Tummy tuck Saarland

The paired straight abdominal muscles run from the lower edge of the ribs to the pubic bone. In the midline, the muscles are connected by a white strip of collagen fibers (Latin name: linea alba). During pregnancy, the growing child stretches the abdominal wall. After several pregnancies in particular, the connective tissue between the straight abdominal muscles can be stretched from one to two centimeters to over five centimeters. As the collagen tissue is inelastic, the gap does not disappear after pregnancy. As a result, the straight abdominal muscles take on a curved shape. The altered direction is suspected of promoting back pain ¹¹ . With a tummy tuck, the muscles can be moved back to their original position in the middle of the abdomen. There is evidence that correction of rectus diastasis improves the strength of the straight abdominal muscles and back pain.¹²

It goes without saying that the cost of a tummy tuck is one of the most frequently asked questions. To find out the price of a tummy tuck in just a few clicks, you can use our price calculator.

Due to the constant increase in the child’s size, the skin cells multiply and the skin covering on the stomach increases. If cell proliferation cannot keep pace with the increase in circumference, the skin can tear internally. Stretch marks form. The skin’s ability to adapt decreases with age. Cigarette smoking and frequent sunbathing also damage skin elasticity. If the skin does not regress sufficiently, the sagging skin forms folds around the navel or above the caesarean scar. Scientific studies show that fat deposits inside the abdomen around the intestines increase after pregnancy ¹³ . Rectus diastasis also leads to an increase in the circumference of the abdomen. The shape and color of the belly button can also change unfavorably during pregnancy. A redistribution or increase in fatty tissue often also affects the mons pubis, back and waist.

A birth is accompanied by many changes. The abdomen and breasts are the areas of the body that change the most during pregnancy. The skin on the areolas, the pubic area, the armpits and around the navel (linea nigra in Latin) can become darker in color. After birth, the body’s metabolism and hormonal balance changes. Many changes that occur during pregnancy disappear again after the birth. The dark discoloration of the skin fades after a few months. The collagen of the stretched skin is remodeled. The metabolic processes of the skin are comparable to those of a healing scar. Women who have given birth by caesarean section notice that the scar appears reddened and somewhat hardened in the first few months. After six months, the scar becomes paler and softer. Metabolic processes that lead to the regression of the skin are similar to the remodeling processes of a scar. In the first nine months, the skin may recede slightly. For this reason, we recommend that you wait until after the birth before undergoing a tummy tuck. As every operation is accompanied by the administration of medication, you should have weaned your child by then. A life-changing procedure such as a tummy tuck should be performed under the best possible circumstances. Bear in mind that you should avoid heavy lifting and carrying for the first four to six weeks after the operation. Therefore, make sure that you can get support from your family, friends or colleagues in the first few weeks.

When you can return to work after a tummy tuck depends largely on the extent of the operation and the demands of your job. On average, our patients go back to work after one to three weeks. After a mini-abdominoplasty, young and healthy patients can return to work from home after just a few days. If your job requires you to lift or carry heavy loads frequently and for long periods, you should allow a recovery period of four to six weeks after correction of a rectus diastasis.

Table: Time frame for permitted activities after a tummy tuck

*If a rectus diastasis has been treated, sports activities involving abdominal muscle training should be avoided for at least three months.

The figures are for guidance only. Depending on the general
Depending on the patient’s state of health or the extent of the tummy tuck, the information on physical stress may vary, so that deviations may occur. Always listen to your specialist’s instructions in order to prevent possible complications and not jeopardize an optimal result.

