuck will vary for each patient and is usually described as a tension and a light to moderate pain that limits body movements but can be controlled with normal pain medication. Patients who combined their abdominoplasty with liposuction may see drainage of watery liquid from the incisions for a few days, but this is completely normal. Taking a shower and traveling is allowed within a few days postoperatively. You may return to your normal light activities 2 to 3 days after surgery but should avoid a fully upright position for 1 to 2 weeks and heavy lifting (>5kg) or vigorous exercise for about 2 to 4 weeks after surgery.
Small blue spots / hematomas are possible and should disappear within 2 to 4 weeks. Slight changes in skin sensitivity might occur and not return to normal for 8 to 12 weeks. The final result will be seen after 8 to 12 weeks when skin retraction is fully established. At this time you may also resume strenuous physical activities (diving, climbing, sauna, etc).
