Tucking the Pudge
Sometimes simply dieting and exercising are not enough to take care of waistline problems. In such cases, a patient may wish to consider a tummy tuck (or abdominoplasty). A tummy tuck is the surgical removal of excess skin or fatty deposits from the abdomen, along with the repositioning of abdomen muscles into a tighter formation. This bodily enhancement procedure is designed for those who wish to have a flatter and tighter stomach. It is also helpful in remedying the vertical separation of abdomen muscles known as diastasis, which can occur following pregnancy. Many women say, “I don’t look like I’m pregnant anymore” after this procedure. The mini tummy tuck is ideal for people who have excessive fat between the belly button and the pubic bone or people who have a small amount of abdominal skin to be removed and do not have a significantly protruding abdominal muscle wall.
Reasons for Considering an Abdominoplasty
- Inability of dieting and exercise to improve the abdomen area.
- Excessive accumulation of skin following weight loss.
- Loss of skin elasticity or diastases (loose abdomen muscles) due to pregnancy.
- The removal of unsightly skin and fat deposits as well as the proper alignment of the abdomen muscles to produce a more flattering look.
General Tummy Tucks Procedure
An abdominoplasty can be performed under local anesthesia, twilight anesthesia, or general anesthesia. The surgery lasts anywhere from two to five hours, depending on the desired look and the patient’s unique physiology. To begin the procedure, an incision is made just above the pubic bone area. This incision goes horizontally across the lower abdomen and sometimes around to the back. The skin is then stretched away from the muscle tissue, and excess skin is removed. The abdomen muscle tissue is tightened to provide a firmly contoured stomach and well-defined waistline. Finally, the incision is closed; and the skin is stitched back into place. Sometimes the procedure requires an additional incision around the navel in order to provide the best results. This procedure can also be done in conjunction with other procedures such as laser liposuction or the mommy makeover in order to help contour the body to fit the desires of the patient.
Incisions
Incisions are made just above the pubic bone area and around the belly button. We do everything we can to minimize scarring during the procedure as well as after, during the healing process. Our office sells laser treatments and BioCorneum to help reduce the appearance of the scar.
Recovery Process
Recovery time after a tummy tuck can be between one and four weeks. Patients are advised to take a week off from work to fully recover and avoid heavy activity for about four weeks. It is strongly advised to wear an abdominal binder or compression garment to minimize swelling and to help support the repaired tissue.
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