Farah Khan’s Tummy Tuck Confession: Is the Surgery Truly Useful for Weight Loss?

Farah Khan recently opened up on getting a tummy tuck – a procedure to remove excess fat and skin that tightens abdominal muscles – done after giving birth to her three children. Speaking at a podcast

interview with actor Soha Ali Khan, Farah said her weight loss journey went through various stages of her life. “After 4-5 years (of giving birth), I had to go and do a tummy tuck surgery because there was so much extra skin,” the filmmaker-choreographer told Soha, adding that she also received vitamin drips and lymphatic massages at a wellness spa. Farah, talking about her post-pregnancy weight gain, also mentioned she was 43 years old when her triplets were born, and she put on a lot of weight post-pregnancy.

What is a tummy tuck surgery?

Also known as abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck is a plastic surgery procedure that helps firm, flatten, and smooth the abdominal area. A certified plastic surgeon would remove the excess fat and skin and tighten the muscles around your abdominal wall. According to experts, the surgeon will use the liposuction procedure to improve the results. However, doctors say a tummy tuck is not a weight loss solution, but just helps you get the look you want after changes to your body size.

What does a tummy tuck do exactly?

Doctors say tummy tuck is an assisting method to help achieve your weight loss goals, as many times, while you may be working hard to reach a desired look, adjustments to your eating habits and exercise routine are just not enough to change the size and shape of your stomach area. A tummy tuck addresses a protruding stomach or loose or sagging skin. It is mostly some after your body has changed, like:

• Significant weight loss
• Pregnancy
• A previous surgery
• Natural ageing

What happens during a tummy tuck?

The surgeon conducting the procedure will do it under anesthesia – putting you to sleep so you won’t feel any pain. However, the steps of the procedure vary based on the type of surgery your surgeon performs, which include:

• Making an incision in your skin in your abdominal area
• Pulling down the upper abdominal skin
• Removing excess skin
• Making an opening and moving your belly button into position
• Inserting drainage tubes to drain excess fluid, if needed
• Closing the incision site and covering it with bandages
• After the procedure, you’ll be under observation until your anesthetic wears off and your surgeon approves you to go home.

Is a tummy tuck a safe procedure?

While a tummy tuck helps reduce excess skin in your abdominal area and tightens weak muscles, it comes with a lot of health risks as well. You must discuss these with your surgeon during the consultation so you can make an informed decision about your health. Complications of a tummy tuck include:

• Scarring
• Bleeding
• Pain and swelling
• Infection
• Seroma or accumulation of fluid
• Poor wound healing
• Blood clots
• Numbness or other changes in sensation
• Asymmetrical or uneven healing
• Widened apparent scar

You may have an increased risk of complications if you have an underlying health condition that affects your blood circulation or wound healing. Smoking tobacco products also increases your risk of complications. You can reduce your risk by following your surgeon’s pre- and post-surgery instructions.