• After the operation, we want to make sure that you are completely healed and satisfied. We therefore also arrange follow-up appointments with the surgeon, which can take place via video consultation in individual cases.
• Drains are not required for every tummy tuck. If an increased tendency to bleed is detected, drains are used, which are usually removed the next day.
• You can shower as usual on the first day after the operation. It is best to use shower plasters to keep the bandages dry. It is recommended to take the first shower shortly before the follow-up appointment so that the bandages can be changed afterwards.
• The wound in the bikini area is sutured with fine stitches that dissolve by themselves. The sutures are only removed from the navel between the tenth and fourteenth day after the operation.
• During the first two weeks, make sure that your hips are slightly flexed (lying on your side with your legs drawn up or lying on your back in a stepped bed). This relieves the abdominal wall and supports healing.
• The compression garment supports decongestion. If a rectus diastasis has been corrected, the girdle protects the sutured straight abdominal muscles like an abdominal belt. We recommend that you wear the compression garment day and night for the first six weeks.
• Scar healing begins immediately after the operation. Your surgeon lays the foundations for fine and inconspicuous scar healing. Scar massages and the application of silicone patches can play a significant role in the healing process in the weeks and months that follow. Avoid sunbathing while the scar is healing so that the scar does not become discolored.
• The decongestant effect of arnica, bromelain or combination preparations such as Wobenzym has not been proven by scientific studies.¹⁴

We recommend a tummy tuck to improve the appearance of the abdomen.
Abdominal contours. The physical requirements must be taken into account: A tummy tuck is particularly suitable for healthy women or men who suffer from an increased accumulation of fat and skin folds on the abdomen.

You should have reached your desired weight before a tummy tuck. Weight fluctuations can affect the final result. If you gain weight, your abdominal girth will increase even after a tightening. However, it is not the case that the liposuctioned fatty tissue forms anew. There is also fatty tissue in the abdomen, around the intestines, which increases in volume when weight is gained.

Conversely, significant weight loss after a tummy tuck can also have a negative effect on the results of the operation.

As being overweight increases the general potential risks of surgery such as thrombosis, embolism and wound healing disorders, we advise against a tummy tuck if you have a BMI of over 40.
A tummy tuck should be performed under the best possible circumstances. Of course, this applies to the operation, which is meticulously prepared by our entire surgical team.

The time after the operation also requires a certain amount of preparation. Avoid binding appointments during your recovery phase. A perfectly performed operation will not lead to an optimal result if recovery or post-operative care is not guaranteed.

Occasionally people ask about the best time of year for a tummy tuck. The time of year has no influence on the operation or healing. During aftercare, you should above all be able to rest. A compression girdle should be worn for four to six weeks. The special fit and the light and breathable fabric of the bodices are generally not perceived as uncomfortable. At any time of year, it is of course advisable to adapt to the weather with appropriate clothing and air conditioning to avoid freezing or sweating after the operation.

Immediately after the removal of excess skin, the abdomen is already firmer and the contours are slimmer, so you will see a difference within the first few days. Healing is an ongoing process. The following picture should give you an impression of the healing process:

Table: Development of the result of a tummy tuck

As so often, the answer to this question is: it depends! A body mass index of 25 kilograms per square meter or more is considered overweight. The question about body weight is used to assess the surgical risks. There are a large number of factors that influence the risks of an operation. The interaction of these factors means that each patient must be considered individually and as a whole.

The increase in surgical risks due to a reduced state of health and the extent of an operation is scientifically well documented. The characteristics that influence the state of health include: Age, body weight, cigarette smoking and comorbidities. The extent and duration of an operation are determined by the dimensions of the abdomen and the aims of the operation.

A risk is usually expressed as a percentage. A risk cannot be described in terms of “never” or “always”. Cigarette smoking is a risk. Smoking twenty cigarettes a day is more harmful than smoking one cigarette a day. Even if you only smoke one cigarette a day, your life is more dangerous than that of a non-smoker.

In young, healthy non-smokers, body weight therefore plays a subordinate role. Nevertheless, we advise against a tummy tuck if your BMI is over 40.

Ideally, a tummy tuck should be performed after family planning has been completed. Nevertheless, there are no disadvantages to be feared in a pregnancy after a tummy tuck, neither for the expectant mother nor for the growing child ^{15 16} . An abdominoplasty is also no obstacle to a natural birth ¹⁷ . Before becoming pregnant, we recommend waiting one year after abdominoplasty.

