Is the hourglass tummy tuck more dangerous?

Is the hourglass tummy tuck more dangerous?

 

Introduction

The hourglass tummy tuck is the plastic surgery procedure that was developed to correct the flaws of the traditional tummy tuck method. When the classic tummy tuck is performed, the procedure addresses just the saggy skin present on the tummy but doesn’t have any effect on the layer of fat that can be present on the abdominal wall and the flanks. Moreover, after the traditional tummy tuck, the patient will enjoy a flat and firm tummy, but this might mean that the waist isn’t any slimmer and the overall appearance of the body hasn’t been considerably affected.

To improve the results delivered by the traditional tummy tuck, we now have the hourglass tummy tuck that will help the patient correct different types of imperfections that can be present on the abdominal wall, but also slim down the waist and get beautiful curves by adding more volume to the hips.

In this article, we will discuss how the hourglass tummy tuck is performed and if it is more dangerous than the traditional method.

 

Overview of the tummy tuck

The hourglass tummy tuck consists of combining three plastic surgery under general anesthesia. The procedures that are combined are the tummy tuck, liposuction and fat transfer to the hips. The aim of the hourglass tummy tuck is to correct the imperfections of the abdominal wall, while also enhancing the overall appearance of the body and defining curves to create the most sought-after silhouette.

The procedure will begin after the patient falls asleep under the effects of the anesthesia with small incisions performed in the areas to be treated with liposuction. There are two reasons why we use liposuction when the hourglass tummy tuck is performed: first, we need to reshape the waist area and eliminate the fat deposits that can be present on the flanks and the abdominal wall, and second because we need fat to transfer to the hips. Therefore, liposuction is performed on the tummy to reduce the thickness of the adipose layer and the flanks to create a slimmer waist. The fat collected with liposuction is saved and processed by a centrifugation system. For liposuction, the plastic surgeon will use very small incisions, no longer than 3 to 4 mm in length.

After the liposuction is completed and the required amount of fat was collected, the plastic surgeon will start with the next step of the procedure: the tummy tuck. Depending on the severity of the skin sagginess on the tummy, the plastic surgeon might perform a mini tummy tuck or a complete tummy tuck. The incision is positioned on the suprapubic area, and it can be as long as from hip to hip. The skin and subcutaneous fat tissue are detached from the muscles of the abdominal wall and lifted up to the level of the stern to allow the plastic surgeon visibility to correct loose abdominal muscles. If the muscles of the abdominal wall are distended or weakened, the plastic surgeon will use sutures to bring them together on the median line to create the firm and flat appearance of the tummy. After the muscles have been strengthened, the skin and fat tissues are re-draped on the abdominal wall, the surplus of tissue is excised, and the incision is sutured. If the navel needs to be repositioned, an additional incision will be created around it that will allow for its repositioning on an anatomically correct position on the abdomen.

The last stage of the hourglass tummy tuck (but not the least important) is fat transfer to the hips. The fat collected in the first step with liposuction is already purified, and the healthy fat cells are ready for grafting to the hips. The transfer of fat to the hips is important when it comes to the creation of the hourglass silhouette as it is the only method that we can use to add volume to hips that are narrow. The characteristics of the hourglass silhouette are wider hips and a narrow waist and what we often see in reality is the other way around: a wide waist and narrow hips. After the fat is transferred to the hips, the patient will enjoy alluring curves that will considerably improve the overall appearance of the body.

The recommendation for the hourglass tummy tuck will be given by the plastic surgeon after the initial consultation. The procedure can only be performed on patients who have an adipose tissue on the midline as well as having narrow hips. At the same time, it is important to understand that each patient’s anatomy is different, so if you want to have the procedure because your friend did and achieved certain results, the results might be different in your case. The curves created with the procedure can be more or less accentuated, depending on the initial anatomy of the patient. Also, keep in mind that the procedure is not a treatment that can be used to lose weight. The amount of fat that can be removed when liposuction is performed for an hourglass tummy tuck is limited.

The hourglass tummy tuck can last up to four hours or more, depending on the complexity of each case; however, this doesn’t mean that the procedure is more dangerous than the traditional tummy tuck. Most of the risks and potential complications associated with this procedure can be reduced when choosing an experienced, talented board-certified plastic surgeon who performs this procedure routinely.

 

Is the tummy tuck procedure more dangerous?

Many patients who would have a recommendation for the hourglass tummy tuck procedure and also be eligible for it often ask whether this procedure is more dangerous than the traditional tummy tuck. As you have seen from the overview of the procedure, the procedure doesn’t entail more risks that are particular to it. However, due to the combination of the methods used, aside from the risks of the tummy tuck we also have the risks associated with liposuction and fat transfer that are also performed at the same time. This might seem like a lot, but the reality is that fat transfer has little to no complications associated with it. A risk that is worth mentioning when it comes to this part of the hourglass tummy tuck is probably getting unsatisfactory results or hips that are asymmetric. But even this risk is considerably reduced when you choose an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon to play out your procedure and you follow his recommendations to the letter.

When it comes to the risks associated with liposuction, they are also minor and few. When the procedure is performed by an experienced plastic surgeon in an accredited medical facility with all the safety regulations in place, liposuction is one of the less risky procedures that you can benefit from. A risk of liposuction is to get skin sagginess in the area as the skin doesn’t have the ability to retract on the new contours of the body. However, this is not important in the case of the hourglass tummy tuck and can’t be considered as we address the issue of the sagging skin with the tummy tuck.

Because we are talking about multiple procedures that will be performed at the same time, the procedure for the hourglass tummy tuck is more complex and delicate. The patient will be required to stay longer under general anesthetic and the recovery period can be associated with a more intense level of discomfort. However, patients choosing to undergo this procedure consider that the results achieved are well worth the trouble. The whole body is redefined and the beautiful hourglass silhouette is created.

 

Conclusion

The hourglass tummy tuck is a modern and advanced plastic surgery procedure that is performed with the aim of correcting the flaws of the traditional tummy tuck and delivering superior aesthetic results. The hourglass tummy tuck entails the use of a combination of plastic surgery methods and procedures to create the beautiful hourglass body that is characterized by wider hips and a smaller waist. After the procedure, the patient will have beautiful curves in all the right places. Even if the procedure combines multiple techniques, the hourglass tummy tuck is not more dangerous than a traditional tummy tuck as long as it is performed by a highly experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon in an accredited medical facility. If you want to improve the overall definition of your body and have a beautiful, curvaceous silhouette, make sure to ask your plastic surgeon about getting an hourglass tummy tuck surgery.