Abdominoplasty

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    Commonly referred to as a tummy tuck, abdominoplasty can be useful for men and women with excess abdominal skin and/or a significant amount of abdominal fat that does not respond to dieting and/or exercise. The quality of the abdominal skin texture, location of existing scars, amount and locations of excess fat, and the condition of the underlying muscle areas all determine your candidacy for abdominoplasty.

Process: During the procedure, a horizontal incision is placed just above the pubic area to access the abdominal area. Most incisions can be kept relatively hidden in the swimsuit lines. Through this incision, the underlying muscles are tightened with sutures and the undesired fat extracted if necessary. A skin flap is then stretched down and any excess skin is removed. A new hole is cut for the navel and then the skin is redraped and sutured into place. Temporary drainage tubes are placed to remove fluid from under the skin flap.

Recovery:.The majority of our patients are encouraged to stay overnight in the hospital after a full abdominoplasty. Drainage tubes are usually removed between 3-4 days following surgery and patients are then allowed to shower. Most patients return to work and limited activity 10-14 days following surgery. Light exercise ie) treadmill walking, can be started 2 weeks after surgery and vigorous activity resumed 4-6 weeks after surgery. The scars may take up to a year to flatten out and lighten in color. Although they will never completely disappear, the scars will generally not show under most clothing or bathing suits.

Results: Abdominoplasty may offer significant improvement for many women and men who want a more attractive figure with a firmer, flatter abdomen.