The costs of a tummy tuck are only covered by health insurance in exceptional cases. The German Social Code stipulates that health insurance benefits must not exceed what is necessary. This requirement applies to both private and statutory health insurance companies.

For example, it is medically necessary to remove skin folds in the case of recurring skin inflammation after all non-surgical treatment options have been exhausted. The removal of a disfiguring fat apron, which constantly attracts a lot of attention, is also considered medically necessary. If a mental impairment is diagnosed, the Medical Service of the Health Insurance Funds (MDK) generally recommends mental health treatment, but not surgery. Health insurance benefits are limited to what is medically necessary.

Justifiably high expectations of cosmetic surgery cannot be reconciled with the aims of medically necessary treatment. The costs of a tummy tuck must be applied for by the insured person.

A tummy tuck removes excess fatty tissue and skin. As the tissue does not regenerate, the result lasts a lifetime. Nevertheless, the abdominal circumference can change again after a tightening operation in the event of pregnancy or weight gain.

The fatty tissue around the abdominal organs, also known as visceral fat, can increase with a lack of exercise and an incorrect diet and lead to an increase in circumference. Therefore, make sure you eat a balanced and healthy diet and get enough exercise.

Your goals must be precisely defined before treatment, as each treatment method has different objectives. A tummy tuck serves to tighten the abdominal skin. Liposuction reduces the volume of fat and improves the contours of the body. A protruding abdomen is usually characterized by both an increase in fatty tissue and excess skin.

We therefore generally recommend combining a tummy tuck with liposuction. With a pot belly, the excess skin is in the foreground. A globular abdomen, on the other hand, is often characterized by an increase in fatty tissue and occasionally a rectus diastasis.

Every treatment is associated with opportunities but also risks. The probability of risks changes with the patient’s state of health and the extent of the operation. Your safety and satisfaction are our top priority. To keep the risks as low as possible, cigarette smoking should be avoided before and after an operation. To reduce the risk of thrombosis, you should temporarily stop taking the contraceptive pill.

The rate of complications requiring treatment at
Abdominoplasty is roughly estimated at four percent ¹⁸ . To the general
Surgical risks include inflammation, secondary bleeding, thrombosis and embolism. Dietary supplements (omega-3 fatty acids, St. John’s wort preparations, etc.) and vitamin preparations (A, E) can impair blood clotting and increase the risk of post-operative bleeding. We therefore recommend that you stop taking certain food supplements four weeks before
of a tummy tuck.

Specific complications of a tummy tuck are usually a temporary feeling of numbness, an accumulation of wound fluid and the formation of skin peaks. Careful planning and preparation as well as regular follow-up care are important in order to prevent, recognize and treat any complications in rare cases.

Yes, in principle cosmetic surgery can be combined on different parts of the body. The simultaneous performance of abdominal and breast surgery is known in the USA as a “mommy makeover”. We recommend a combination of different surgical procedures
must be carefully weighed up: When sitting or lying down, the blood flow velocity in the body vessels is reduced.

There is therefore a risk of blood clots forming in the leg veins when traveling by plane, for example. As expected, the risk of thrombosis is greater on long-haul flights than on short-haul flights. It is therefore not surprising that an operation that lasts an hour, for example, generally requires less time.
risks than an operation that takes 8 hours.

Scientific studies have been able to prove this connection and recommend that the duration of the operation should not exceed six hours ^{19 20} .

Almost 27 percent of tummy tucks are performed between the ages of 51 and 64. ²¹ Many actively shape their transition into retirement and would like to further expand their social participation. Through a healthy lifestyle and physical activity, the biological age can be many years younger than the chronological age.

If you are physically fit, you don’t need to restrict your leisure activities. Even in late adulthood, you can still climb mountains. This also applies to cosmetic surgery.