Tummy Tuck / Abdominoplasty

Tummy Tuck / Abdominoplasty

Also known as abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck removes excess fat and skin, and in most cases restores weakened or separated muscles creating an abdominal profile that is smoother and firmer.

A flat and well-toned abdomen is something many of us strive for through exercise and weight control. Sometimes these methods cannot achieve our goals.

Even individuals of otherwise normal body weight and proportion can develop an abdomen that protrudes or is loose and sagging.
The most common causes of this include:

  • Pregnancy
  • Aging
  • Significant fluctuations in weight
  • Heredity
  • Prior surgery

Tummy tuck surgery is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else's desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image.

Abdominoplasty is a good option for you if:

  • You are physically healthy and at a stable weight
  • You have realistic expectations
  • You do not smoke

Although the results of an abdominoplasty procedure are technically permanent, the positive outcome can be greatly diminished by significant fluctuations in your weight. For this reason, individuals who are planning substantial weight loss or women who may be considering future pregnancies may be advised to postpone abdominoplasty surgery.
Abdominoplasty is not traditional liposuction
It is to be borne in mind that abdominoplasty is different from the more traditional liposuction. In liposuction, excess fat is carved out. Abdominoplasty is a much advanced surgical technique that involves tightening of muscles in addition to removal of excess fat. Muscles that have become loose are pulled and stitched together to result in a trimmer and tighter abdomen. Patients who have relatively tight abdominal muscles may not need full-fledged abdominoplasty. For them liposuction is enough.

Procedures

Abdominoplasty operations vary in scope and are frequently subdivided into categories. Depending on the extent of the surgery, a complete abdominoplasty can take 1 to 5 hours. A partial abdominoplasty (Mini-Tuck Abdominoplasty) can be completed between 1 to 2 hours.

Complete abdominoplasty

In general, a complete (or full) abdominoplasty follows these steps:

  1. An incision is made from hip to hip just above the pubic area.
  2. Another incision is made to free the navel from the surrounding skin.
  3. The skin is detached from the abdominal wall to reveal the muscles and fascia to be tightened. The muscle fascia wall is tightened with sutures.
  4. Liposuction is often used to refine the transition zones of the abdominal sculpture.
  5. A dressing and sometimes a compression garment are applied and any excess fluid from the site is drained.

Partial abdominoplasty

A partial (or mini) abdominoplasty proceeds as follows:

  1. A smaller incision is made.
  2. The skin and fat of the lower abdomen are detached in a more limited fashion from the muscle fascia. The skin is stretched down and excess skin removed.
  3. Sometimes the belly button stalk is divided from the muscle below and the belly button slid down lower on the abdominal wall.
  4. Sometimes a portion of the abdominal muscle fascia wall is tightened.
  5. Liposuction is often used to contour the transition zone.
  6. The flap is stitched back into place.

What a tummy tuck won't do:
Tummy tucks are not a substitute for weight loss or an appropriate exercise program. Also, tummy tuck operations cannot correct stretch marks, although these may be removed or somewhat improved if they are located on the areas of excess skin that will be excised, generally the treated areas below the belly button.